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Beneath the Earth
In this collection of twelve dark, unerring and surprising short stories, John Boyne explores the extremities of the human condition in all its brilliance and brutality. The secrets we keep and the ways in which they shape us, the impossibility of shared loss, the lengths we will go to in order to protect our families and the distance we will run to protect ourselves.
Drawing on a host of enthralling characters – a farmer, a cuckold and a teenager exploring his sexuality; good parents, bad parents, writers and soldiers; a student, a rent boy and a hitman – Boyne examines the hopeful and the damaged without prejudice or judgement.
This, his first collection of short stories, is some of John Boyne’s finest writing to date. It includes ‘Rest Day’ which won the 2015 Writing.ie Short Story of the Year award in Ireland.
Drawing on a host of enthralling characters – a farmer, a cuckold and a teenager exploring his sexuality; good parents, bad parents, writers and soldiers; a student, a rent boy and a hitman – Boyne examines the hopeful and the damaged without prejudice or judgement.
This, his first collection of short stories, is some of John Boyne’s finest writing to date. It includes ‘Rest Day’ which won the 2015 Writing.ie Short Story of the Year award in Ireland.
Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2015
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About the author
John Boyne
89 books15.4k followersI was born in Dublin, Ireland, and studied English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin, and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by UEA.
I’ve published 14 novels for adults, 6 novels for younger readers, and a short story collection. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was adapted for a feature film, a play, a ballet and an opera, selling around 11 million copies worldwide.
Among my most popular books are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky and My Brother’s Name is Jessica.
I’m also a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times.
In 2012, I was awarded the Hennessy Literary ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for my body of work. I’ve also won 4 Irish Book Awards, and many international literary awards, including the Que Leer Award for Novel of the Year in Spain and the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize in Germany. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia.
My novels are published in 58 languages.
My 14th adult novel, ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, a sequel and companion novel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, will be published in the UK on September 15th 2022, in the US and Canada on November 29th, and in many foreign language editions in late 2022 and 2023.
I’ve published 14 novels for adults, 6 novels for younger readers, and a short story collection. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was adapted for a feature film, a play, a ballet and an opera, selling around 11 million copies worldwide.
Among my most popular books are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky and My Brother’s Name is Jessica.
I’m also a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times.
In 2012, I was awarded the Hennessy Literary ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for my body of work. I’ve also won 4 Irish Book Awards, and many international literary awards, including the Que Leer Award for Novel of the Year in Spain and the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize in Germany. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia.
My novels are published in 58 languages.
My 14th adult novel, ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, a sequel and companion novel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, will be published in the UK on September 15th 2022, in the US and Canada on November 29th, and in many foreign language editions in late 2022 and 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
July 21, 2019
In my quest to read everything John Boyne, I picked up this most interesting collection of short stories.
In this eclectic mix of a dozen tales, Boyne shows his prolific writing ability as he dissects the lives of a diverse group of character types, following their daily routines, revealing secrets of their sexuality, prostitution, incest, infidelity, revenge/payback, plain old frustration, war and even murder....without showing prejudice or placing judgement. None are descriptively graphic.
Some stories are dark, some sad, some even humorous, but most have no traditional real beginning or end. They just explore what is and stop.
While Amsterdam my favorite with the incident at the Ann Frank house showing a father's anguish over people using cell phones at inappropriate times knowing they can kill, and the last story, Beneath The Earth by far the darkest.
John Boyne, one of my all time favorite authors!
July 26, 2021
I purchased “Beneath the Earth” - the physical paper copy awhile ago— 12 short stories—by John Boyne (it wasn’t available as an ebook copy)…..
Having loved many of Boyne’s novels —(and I like short stories), I wanted to read this collection.
His writing is immediately gripping as always. In fact, I felt that these short stories read like short novels. I did have my favorites—( yet not one is boring), and none of the stories lacks for emotional connection with the characters.
With damaged characters on a quest for true self, family, and true friendships…..his stories are a mixture of dark and light.
As Boyne fans can imagine —his stories are refreshingly original….stories that pierce our hearts and linger in our imagination.
In “Boy 19”….an addictive disturbing story….nothing I can say about it - my experience of reading it - communicates more than the first two opening sentences:
“I started charging for sex a few days after my nineteenth birthday. I recognized my body for what it was: an asset that could be rented to the lonely for an hour at a time”.
“Haystack Girl” is dramatic and explosive. The character, Danny, came close to being knocked out cold with a paperweight by his sister, Lizzie.
Why? Frustration confusion….then laughing and crying…and more laughing.
Danny was gay.
In order: These are the titles of the stories:
Boy, 19
The Country You Call Home
The Schleinermetzenmann
Empire Tour
Haystack Girl
Rest Day
The Vespa
A Good Man
Amsterdam
Student Card
Araby
Beneath the Earth
“Amsterdam” was a dark and powerful story. A father’s son was murdered. We get back story about the son’s growing years. At first the father and birth mother, Sarah, had a challenging time connecting with their son. Eventually they grew use to Billy and the things he did.
….At age four, Billy was lost in a shopping center.
….At age six, the father found himself so in ‘aw’ about how beautiful he found his son, (not in a sexual way), but he saw his little body as pure elegance—so much so, the father wondered whether he needed professional help or if it was normal for a father to love his son so deeply.
….when his son was just a little older, he caught his father watching pornography on the computer. Just standing there while his father flicked through series of images on the screen.
….The father went back to work soon after the funeral. He needed to travel to Amsterdam for work. Sarah went with him. An ABSURD scene took place at the Anne Frank House - disturbing….puzzling …(the overall context was happening while grief was penetrating the father)….
In the end I was thinking, “Does what happen in Amsterdam stay in Amsterdam? —and? what’s next?
…..the reader examines the damage.
It’s a powerful story.
The title story, “Beneath the Earth” is the darkest.
Sample first sentence:
“It was no easy task to dig a child’s grave”. It’s a devastating/ horrific story.
FACT: JOHN BOYNE CAN WRITE!!!! ……
These stories were varied. Thought-provoking. Disturbing. Hopeful. Humorous. Intimate. Intense. Sharp. Unsparing. Precise. It was often the heavy punch - that took my breath away.
I continue to love Boyne’s work…..
He’s wickedly intelligent, clever, astute, perspective and simply brilliant.
John Boyne has a new book out soon…”The Echo Chamber”.
My understanding is that they are deep in ‘satire’. Sounds a little different….so we shall see….ha, I’m a little worried. They might be too much for me….
But as for these stories: THUMBS UP!
Having loved many of Boyne’s novels —(and I like short stories), I wanted to read this collection.
His writing is immediately gripping as always. In fact, I felt that these short stories read like short novels. I did have my favorites—( yet not one is boring), and none of the stories lacks for emotional connection with the characters.
With damaged characters on a quest for true self, family, and true friendships…..his stories are a mixture of dark and light.
As Boyne fans can imagine —his stories are refreshingly original….stories that pierce our hearts and linger in our imagination.
In “Boy 19”….an addictive disturbing story….nothing I can say about it - my experience of reading it - communicates more than the first two opening sentences:
“I started charging for sex a few days after my nineteenth birthday. I recognized my body for what it was: an asset that could be rented to the lonely for an hour at a time”.
“Haystack Girl” is dramatic and explosive. The character, Danny, came close to being knocked out cold with a paperweight by his sister, Lizzie.
Why? Frustration confusion….then laughing and crying…and more laughing.
Danny was gay.
In order: These are the titles of the stories:
Boy, 19
The Country You Call Home
The Schleinermetzenmann
Empire Tour
Haystack Girl
Rest Day
The Vespa
A Good Man
Amsterdam
Student Card
Araby
Beneath the Earth
“Amsterdam” was a dark and powerful story. A father’s son was murdered. We get back story about the son’s growing years. At first the father and birth mother, Sarah, had a challenging time connecting with their son. Eventually they grew use to Billy and the things he did.
….At age four, Billy was lost in a shopping center.
….At age six, the father found himself so in ‘aw’ about how beautiful he found his son, (not in a sexual way), but he saw his little body as pure elegance—so much so, the father wondered whether he needed professional help or if it was normal for a father to love his son so deeply.
….when his son was just a little older, he caught his father watching pornography on the computer. Just standing there while his father flicked through series of images on the screen.
….The father went back to work soon after the funeral. He needed to travel to Amsterdam for work. Sarah went with him. An ABSURD scene took place at the Anne Frank House - disturbing….puzzling …(the overall context was happening while grief was penetrating the father)….
In the end I was thinking, “Does what happen in Amsterdam stay in Amsterdam? —and? what’s next?
…..the reader examines the damage.
It’s a powerful story.
The title story, “Beneath the Earth” is the darkest.
Sample first sentence:
“It was no easy task to dig a child’s grave”. It’s a devastating/ horrific story.
FACT: JOHN BOYNE CAN WRITE!!!! ……
These stories were varied. Thought-provoking. Disturbing. Hopeful. Humorous. Intimate. Intense. Sharp. Unsparing. Precise. It was often the heavy punch - that took my breath away.
I continue to love Boyne’s work…..
He’s wickedly intelligent, clever, astute, perspective and simply brilliant.
John Boyne has a new book out soon…”The Echo Chamber”.
My understanding is that they are deep in ‘satire’. Sounds a little different….so we shall see….ha, I’m a little worried. They might be too much for me….
But as for these stories: THUMBS UP!
November 24, 2022
4.5 stars
Generally, short story collections are highly uneven when it comes to the quality of the individual pieces. Not this one.
"Beneath the Earth" has to be one of the most highly-skilled, versatile and yet easy to read literary collections I've ever run across.
The stories are all modern in structure, but not with the vague endings or absurdist-abstract twists that mar so many short stories written in the last 40 years. Each tale leaves a clear impression of a scene, a character or an entire life. They are complete thoughts, not fragments nor blurry impressions.
Remarkable.
And a true joy to read.
Also remarkable is that a fair amount of the stories feature a young gay man as either the main character or a side character. In that sense, it's also a semi-LGBTQ+ collection.
I didn't love every piece, but I highly respect the effortless (seeming!) talent that goes into creating short fiction of this quality.
Highly recommended!
Generally, short story collections are highly uneven when it comes to the quality of the individual pieces. Not this one.
"Beneath the Earth" has to be one of the most highly-skilled, versatile and yet easy to read literary collections I've ever run across.
The stories are all modern in structure, but not with the vague endings or absurdist-abstract twists that mar so many short stories written in the last 40 years. Each tale leaves a clear impression of a scene, a character or an entire life. They are complete thoughts, not fragments nor blurry impressions.
Remarkable.
And a true joy to read.
Also remarkable is that a fair amount of the stories feature a young gay man as either the main character or a side character. In that sense, it's also a semi-LGBTQ+ collection.
I didn't love every piece, but I highly respect the effortless (seeming!) talent that goes into creating short fiction of this quality.
Highly recommended!
August 8, 2021
This is a book of 12 short stories by author John Boyne exploring the extremities of the human condition in all its brilliance and brutality.
I am not a big fan of short stories as they often lack the substance of a full length novel but John Boyne is an author I love to read so I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to read one of his books. This is a very good collection of short stories, many of which had me thinking about them afterwards and I am sure I will read again some day.. As you would expect from a collection there are some very strong stories such as ‘Amsterdam’ and “Beneath The Earth” but all are very good and memorable.
Most of the stories are pretty dark but go to show what a fine writer John Boyne is.
I am not a big fan of short stories as they often lack the substance of a full length novel but John Boyne is an author I love to read so I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to read one of his books. This is a very good collection of short stories, many of which had me thinking about them afterwards and I am sure I will read again some day.. As you would expect from a collection there are some very strong stories such as ‘Amsterdam’ and “Beneath The Earth” but all are very good and memorable.
Most of the stories are pretty dark but go to show what a fine writer John Boyne is.
July 18, 2020
I'm not a huge fan of short stories...but I am a huge fan of John Boyne so had to read this collection!
It is really good - my favourites are The Schleinermetzenmann, Haystack Girl & A Good Man.
But they are all really good - some are more disturbing than others!
The characters are brilliantly captured but as always with short stories I wanted more of each one!
Loved it anyways :)
It is really good - my favourites are The Schleinermetzenmann, Haystack Girl & A Good Man.
But they are all really good - some are more disturbing than others!
The characters are brilliantly captured but as always with short stories I wanted more of each one!
Loved it anyways :)
February 17, 2017
This is a book of twelve shorts stories and I read this book in two days. And that is going some as I am a slow reader but loved it so much I just couldn't stop reading.
The themes are interesting, mysterious and dark and one of them even written in the second person - You don't come across that every day.
This is the first John Boyne book I have read and have noted 'Must read more of his!' Great stuff - recommended.
The themes are interesting, mysterious and dark and one of them even written in the second person - You don't come across that every day.
This is the first John Boyne book I have read and have noted 'Must read more of his!' Great stuff - recommended.
March 14, 2023
2.75*……..
Well, this was, for me, disappointing…..of the twelve stories only two scraped in at four stars, and six were three stars, and I felt that was generous, and mostly because the writing was good……..four were definitely only worth two stars.
I read one story a day, and if I’m honest, I didn’t really look forward to them. They were dark, the characters were damaged, hopeless, soulless…..
I found it a such sad book… the stories seemed so devoid of any kind of hopefulness.
As I said, the writing was good, but I found myself wondering what had happened to the author that gave us such books as The Heart's Invisible Furies…..
There are lots of good reviews for this book, so maybe it just didn’t resonate with me.
Well, this was, for me, disappointing…..of the twelve stories only two scraped in at four stars, and six were three stars, and I felt that was generous, and mostly because the writing was good……..four were definitely only worth two stars.
I read one story a day, and if I’m honest, I didn’t really look forward to them. They were dark, the characters were damaged, hopeless, soulless…..
I found it a such sad book… the stories seemed so devoid of any kind of hopefulness.
As I said, the writing was good, but I found myself wondering what had happened to the author that gave us such books as The Heart's Invisible Furies…..
There are lots of good reviews for this book, so maybe it just didn’t resonate with me.
August 5, 2016
Entertaining collection of short stories by John Boyne, a master story teller.
September 12, 2021
Beneath The Earth is a collection of twelve delightful short stories. Whilst each merits its own critique, I choose to comment on my favourite story: ‘The Schleinermetzenmann’.
‘The Schleinermetzenmann’, is an ingenious comedy written in the first person by Pierce Mulligan whom I presume is in his early thirties. Twelve years previously, Pierce had a book published. Time Out referred to him as: ‘possibly a novelist to keep an eye on in the future in case he produces something more interesting.’ The book sinks without a trace and he vows never to write again.
The former writer is working on a dairy farm in Bavaria, when news of his mother’s death reaches him. He returns to Ireland where he and his sister, Audrey, are tasked with arranging a funeral. In her will, the mother requests that her son’s childhood friend, Arthur, says a few words at her grave — not a welcome prospect for Pierce or Audrey.
It’s been ten years since Arthur has been in contact with Pierce, and Audrey hasn’t seen Arthur since their one-night stand in their final year at secondary school.
While Pierce devotedly milks German cows, Arthur is busy milking the success of his only published novel, regarding himself as a celebrity and imagining every stranger to be a fan. He impresses his followers with words that are not only long but sometimes invented.
Pierce reluctantly sits through one of Arthur’s pretentious book readings. After the reading, Pierce asks him to speak at his mother’s funeral according to her wishes. It’s unclear why the mother was so close to Arthur.
Glad of a captive audience, Arthur uses the service and the wake to showcase his spurious brilliance. He even feigns competency in Japanese which leaves a woman amongst the mourners, Xi-Go Luan, quite bewildered. After the funeral, Pierce returns to Germany and to his beloved, perhaps too beloved, herd.
Pierce is consumed by jealousy of Arthur. The resolution of the series of events for Pierce is the joy of revelling in Schadenfreude.
There is neither precision to the setting nor physical description of the characters. There’s not even a character to root for. But, upon a first read, I enjoyed the story simply for the humour, particularly Arthur’s hilarious affectation.
Upon a second read, I appreciated the work not as one of Arthur’s acolytes might but on a deeper level. The layers unravelled and the genius of this strangely endearing game of words became clearer.
For example, at the funeral, we might presume Xi-Go Luan to be a Japanese woman. Whereas, the name is created by Boyne from Chinese elements which imply she is in fact male.
We laugh at Arthur’s ‘hollow, empty and vacant’ tautology. However, Boyne offers up his own with Pierce’s nickname, Kuhliebhabermann. The gender is already given with ‘Kuhliebhaber’, rendering ‘mann’ a redundant repetition. His local pub ‘Der Glockenspiel’ fails the grammar test: it’s ‘das’ not ‘der’ and would be called ‘Zum Glockenspiel’ anyway.
Be careful when trusting words!
‘The Schleinermetzenmann’, is an ingenious comedy written in the first person by Pierce Mulligan whom I presume is in his early thirties. Twelve years previously, Pierce had a book published. Time Out referred to him as: ‘possibly a novelist to keep an eye on in the future in case he produces something more interesting.’ The book sinks without a trace and he vows never to write again.
The former writer is working on a dairy farm in Bavaria, when news of his mother’s death reaches him. He returns to Ireland where he and his sister, Audrey, are tasked with arranging a funeral. In her will, the mother requests that her son’s childhood friend, Arthur, says a few words at her grave — not a welcome prospect for Pierce or Audrey.
It’s been ten years since Arthur has been in contact with Pierce, and Audrey hasn’t seen Arthur since their one-night stand in their final year at secondary school.
While Pierce devotedly milks German cows, Arthur is busy milking the success of his only published novel, regarding himself as a celebrity and imagining every stranger to be a fan. He impresses his followers with words that are not only long but sometimes invented.
Pierce reluctantly sits through one of Arthur’s pretentious book readings. After the reading, Pierce asks him to speak at his mother’s funeral according to her wishes. It’s unclear why the mother was so close to Arthur.
Glad of a captive audience, Arthur uses the service and the wake to showcase his spurious brilliance. He even feigns competency in Japanese which leaves a woman amongst the mourners, Xi-Go Luan, quite bewildered. After the funeral, Pierce returns to Germany and to his beloved, perhaps too beloved, herd.
Pierce is consumed by jealousy of Arthur. The resolution of the series of events for Pierce is the joy of revelling in Schadenfreude.
There is neither precision to the setting nor physical description of the characters. There’s not even a character to root for. But, upon a first read, I enjoyed the story simply for the humour, particularly Arthur’s hilarious affectation.
Upon a second read, I appreciated the work not as one of Arthur’s acolytes might but on a deeper level. The layers unravelled and the genius of this strangely endearing game of words became clearer.
For example, at the funeral, we might presume Xi-Go Luan to be a Japanese woman. Whereas, the name is created by Boyne from Chinese elements which imply she is in fact male.
We laugh at Arthur’s ‘hollow, empty and vacant’ tautology. However, Boyne offers up his own with Pierce’s nickname, Kuhliebhabermann. The gender is already given with ‘Kuhliebhaber’, rendering ‘mann’ a redundant repetition. His local pub ‘Der Glockenspiel’ fails the grammar test: it’s ‘das’ not ‘der’ and would be called ‘Zum Glockenspiel’ anyway.
Be careful when trusting words!
November 9, 2015
I have to admin that I felt very disconnected with some of the stories. While some of them worked well and had me thinking about them the next day.
This is something I always find weird about short stories books. They serve you well if you read one story and put the book down. The moment you start the next story the previous becomes something very distant.
This is something I always find weird about short stories books. They serve you well if you read one story and put the book down. The moment you start the next story the previous becomes something very distant.
January 12, 2020
John Boyne is my favourite author but this short story collection is very forgettable in my opinion. I enjoyed 4/12 of the stories and I wasn't amazed by any of them.
February 4, 2023
I never read short stories but did because John Boyne’s one of my favourite authors and he didn’t disappoint. It shows a clever author to be able to write less words and have impact on the reader which this book did. I choose 4 stars instead of 5 because some of the stories left me feeling cheated out of knowing what happens at the end. The book certainly made me look at short stories differently
April 9, 2023
A good collection of very readable short stories from one of my favourite Irish authors. The quality of the writing and the depiction of character and place were excellent throughout but I would have preferred a more conclusive ending to some of the stories. Still a 4-star read for me - 8/10.
October 19, 2022
An extra half a star because I've picked up many books of short stories and abandoned then part way through, but happily read every single story in this collection.
This collection contains some pretty awful people, but I love the way the author is able to develop such strong characters in such a short space.
This collection contains some pretty awful people, but I love the way the author is able to develop such strong characters in such a short space.
April 4, 2022
A collection of twelve short stories which explore the human condition and like other stuff, I guess? I just picked it up because JOHN BOYNE!!!
Spoilers ahead.
I'm not usually a fan of short story collections because I always want MORE of the characters or there'll be like that ONE story that just wasn't as good as the others but I still have to get through it to "properly" finish the book. Anyway, I'll just go through each story quickly.
Boy, 19
This was a story about a boy who had been sexually abused by his mother after his sister got hit by a car and died. He was taken away by child services and was smart so got a scholarship to university BUT he became a prostitute to pay for his living expenses etc. This was such a tragic story to read, made all the more tragic by the protagonist's undramatic, matter-of-fact narration. Like, the narrator thought none of this was a big deal at all while I was growing more shocked by the second. I just felt so bad for him. A teeny part of me does wish I had his brain though--I have quite a lot of time for studying yet I'm in like the bottom decile of my class. :-/ Strong start to the short story collection though! I was so worried I wouldn't find it interesting but who am I kidding? This is John freaking Boyne.
The Country You Called Home
Oof, I don't know about this one. It's about the turmoil in Ireland and how Émile's father goes to war. Then twenty years later, Émile himself goes to war. I don't know much about the conflict in Ireland (aside from the little I've read in Boyne's books and watched on Derry Girls) so perhaps that's why this wasn't as hard-hitting for me? The twenty years later bit also felt quite abrupt.
The Schleinermetzenmann
Oooh, I really liked this one! It's about Pierce's feelings of jealousy for Arthur's success in publishing his first book and getting more recognition than Pierce ever did. This also coincides with Pierce's mother's funeral. Initially, I thought the story was hilarious especially the way Arthur was portrayed as this egotistic writer using fancy words and pretending to be super deep about things. He also seemed to think he was the centre of attention all the time. I want to be an author and I really don't want to become like Arthur--super full of myself! (Though I don't know whether I'll even get published or noticed.) But then Pierce has this one-page ramble about how HIS book hadn't been successful and he had realised he just wasn't a good writer and that resonated with me too because not everyone can be a good writer and perhaps I should stop because I obviously have no skill. But there was this resignation around that which made me feel...strange? For lack of a better word. Also, I realised I couldn't trust everything Pierce said because he was so keen to hate on Arthur. I still found the story funny especially the banter between Pierce and his sister Audrey. This story does make you think though about whether you should really keep trying to put yourself out there or accept your fate and raise cattle someplace.
Empire Tour
This story was about a husband and wife's relationship essentially crumbling down all around them. What I liked about this story was how slice-of-life it was and I guess you can say that about a lot of Boyne's work. He's able to draw out poems where most people just see plainness. But anyway, I was just a little disappointed that there was no proper conclusion/resolution. I have no idea if Agatha or Archie will mend their ways and perhaps that ambiguity was intentional but I want to know!
Haystack Girl
Oh my GODS!!! I was rooting for Danny to start with and then he revealed more and more things like telling his family about his father's cheating (which I kind of support? The informing, not the cheating.) and posting that horrible video of his sister Lizzie having sex on haystack. And after Lizzie left for London, all he could think to ask for was the bigger room! I also thought the narrator was a girl until halfway through because it opens with an old man eyeing Danny. Implicit biases at play?
Rest Day
This story was okay. It's about a man named Hawke fighting in the war and thinking about deserting. I thought it was quite timely, reading about him thinking of just walking in the forest and not turning back. I mean, I've thought similar things too about just getting out of the uni, just walking and walking and walking and never coming back but then I'd be so cold and miserable with no food or money. I just wish, I suppose, that everything could just cease to be.
The Vespa
This was a shorter story about a boy named Seán who likes this boy with a Vespa. Seán has these conversations planned only to learn that his older sister is going out with this guy. He tries to take the keys from the Vespa but the guy slaps him and takes them back and drives off with Seán's sister. How fucking brutal is that? And, like, wow, the whole had-four-topics-lined-up-to-talk-about thing was far too relatable. That's me in literally every social situation.
A Good Man
So, a contract killer takes a literature course and he goes on holiday with his wife and son (who is probably gay). The premise was certainly interesting but I wanted more! I wasn't really sure what the conflict was. I mean, I still enjoyed reading this story but I feel like something has to be resolved in stories and nothing WAS resolved, it was more slice-of-life minus conflict. Mixed feelings about this one.
Amsterdam
The American girl on her phone in Anne Frank's house was so infuriating to read about! This story was really interesting overall. Told in second-person, I was unsure about where it was headed but then we learn how "your" son was killed in a car accident by a woman talking on the phone as she drove and how Sarah, "your" wife, wants things to be like before but you don't feel the same way. I felt so sure that the protagonist would patch things with Sarah but the protagonist ended up running away instead. :-/
Student Card
This was a short and funny story about Bikram Singh Sharma who just wants his uni ID card to be amended so he's not called "Bullshit" goddammit. He ends up sleeping with the girl behind the counter and has a weird fetish for ankles. But anyway, the name issue is SO REAL! I mean my initials spell out "SM" which, ugh, thank you Rihanna for the strange connotation, and also, "S More" which is quite quirky and cute but also means everyone pronounces my last name wrong.
Araby
This was about a young boy whose parents went to Canada and left him with his aunt temporarily. He has a crush on Mangan, the boy next door. He watches one of Mangan's rugby matches and is distraught by the lack of attention he receives and returns home miserable. I really liked this story and it resonated a lot with me because I'm always getting rejected or spurned (sad life lol) but then the last sentence is:
And I was just like ????? What is this????? It just felt so out of the blue! Definitely need a full novel out of this one. Honestly, that's the case for most of these stories.
Beneath the Earth
HOLY SHIT WHAT A WAY TO ROUND OFF THIS COLLECTION! The narrator of the story owns land and buries his wife there when she dies. His daughter becomes pregnant and he kills the child right after birth (since it's a girl) and buries her there too. Just the tone of this story--it's so shocking and dark! And I really hated the narrator and felt twisted and tainted for reading from his POV. I guess that's how you know you're reading the work of a talented writer!
In sum, READ THIS! It's GOOD! <3
Spoilers ahead.
I'm not usually a fan of short story collections because I always want MORE of the characters or there'll be like that ONE story that just wasn't as good as the others but I still have to get through it to "properly" finish the book. Anyway, I'll just go through each story quickly.
Boy, 19
This was a story about a boy who had been sexually abused by his mother after his sister got hit by a car and died. He was taken away by child services and was smart so got a scholarship to university BUT he became a prostitute to pay for his living expenses etc. This was such a tragic story to read, made all the more tragic by the protagonist's undramatic, matter-of-fact narration. Like, the narrator thought none of this was a big deal at all while I was growing more shocked by the second. I just felt so bad for him. A teeny part of me does wish I had his brain though--I have quite a lot of time for studying yet I'm in like the bottom decile of my class. :-/ Strong start to the short story collection though! I was so worried I wouldn't find it interesting but who am I kidding? This is John freaking Boyne.
The Country You Called Home
Oof, I don't know about this one. It's about the turmoil in Ireland and how Émile's father goes to war. Then twenty years later, Émile himself goes to war. I don't know much about the conflict in Ireland (aside from the little I've read in Boyne's books and watched on Derry Girls) so perhaps that's why this wasn't as hard-hitting for me? The twenty years later bit also felt quite abrupt.
The Schleinermetzenmann
Oooh, I really liked this one! It's about Pierce's feelings of jealousy for Arthur's success in publishing his first book and getting more recognition than Pierce ever did. This also coincides with Pierce's mother's funeral. Initially, I thought the story was hilarious especially the way Arthur was portrayed as this egotistic writer using fancy words and pretending to be super deep about things. He also seemed to think he was the centre of attention all the time. I want to be an author and I really don't want to become like Arthur--super full of myself! (Though I don't know whether I'll even get published or noticed.) But then Pierce has this one-page ramble about how HIS book hadn't been successful and he had realised he just wasn't a good writer and that resonated with me too because not everyone can be a good writer and perhaps I should stop because I obviously have no skill. But there was this resignation around that which made me feel...strange? For lack of a better word. Also, I realised I couldn't trust everything Pierce said because he was so keen to hate on Arthur. I still found the story funny especially the banter between Pierce and his sister Audrey. This story does make you think though about whether you should really keep trying to put yourself out there or accept your fate and raise cattle someplace.
Empire Tour
This story was about a husband and wife's relationship essentially crumbling down all around them. What I liked about this story was how slice-of-life it was and I guess you can say that about a lot of Boyne's work. He's able to draw out poems where most people just see plainness. But anyway, I was just a little disappointed that there was no proper conclusion/resolution. I have no idea if Agatha or Archie will mend their ways and perhaps that ambiguity was intentional but I want to know!
Haystack Girl
Oh my GODS!!! I was rooting for Danny to start with and then he revealed more and more things like telling his family about his father's cheating (which I kind of support? The informing, not the cheating.) and posting that horrible video of his sister Lizzie having sex on haystack. And after Lizzie left for London, all he could think to ask for was the bigger room! I also thought the narrator was a girl until halfway through because it opens with an old man eyeing Danny. Implicit biases at play?
Rest Day
This story was okay. It's about a man named Hawke fighting in the war and thinking about deserting. I thought it was quite timely, reading about him thinking of just walking in the forest and not turning back. I mean, I've thought similar things too about just getting out of the uni, just walking and walking and walking and never coming back but then I'd be so cold and miserable with no food or money. I just wish, I suppose, that everything could just cease to be.
The Vespa
This was a shorter story about a boy named Seán who likes this boy with a Vespa. Seán has these conversations planned only to learn that his older sister is going out with this guy. He tries to take the keys from the Vespa but the guy slaps him and takes them back and drives off with Seán's sister. How fucking brutal is that? And, like, wow, the whole had-four-topics-lined-up-to-talk-about thing was far too relatable. That's me in literally every social situation.
A Good Man
So, a contract killer takes a literature course and he goes on holiday with his wife and son (who is probably gay). The premise was certainly interesting but I wanted more! I wasn't really sure what the conflict was. I mean, I still enjoyed reading this story but I feel like something has to be resolved in stories and nothing WAS resolved, it was more slice-of-life minus conflict. Mixed feelings about this one.
Amsterdam
The American girl on her phone in Anne Frank's house was so infuriating to read about! This story was really interesting overall. Told in second-person, I was unsure about where it was headed but then we learn how "your" son was killed in a car accident by a woman talking on the phone as she drove and how Sarah, "your" wife, wants things to be like before but you don't feel the same way. I felt so sure that the protagonist would patch things with Sarah but the protagonist ended up running away instead. :-/
Student Card
This was a short and funny story about Bikram Singh Sharma who just wants his uni ID card to be amended so he's not called "Bullshit" goddammit. He ends up sleeping with the girl behind the counter and has a weird fetish for ankles. But anyway, the name issue is SO REAL! I mean my initials spell out "SM" which, ugh, thank you Rihanna for the strange connotation, and also, "S More" which is quite quirky and cute but also means everyone pronounces my last name wrong.
Araby
This was about a young boy whose parents went to Canada and left him with his aunt temporarily. He has a crush on Mangan, the boy next door. He watches one of Mangan's rugby matches and is distraught by the lack of attention he receives and returns home miserable. I really liked this story and it resonated a lot with me because I'm always getting rejected or spurned (sad life lol) but then the last sentence is:
That part of me that would be driven by desire and loneliness had awoken and was planning cruelties and anguish that I could not yet imagine.
And I was just like ????? What is this????? It just felt so out of the blue! Definitely need a full novel out of this one. Honestly, that's the case for most of these stories.
Beneath the Earth
HOLY SHIT WHAT A WAY TO ROUND OFF THIS COLLECTION! The narrator of the story owns land and buries his wife there when she dies. His daughter becomes pregnant and he kills the child right after birth (since it's a girl) and buries her there too. Just the tone of this story--it's so shocking and dark! And I really hated the narrator and felt twisted and tainted for reading from his POV. I guess that's how you know you're reading the work of a talented writer!
In sum, READ THIS! It's GOOD! <3
September 14, 2020
What with Mr Boyne being quite inept when it comes to writing bad books, this selection of shorter works is great. We start with a boy from a modern sort of broken home becoming a rent boy, and are reminded of how he does like to tubthump about homosexuality a bit too much, but the results still work. Less successful is a debate about Ireland being neutral in WWI, before a hilarious look at two different men who used to be friends as children but who have both dabbled in writing since. It's hilarious yet also one of the bitterest things you'll ever turn to. Agatha Christie on holiday isn't terribly interesting, however – a misstep. The fifth piece has a nicely youthful colloquialism about it, meaning that when it looks at a certain fallout of being outed at school, it smacks of plausibility, even if probably its "unreliable narrator" is less unreliable than his fellow characters might have it. Elsewhere we gain from a soldier's restless mind on what was supposed to be a Christmastime day off; a very funny vignette almost, about a student registering at university; a grieving travel writer; a contract killer; more gay schoolboys; and, er, the closing misogynist.
What surprised me most was the humour – not a thing that's spread lavishly across the pages of his novels. What didn't surprise me was the amount of masturbation – and lots of allusions and aspersions to other things – which more or less are. But the short stories here do more or less fit into his career output – historical at times, gay-inflected at times, both at times, and always rather nicely full of character, mature incident and insight. You'd probably not gift this to your local vicar, but for a certain more liberal taste these works are fine indeed.
What surprised me most was the humour – not a thing that's spread lavishly across the pages of his novels. What didn't surprise me was the amount of masturbation – and lots of allusions and aspersions to other things – which more or less are. But the short stories here do more or less fit into his career output – historical at times, gay-inflected at times, both at times, and always rather nicely full of character, mature incident and insight. You'd probably not gift this to your local vicar, but for a certain more liberal taste these works are fine indeed.
November 8, 2024
I give this collection four stars for only one reason because one of the stories (I am sorry I can't remember it's title and do not have a copy any more) may be a unintended or maybe intended insight into the 'real' John Boyne. The story is about two men who grow up in the same neighbourhood and both become writers - one a complete failure - the other a huge success. For the failed author the success of the other is all the more frustrating because his rival has twisted their mutual past into a distorted tissue of lies and falsifications. So successfully that no one believes the other 'failed' author when he tries to set the record straight. I can't help thinking that Mr. Boyne may be confessing something.
I certainly haven't read all his novels but from The House of Special Purpose through The Absolutist, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Hearts Invisible Furies I have steadily read and been shocked by the ever increasing disregard with which he has written stories based in history which have absolutely no connection to any reality and go way beyond the parameters of suspension of belief one would give a historical fiction. He has never been called on it by any of mainstream reviewers. He has simply gathered ever greater praise for telling great stories with great realism even as the lies stack up. Like the character of the successful novelist in his story who keeps pushing the boundaries seeing if anyone will challenge his lies. But they don't and neither does anyone challenge Mr. Boyne's.
Anyway I think if he has written anything that is true then it is in this collection of stories.
I certainly haven't read all his novels but from The House of Special Purpose through The Absolutist, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Hearts Invisible Furies I have steadily read and been shocked by the ever increasing disregard with which he has written stories based in history which have absolutely no connection to any reality and go way beyond the parameters of suspension of belief one would give a historical fiction. He has never been called on it by any of mainstream reviewers. He has simply gathered ever greater praise for telling great stories with great realism even as the lies stack up. Like the character of the successful novelist in his story who keeps pushing the boundaries seeing if anyone will challenge his lies. But they don't and neither does anyone challenge Mr. Boyne's.
Anyway I think if he has written anything that is true then it is in this collection of stories.
February 23, 2019
This was a really compelling short story collection, and it was fun to read one of my favorite authors in a different medium. My personal favorites were “Haystack Girl,” “Rest Day,” “The Vespa,” and “Araby”(which is a modern retelling of the beloved Joyce story, my favorite from Dubliners, this time about a young boy coming to terms with his sexuality, falling for the older neighbor boy, and being invited to his rugby match- it perfectly captures the wistful sadness of the original.)
I will admit I don’t love them quite as much as his novels. Most of the stories were quite dark, and while Boyne is no stranger to darkness in his work, I found many of the characters in these stories unsympathetic as compared to the characters in his novels that I love dearly. I know lots of people enjoy unsympathetic protagonists, but it’s not my favorite. Regardless, the stories were great and I finished the entire collection in only a few hours.
I will admit I don’t love them quite as much as his novels. Most of the stories were quite dark, and while Boyne is no stranger to darkness in his work, I found many of the characters in these stories unsympathetic as compared to the characters in his novels that I love dearly. I know lots of people enjoy unsympathetic protagonists, but it’s not my favorite. Regardless, the stories were great and I finished the entire collection in only a few hours.
February 8, 2017
A collection of short stories set in Ireland or involving the Irish abroad, this is another strong offering from one of my favourite authors. The stories don't deal with the brighter side of life and some are downright grim as might be expected when dealing with subjects such as rent boys, hit men, war and murder, but that's never put me off yet, and I thoroughly enjoyed them all.
October 14, 2024
Mixed views on this. Boyne has been enjoying but these stories whilst definitely possessing ‘something’ didn’t really do it for me. I can appreciate the great writing but still, couldn’t quite place my finger on it.
July 16, 2024
Short story collections are always tough. If they're good, you want them to be longer, and if they're not good -- well, obvious problem there.
Also, how do you read them? One a day, rationed out? But again, if they're good, you just turn the page and start the next one. And if there's a thematic cohesion between the stories (which, ideally there is) that can lead to them bleeding together in a way that is a disservice to the individual stories.
All that to say, these stories are pretty great. Slightly uneven, which is true of probably every collection of short stories ever written, because doesn't that just mean I liked some better than others?
If you're a fan of John Boyne, I'd say this is a must read, because -- though fleeting -- each story is infused with his signature dark empathy for human foibles. (Note, these "foibles" sometimes mean murder, so I should probably pick a more substantial word, but here we are.)
Also, how do you read them? One a day, rationed out? But again, if they're good, you just turn the page and start the next one. And if there's a thematic cohesion between the stories (which, ideally there is) that can lead to them bleeding together in a way that is a disservice to the individual stories.
All that to say, these stories are pretty great. Slightly uneven, which is true of probably every collection of short stories ever written, because doesn't that just mean I liked some better than others?
If you're a fan of John Boyne, I'd say this is a must read, because -- though fleeting -- each story is infused with his signature dark empathy for human foibles. (Note, these "foibles" sometimes mean murder, so I should probably pick a more substantial word, but here we are.)
July 25, 2024
This was my choice for my library book group's 'John Boyne' theme (an unusual foray into something so specific for us) I like the short story format and this is a good collection of short stories. Possibly it is the most powerful which bookend the volume - opening with a student's casual move into sex work, and ending with a story written from the point of view of an abusive and misogynistic man (which didn't feel as much of a period piece as I would wish) Many of the stories are set in Ireland or about Irish people but some remind me of great American writers. I cannot say the overall impression was uplifting but a dry humour runs through them.
April 5, 2022
A brilliant collection of short stories. They are all very different but all equally gripping and most of them quite disturbing. I'm a bigger fan of John Boyne each time I read another book of his and this was definitely no exception.
April 17, 2025
I did not enjoy this collection of short stories- all were dark and the greater percentage left me thinking ‘what was the point of this tale’. It has fulfilled one of my reading challenges but that is the only good thing about the book for me.
November 18, 2025
Muy desigual, ninguno de los relatos me pareció especialmente memorable...
May 8, 2022
Interesting series of short stories, each a snapshot of a life. Perfect for bedtime reading!
August 10, 2023
The quality of the writing is exceptional but the subject matter was too dark for me to fully enjoy the stories.
July 27, 2024
A dozen short stories, some are dark, some funny … that last one was so disturbing, I couldn’t sleep for hours. Boyne is a fave writer♥️ so even though I didn’t take to a couple of the stories his characterisations are always so bloody great!
Proper legend!
Proper legend!
December 26, 2020
This volume of short stories is a mixed affair. Beneath the Earth starts well with "Boy, 19", in which a detached style captures the frozen emotions of a rent boy, and then goes up and depending on
whether one can or cannot put up with the contrivances. Yes, there is a lot of creative imagination, but the stories are underworked and read like experiments: ok, here is an idea, let's see where it goes. The problem is exemplified by the story in which a parent loses his cool over a disrespectful mobile telephone call. A well-timed, Dahl-like twist occurs when the reason is revealed. But why does this have to take place in the Anne Frank House and why the sudden memory of visiting Auschwitz? What does the Holocaust have to do with the story? Sometimes, the couplings are plain ludicrous -- an international hitman doing an English Lit course? What is the point of focus? A cultured killer? Or the fact that he can only think secondhand, without personal insight? The issue is lost as Boyne plays with literary in-jokes and ridiculous dialogue. His short story, "Araby", echoes Joyce's story in Dubliners: this gay coming of age narrative is a very muted echo of the master craftsman. When Boyne is on form he is very good, but when he is just churning stuff out, like these short stories, then his shortcomings really start to show.
whether one can or cannot put up with the contrivances. Yes, there is a lot of creative imagination, but the stories are underworked and read like experiments: ok, here is an idea, let's see where it goes. The problem is exemplified by the story in which a parent loses his cool over a disrespectful mobile telephone call. A well-timed, Dahl-like twist occurs when the reason is revealed. But why does this have to take place in the Anne Frank House and why the sudden memory of visiting Auschwitz? What does the Holocaust have to do with the story? Sometimes, the couplings are plain ludicrous -- an international hitman doing an English Lit course? What is the point of focus? A cultured killer? Or the fact that he can only think secondhand, without personal insight? The issue is lost as Boyne plays with literary in-jokes and ridiculous dialogue. His short story, "Araby", echoes Joyce's story in Dubliners: this gay coming of age narrative is a very muted echo of the master craftsman. When Boyne is on form he is very good, but when he is just churning stuff out, like these short stories, then his shortcomings really start to show.
December 30, 2019
After reading and absolutely adoring The Heart's Invisible Furies I really wanted to read more of Boyne's work to see how his other writing is. This short story collection seemed like the perfect opportunity and oh boy am I glad to have read this book because it was delightful! Here's why I liked this book:
* 9 out of 12 stories acknowledge the existence of gay people, and 4 even have a gay main character - that was really refreshing to read!
* Boyne experimented with the style and content (such as the MC's age, setting, tone, and there's even a story in 2nd person) and I really appreciate that
* I just really enjoy the way he writes, everything just flows
These were my three favourite stories:
1. "The Schleinermetzenmann" (hilarious!!)
2. "Haystack Girl" (about twins and scandals)
3. "A Good Man" (I want to read more of this story!)
* 9 out of 12 stories acknowledge the existence of gay people, and 4 even have a gay main character - that was really refreshing to read!
* Boyne experimented with the style and content (such as the MC's age, setting, tone, and there's even a story in 2nd person) and I really appreciate that
* I just really enjoy the way he writes, everything just flows
These were my three favourite stories:
1. "The Schleinermetzenmann" (hilarious!!)
2. "Haystack Girl" (about twins and scandals)
3. "A Good Man" (I want to read more of this story!)
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