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The Missing Kidney and other stories: And Other Stories
- GenresShort Stories
248 pages, Hardcover
Published May 13, 2025
1 person is currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Maxine Rosaler
23 books8 followers"THE DEVIL ON TRIAL grew out of a belief that what is most gripping about history is the fact that it is a story of human beings in conflict," say authors Maxine Rosaler and Phillip Marguiles.
The co-authors of several books for young adults on subjects ranging from science to history, law, and warfare, Maxine Rosaler and Phillip Marguiles live in New York City.
The co-authors of several books for young adults on subjects ranging from science to history, law, and warfare, Maxine Rosaler and Phillip Marguiles live in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 28, 2025
The Missing Kidney
Maxine Rosaler
Ty @delphiniumbooks for the copy! Out May 13th.
Here’s a review from your friend who likes to say bombastic things about books, try really hard to convince you of the statement, then end with exasperated hands thrown in the air and a beg to read the book.
The Missing Kidney just took the throne as my favorite collection of short stories I’ve ever read.
I can think back and name a few others I’ve truly adored, too: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, Exhalation by Ted Chiang, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw, Of Fathers & Gods by Jim Roberts. Lauren Groff and Karen Russell can write a heck of a short story too. But none of them hit the notes like these did for me.
I feel like I just read the book of stories by the spicy, nihilist aunt who has loved and lost more than anyone could bear, has a perfectly good apartment but has spent more nights on the city streets than you can imagine, and shows up in fishnets holding a pack of Marlboro Reds and a worn out copy of Chekhov’s greatest hits.
These stories are spot on perfect blends of sliceof-life realism mixed with just a bit of exquisitely relatable absurdist humor. I’m amused, touched, and left with a deep ache in the gut. I want to say something like Rosaler is a “writer’s writer” but I’m not sure that holds water—I think she’s just dang good, and her eye for the interactions and motivations that make people people, her clever wielding of dialogue, and the way she can end a story on the exact tone it needs is just pure sorcery.
I tried to pick out my favorites of the 14 to photograph and emphasize and just kept going “oh that was so good.” “Oh I loved that one.” “Haha oh man that one too.” Wheatberries is going to really stick out, and if you like what I like, The Girl from Texas will too.
With the perfect blend of irreverence for humanity’s goofy filth and a solemn respect for the love and beauty we all create together in spite of ourselves, I’m just throwing out there that this isn’t a book to skip. Forget that “you just don’t love short stories” stuff. THE MISSING KIDNEY is out May 13th. Read it then come back here and tell me I was wrong.
Maxine Rosaler
Ty @delphiniumbooks for the copy! Out May 13th.
Here’s a review from your friend who likes to say bombastic things about books, try really hard to convince you of the statement, then end with exasperated hands thrown in the air and a beg to read the book.
The Missing Kidney just took the throne as my favorite collection of short stories I’ve ever read.
I can think back and name a few others I’ve truly adored, too: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, Exhalation by Ted Chiang, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw, Of Fathers & Gods by Jim Roberts. Lauren Groff and Karen Russell can write a heck of a short story too. But none of them hit the notes like these did for me.
I feel like I just read the book of stories by the spicy, nihilist aunt who has loved and lost more than anyone could bear, has a perfectly good apartment but has spent more nights on the city streets than you can imagine, and shows up in fishnets holding a pack of Marlboro Reds and a worn out copy of Chekhov’s greatest hits.
These stories are spot on perfect blends of sliceof-life realism mixed with just a bit of exquisitely relatable absurdist humor. I’m amused, touched, and left with a deep ache in the gut. I want to say something like Rosaler is a “writer’s writer” but I’m not sure that holds water—I think she’s just dang good, and her eye for the interactions and motivations that make people people, her clever wielding of dialogue, and the way she can end a story on the exact tone it needs is just pure sorcery.
I tried to pick out my favorites of the 14 to photograph and emphasize and just kept going “oh that was so good.” “Oh I loved that one.” “Haha oh man that one too.” Wheatberries is going to really stick out, and if you like what I like, The Girl from Texas will too.
With the perfect blend of irreverence for humanity’s goofy filth and a solemn respect for the love and beauty we all create together in spite of ourselves, I’m just throwing out there that this isn’t a book to skip. Forget that “you just don’t love short stories” stuff. THE MISSING KIDNEY is out May 13th. Read it then come back here and tell me I was wrong.
September 30, 2025
I’ve always loved short stories but lately I’ve come across short story books that haven’t been that great. However the missing kidney was a great surprise. A collection of vignettes about people, relationships, loss set in the 70’s and 80’s New York City. 14 masterfully written stories meant to be savored.
October 7, 2025
Great writing and endings that I have to keep thinking about and interpreting. Feels very straightforward but with smart under-the-surface points also being made -- still working on unwrapping all of those.
September 8, 2025
Very old school NYC.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews