Something to Stem the Diminishing

by Daniel Clausen

In a hotel room in Tokyo, a wife finds her husband bleeding to death after an earthquake. As this horrible man bleeds on the floor, she debates whether to save him or let him die. On a small island off Nagasaki, a writer makes his way through a town that is slowly fading away. A man finds that his shortcut to work has created a love affair that is causing him to slowly unravel. In a small town in South Florida, a young orphan decides to leave the monsters in his home for the monsters in the wilderness. What are these stories and essays? Something revolutionary or something to stem the diminishing?

Genres: Short Stories, Contemporary

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2015

About the author

Daniel has wanted to be a writer ever since he was in elementary school. He has published stories and articles in such magazines as Slipstream, Black Petals, Ken*Again, Aphelion, Spindrift, Zygote in my Coffee, BlazeVox, Euphony Journal, and Leading Edge Science Fiction (among many others).

He has written many books: The Sage and the Scarecrow (a novel), the Lexical Funk (a short story collection), Reejecttion (short story/ essay collection), ReejecttIIon -- A Number Two, (short story /essay collection collaboration with Harry Whitewolf), Something to Stem the Diminishing (short story / essay collection), The Underground Novel (a novel / self-help book), Pure Writerly Moments (a Wattpad collection of essays and stories), They're Making it Up as They Go Along (a literary experiment with Harry Whitewolf), and the Ghosts of Nagasaki (a novel).

His novel "Statues in the Cloud" is available on Amazon Kindle and in Paperback for a very reasonable price. https://www.amazon.com/Statues-Cloud-...

Reviews

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like short stories. But I usually don't read a collection of those by a single author. Because I also like variety. I might read an anthology from time to time, if several authors that I know and rate have contributed. But even then I often struggle with those, because the stories are supposed to be thematically similar. I get the publishing side of it. But I'm just not that kind of reader. I'm notoriously bad at reading a series of books. Even if I love the world, I will probably not finish your series, if it consists of more than three books. Sorry dear authors! I just always crave for something new.

That being said, I really enjoyed Daniel Clausen's novel The Ghosts of Nagasaki. It certainly was one of the most pleasant surprises of my 2019 reading year. So when the author offered me a free copy of this collection of short stories and essays in exchange for an honest review, I gladly accepted. Thanks, Daniel!

As for the honest review part. I'm also not very good at writing reviews of short story collections. But I've written a short review of every piece in this book. Maybe someone will find this helpful. So here goes:

The Beginning
We start with a very short story about a man who, in spite of professional success and wealth, is not happy. He seems to feel numb.
Way too short to leave much of an impression.
1.5 stars

Native Monsters
The second story is about a 9 year-old boy, who's hurting a lot, because of his (potentially) abusive foster parents. He dreams of monsters and of running away.
This one was better, but still lacking a proper pay-off.
2.5 stars

Youth and its Discontents
An essay on the waiting trap of middle class society and the spiritual death of the once adventurous child. On losing that fire, or maybe retaining it.
This one came as a bit of a surprise, as I was only expecting a collection of short stories. Very interesting. Some of it hit quite close to home.
4 stars, for now. But I'll read that one again.
Should I read The Catcher in the Rye as well?

Mogi
A short story about a young American on a one year contract as a teacher at an English conversation school in Nagasaki. While he very much likes the place, he feels lost, as his life is lacking direction. He starts to make regular trips to the small fishing town of Mogi. There he becomes acquainted with the family of a convenience store owner, and finally finds someone that makes him open up his mind about a couple of things.
This took a long time to be going anywhere. But the second half had some really nice moments.
3 stars
(I gave this a 2.5 initially. But two days later it's still on my mind.)

Anderson Takes the Short Way
Every day on his way to work Anderson sees a woman that he feels attracted to. But he never talks to her. Instead his imagination creates a certain persona.
Another story that is just too short to do much for me.
2 stars

Relationships
A young man attends the funeral of his mother's third husband. He's the only one showing up. His mother died shortly after she had married the guy, and he recounts the difficult relationship he had with him in the years that followed.
This is a story full of unlikeable characters, and therefore was difficult to enjoy.
1.5 stars

A Convenient Thing
In a hotel room in Tokyo, a wife finds her husband bleeding to death after an earthquake. She's debating whether to help him or not.
With more build-up this could have been real fun.
2.5 stars

Travel
At a beach in Florida an elderly man and former writer / creative writing teacher meets a surfer that has dropped out of college. The two start talking, mainly about books and writing, as the narrator also reminisces about his late wife.
This story had a certain magic, and a nice message as well.
4 stars

Something to Stem the Diminishing
The last piece is another essay. Though I'm not quite sure its topic is defined clearly enough. It's about a day-trip to Takashima, a small island off the coast of Nagasaki. It's also about writing and being stuck in the middle. This made me want to go on holiday, or at least eat some good ramen (the last one I had - in London - was not very good). Probably not the intended reaction. But I also did not have the intention to get hungry from reading this. Especially since it's almost midnight. So we're even. Anyways, I'm rambling. Enjoyed to read that one. 4 stars

Bottom line: A mixed bag. As I always expect when I pick up a book like this. I like Clausen's prose, one or two stories aside, and the better pieces were really good. Worth picking up for the essays and the very nice short story Travel alone. Though the former may not be for everyone. The other stories left something to be desired, for me. But I might read Mogi again.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of short stories and essays on the inevitability, or not, of entropy and I loved it.

The author says himself in the afterword that it's not a perfect book and it's not (what is?) but it's still well worth 5 stars, in my opinion. I found the stories deeply moving for the most part and I liked them all the more for the fact they don't follow the usual short story format but are rather attempts to 'write an emotion', as Clausen puts it.

The essays are very interesting, too. I enjoyed the comparison of Catcher In the Rye and Trainspotting as it explored some commonalities I hadn't picked up on before. I may have to re-read both books soon.

If you're 'stuck on chapter three' and wondering how to write your way through life, you could do worse than give this book a read. Excellent stuff.

[Daniel Clausen]

Hello everyone,

It’s hard to believe that this book is more than 10 years old! Though time has passed, I still consider some of the short stories and essays within it to be among my best work. These pieces continue to resonate with me, and I hope they will with you as well.

📖 **Read the short story "Mogi"** – A glimpse into a world shaped by memory, longing, and the quiet mysteries of life.
https://ghostsofnagasaki.wordpress.co...

🖋 **Explore the essay "Something to Stem the Diminishing"** – A reflection on time, loss, and the things we hold onto as the world changes around us. https://ghostsofnagasaki.wordpress.co...

Thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so proud of myself, there is an essay in this book discussing The Catcher in the Rye and how there are so many 1 and 2star ratings on here, the author is surprised that people didn't get the book. I remember hating it so went and checked out my review.... Get in! 4stars, I hated every page but still appreciated just how good it was.

One of my favourite books is by this author, Ghosts of Nagasaki, and I was hoping there would be a story revisiting the style of that writing and in "Mogi" there was, I got to experience the awe I felt whilst reading GoN. How can somebody write something that good?

One thing I've noticed when reading collections of short stories is the stories all have the same voice, they might be vastly different but in my head the voice reading is the same. Mr Clausen must have a different personality because when I started "Relationships" for a while I thought I'd picked up a different book and in "Travel" again it changes and the voice is an elderly, slightly sober, reminiscing Bukowski.

There are a couple of very short stories, almost flash fiction, and they weren't for me, they were good but I like a bit more depth to my stories. It is nice to find out you are not a robot and you can still read a story that makes you emotional. Fantastic book, wish it were longer though.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3-3.5 stars. A collection of short stories and essays by the author of The Ghosts of Nagasaki. One essay on The Catcher in the Rye took me back to my experience of student teaching many years ago when that book was assigned to a sophomore class. It's interesting how some readers identify with Holden Caulfield and others reject the story.

Among the short stories, the theme of the fear/dread/confusion of reaching adulthood seems to continue. My favorite is 'Travel', where an old man, a published author and teacher who has lost his wife and is losing his memory, connects with a young surfer who dreams of writing--and awakens the older man to the possibilities that still remain in life. 'Mogi' is another good story about connections and experiences while living and teaching in Nagasaki and exploring the area.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with a Kindle copy of this collection.

[Rebecca Gransden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reflective collection of mostly short stories, with a couple of essays. The sense of place, and perspectives on that, are where this worked strongest for me. Recurring themes of relation to institutions persist - education and the military loom large. Individual moments of invention, but there’s a studied flatness which is self-conscious and constrained at times, which left me feeling there was a tone of how to write and exercise. The Ghosts of Nagasaki is an exceedingly enjoyable book which escapes this impression entirely, and I encourage anyone to read it and see what Clausen is capable of. This collection whilst it wrestles with the expectations, frustrations and wants thrown up in subject, simultaneously debates with form itself. If this is the point then fair enough, and I’m not against doing that but there’s just too much competency for me! I think this is maybe just a result of my taste not fitting, which surprised me as I’ve liked Clausen’s work in the past. In summary, a few standouts but overall interested rather than moved.

[Harry Whitewolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having written a book with Daniel Clausen, I guess I can’t help but be biased with this review, but if anything, that makes me perhaps more critical than I would have been otherwise.

So, I did have the occasional gripe about Something to Stem the Diminishing, but I honestly enjoyed every story (and most of the nine stories and essays contained in this short book have been published in various magazines, so they come together surprisingly well for a collection).

The clear winning piece for me was the short story Mogi, which felt like it could have been a forgotten chapter from a previous version of Clausen’s novel Ghosts of Nagasaki. I’ve known places like Mogi, even though they weren’t in Japan. A few miles outside of Nagasaki, Mogi is the sort of place that foreigners don’t frequent, but for the protagonist Rath, this small fishing village has all the charm of a rustic old-fashioned Japan that any true traveller would want to spend time with. Mogi itself would appreciate the gesture of a white boy finding peace and quiet there (and I haven’t even mentioned the ensuing story of a local girl that Rath befriends). But I really felt Mogi myself, as I remembered small places I’ve travelled to, where the people who live there will say, “Why do you want to come here?” like it’s the equivalent of someone from Bolivia coming to the UK and wanting to spend their time in Eastbourne.

Other favourites from this collection were: A Convenient Thing, Travel, and Youth And Its Discontents; the latter being an essay with the premise that The Catcher In The Rye and Trainspotting are “the same book in different times and locations”, which greatly surpasses being a boring compare and contrast essay between Holden and Renton, and which is equally about why the author has been carrying the essay idea around in his head for so long.

So the essays in this book don’t feel like essays at all. These are all stories. And Daniel Clausen knows the truth: that life is just a bunch of stories. And he knows how to write the right ones too.
The more of Daniel’s work I read, the more I understand what his writing’s all about. These are all true stories to some degree, even though they’re not. Recurring themes of death, travel, writing, expectations, making decisions, growing up, timelessness… they all wrap together into a very satisfying whole.

There’s a bittersweet, empathic feeling in these stories. Something that manages to pick the exact moments of life that are worthy of being produced as fiction. Something endearing and really likeable about Clausen’s clean and enticing prose style. Something that will touch you. Something to… stem the diminishing.

[David W. Cofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Something to Stem the Diminishing," by Daniel Clausen, is a collection of short stories and essays that explore relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and essays and highly recommend them to anyone who wants to read excellent literary stories that make you think about them long after the reading.

I will provide a brief summary of each story or essay below.

"The Beginning" is the first story in the book. It is very short, only about a page, but powerful. Don't let the length of the story mislead you into thinking it is shallow, for it is anything but. I read it twice to fully understand the message of the story. Let me just say it is a powerful story.

"Youth and Its Discontents" is a thoughtful essay about Salinger's "Cather in the Rye" and Irvine Welsh's "Trainspotting."

"Mogi," a lengthy short story was my favorite story in the collection. The story is about an American in Japan teaching English to Japanese speakers and his relationship to both the city of Mogi and to a Japanese girl he meets, Mihoko. This is a great story.

"Relationships" is another powerful story about a teenager and his relationship with his mother and stepdad. I will have to say the ending was unexpected.

"A Convenient Thing" is another nice story, short but powerful. The story is about a woman whose husband was injured in an earthquake and her indecision about coming to his aid.

"Travel" is an interesting short story about the narrator who meets a surfer on the Florida beach on a cold day and the relationship between the two.

"Something to Stem the Diminishing," the final essay in the book is about the author's visit to an island off the coast of Nagasaki.

Once again, these were all great stories, each and every one. You won't be disappointed.

[Lois Welsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a paperback that will make you think.

Very interesting stories.

Fast read and held my interest.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure:
1. I received an advanced copy of the book.
2. I have an English degree and I work as a professional editor and writer of professional and technical documents, and have also worked as a journalist, all of which, I think, colors my perspective of this collection.

I found these pieces read a lot like a graduate portfolio. Most of the stories or essays felt like they had stemmed from a specific prompt and were then edited and polished, resulting in what would read as a pretty strong portfolio. I think if I were reading any of these pieces in a writing workshop or university course, I would give overall positive feedback and criticism as a peer. I also think if I were reading them in such a course, a level of analysis and intentional critiquing would be required that might make me find potential flaws or weaknesses that, as a reader outside of an educational setting, I don't seek out intentionally.

Overall, while the collection was not bad, it did have that sort of scholarly, sometimes self-consciously clever feel about it that prevents me from becoming absorbed in a story or character, as it feels too distinctly like it was written for a given audience or to serve a specific person. I love reading short stories, and don't find them to be too fleeting in their nature or anything like that, but this collection didn't feel like it was written by a masterful, imaginative storyteller so much as someone very highly trained in the academic qualities of what makes a story good in theory.

TL;DR: It had its moments and I didn't mind reading the book at all, but it didn't leave me breathless or desperately seeking something similar.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author invited me to read Something to Stem the Diminishing and review it. I've read and enjoyed some of his work before. This book offers some poignant sketches, through short stories and essays, which focus on pivotal times and thoughts in the characters' lives. Most of them are reflective in nature and really give the reader the sense of being inside the character's head. I completely enjoyed the essay, "Youth and Its Discontents", particularly the way the writing form meshes with the theme of digressions.

While each of these essays and stories could stand alone, they hang well together in the book. In each written piece, the author explores the thoughts and motivations behind the character's actions or inaction. Some of these are a bit dark, but I think portrayed in a way that any reader could relate to. Most of the content is written for a mature, adult audience.

The settings range from a foster home, to Nagasaki and other Japanese places, to a town in Florida. The characters' ages cover the spectrum from childhood to older adult. Interactions between child and adult, inside of dysfunctional marriages, and thoughts of a young man as he grows up are all explored in the various writings.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read and explore
human development and maturation. The writing is solid, and it was an interesting read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from author Daniel Clausen for an honest review and to watch for any obvious editing needs.

I really enjoyed this collection of stories. My first experience with the author was when I read The Ghosts of Nagasaki. I enjoyed The Ghosts of Nagasaki and was very pleased reading this collection of essays and stories.

I really enjoyed Relationships. I think this was my favorite story. The interaction between the old man and the surfer was very interesting.

My second favorite was Mogi. It was the longest of all the stories and felt a little let down when it was over. I only felt this way because for me the story could have gone on for longer. I almost felt like this short story could have been turned into a novel.

I am very happy to have received a copy of this collection and hope anyone else who reads it enjoys it as much as I did.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something captivating about this book that drew me in and refused to let go. While the stories and essays are "short" in page number, they are not in depth and emotion. Each one left a piece of itself behind with me.
The best word that I can use to describe any work of Daniel Clausen's that I've read is "haunting." Not in an eerie, chills sort of way, but in a way that sticks with me, leaves me wanting more, but wondering if my mind can handle the bending, the deeper thoughts.
I loved this book and highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[tx · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some stories more than others, of course. As a European transplant who traveled alone a lot many years ago, I often found myself in these pages.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most of the reviewers here, I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought that several of the stories, namely "Mogi" and "Relationships", were very good. My only complaint about some of the shorter pieces, "A Convenient Thing" for instance, is that they ended too quickly, soon after I became curious about, but not yet invested in, their characters. The book's title, taken from that of the final story in the collection, is a fantastic one and very appropriate in that it embodies the general feeling that seems to permeate each of the selections: fighting the good fight against the inevitable demise of all things.

The thread that seems to bind all the essays and stories in this collection, from my perspective at least, is the recurring theme of relationships; both more readily-refinable relationships like those between children and parents, husbands and wives, between an older adult and the memory of his/her younger self, between a young person and the anxiety they feel toward whatever might become the adult version of themself, as well a relationships that are more difficult to define, like those relationships that happen to develop, sometimes accidently, often briefly, always unexpectedly, between two people who seemingly have very little in common and may never meet again beyond the initial encounter, but who do not take that encounter for granted, choosing instead to embrace the encounter for whatever it might be, for however briefly it might endure (like the author and the young surfer in "Travel", or Rath and Mihoko in "Mogi", for example).

Thank you to Daniel for sharing your work with us. I look forward to reading his novels, and having a chance to delve even more deeply.

[Beckie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is long overdue. I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review and then things happened, life got in the way, and so on, but I promised a review, and here it is.

I found myself really enjoying the stories in Something to Stem the Diminishing. They made me stop and think. Think about life, about choices, about changes and 'what-ifs', regardless of the length of the short story or essay.

I have to say that Mogi was my favorite of all of them. I loved the characters and the quiet fishing village that seemed almost lost in time in comparison to the city not far from it. It really came alive through the telling for me and I could almost feel myself there with Rath meeting the residents, riding through the hills, every part of it. I really didn't want the story to end. I could easily see it becoming the beginning of its own novel.

Every telling in this book is filled with struggles and emotions that come alive easily in the writing.

[Jaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I was given a copy of the book to review by the author*

Something to Stem the Diminishing by Daniel Clausen was an interesting contemplation of adulthood and self-reflection. In fact, my favorite quote is "adulthood is troublesome" - Amen, Daniel.

As a collection of short stories ranging from the micro to macro I preferred the story "Mogi" and the two essays, "Youth and its Discontents" & "Something to Stem the Diminishing." These three I believe held the central theme very closely and kept me thoroughly engaged. The short "Native Monsters" felt disconnected from the rest of the collection and since it was also the first it took me longer than I would have like to dig into the rest of them.

Lots of beautiful language that matches the beautiful landscapes described. Would definitely recommend this to all my short story loving friends.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something to Stem the Diminishing, by Daniel Clausen, is very good. It's not easy for me to compare anyone to Hemingway, but the simplicity and honesty in Clausen's stories and essays remind me of the American great. It's hard for the reader to tell how much autobiography is included in this collection, but the fact that some stories seem 100% true says a lot about the author's reflective style.

It's hard for me to believe that Clausen is not more well known and has not been signed by a major publisher. (He is self-published.) I can't recommend him highly enough. This is the second book by this author I have read, and despite his tendency to number his pages backwards (odd-numbered pages on the right), I look forward to reading more.

[Arcanian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author Daniel Clausen for a review.

The book is a collection of short stories that have a variety of settings and characters. My favorite story was "Mogi", which could have been longer and published as a novella.

A few of the stories are so short they seem more like a middle chapter/section in a larger story and could benefit from further development. Despite that, they still draw you in and make you want to know what happened before and where it goes next.

Overall, the book was a very enjoyable and quick read, but the stories and some of the characters stay with you after you've finished.

[Anthony Kizer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book pretty quick, but don't let that get you down. I really enjoyed all the stories that are presented within the pages. The stories were nice and concise but gratifying. One of the stories within reminded me of Lord of the Flies in a surpising twist. See if you can spot the story for yourselves if you decide to read it. I would happily read more from this author.

I did get this book for free, so I am providing this review for the book.

[Conny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from the Author in exchange for a review, which I am more than happy to provide. This is a collection of short stories and essays and like with all of Daniel Clausen's work you are always entertained. I never know where a story will take me and I like that. Its a fairly quick read but very well done.

[SALLY WHITE]

Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. The book is a collection of short stories. I really enjoyed the read. For such a short book, it makes you think about life in general, such as growing up and the problems that come with it. The stories present you with real life dilemmas. Its hard to choose a favourite story, but I would probably choose Mogi.
.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

An emotionally moving and intelligent little book of essays and short stories that examines the dilemma of growing up, the feelings of fear and loss of the unknown. the fear of loss of freedom and of making the wrong choices.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are good at getting inside a character’s head and taking you along on their journey, particularly through thought processes that are clearer to the reader than the character. That works interestingly, and the writing is solid. Nice work.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Goodreads win review. This book is a collection of short stories and essays. It is about different stages of life but the tiny print made it hard for me to read.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book through GoodReads. I have been meaning to write a review, but the California heatwave made it impossible for me to put any effort into anything. Now that it's finally over, I can finally write this review.

I was most excited to read the story about the woman debating whether or not to save her dying husband, but I found myself liking "Relationships", "Mogi", "Native Monsters" and "Travel" a lot more.

Native Monsters is about a child who is under the care of abusive foster parents and uses his imagination as a form of escapism. It reminds me of "My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry" by Fredrik Backman and "The Child Finder" by Renee Denfeld in the way that the story is told through a child's imagination.

Mogi tells the story of a young man who is lost in life and is in Japan as an English teacher. While in Japan, he discovers a small town named Mogi and develops relationships with some of the locals.

Relationships tells the story of a man attending his step-father's funeral and recounts their entire relationship. You watch this boy feel powerless after he is left in this man's care soon after the man marries the boy's mother as the mother is killed in an accident. The town is wary of this man, and the man shows little care or concern for this kid for most of their relationship. Despite this, we begin to see a type of relationship form between the two when the protagonist invites the step-father to one of his games, and he actually starts showing up in support. In the end, he is the only person who ends up showing up at this man's funeral. This one was my favorite story in the book.

Travel is the story of an elderly man who appears to suffer from some type of memory loss. He meets a younger man, and the two discuss life. It's the story of one man's life ending as the other man's life is beginning.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read The Ghosts of Nagasaki awhile back and loved it, so when I scored a free copy of Something to Stem the Diminishing, I was obviously excited to pry it open. This book is a collection of short stories (or, rather, 3 short stories 4 super-short stories) and 2 essays (the second of the pair is more of an anecdote about the time Clausen took a day trip to a small island while living in Japan) though, so I was also nervous. I don’t read short stories much — no particular reason — but I wasn’t sure how Clausen’s characters would fare in a condensed timeline.

Not surprisingly, there are a few similarities between both books, like oppressive foster parents and nostalgia for “the good ‘ol days.” Also not surprisingly, there are a few overarching themes throughout this collection: the disappointment and disillusionment of love, the tug-and-war of doing what makes you happy and doing what makes you money, and struggling to find oneself in general. Not exactly uplifting subject matter, but did you expect something else based off the title?

Here are my feelings about each individual piece:

The Beginning - It’s hard to review a two-page story, but it essentially introduces the reader to a man numbed by his 9-5 office job, and therefore to the most central theme of the collection.
Stars: ☆☆☆

Native Monsters - A boy plagued by oppressive foster parents uses his hyperactive imagination to escape fear and sorrow. It reads as a more in-depth and darker Where the Wild Things Are, which is intriguing, but also keeps it from feeling all that original, as it draws a lot from Maurice Sendak’s aforementioned work.
Stars: ☆☆☆

Youth and its Discontents (essay) - A re-re-re-re-revised essay comparing Catcher in the Rye and Trainspotting. It’s really well-written, and does a good job of bringing to light the conflicts within the stories and their real-life application (“growing up,” or “choosing life,” and to what extent we have to/should).
Stars: ☆☆☆☆☆

Mogi - This one is the most similar to Ghosts, and not in a one-trick-pony-re-hashed way either. It’s about a young boy teaching English in Japan who discovers and falls in love with a small fishing town. There are no ghosts this time around, but the boy definitely senses something ethereal about the town, and this vibe touches the reader as well. The writing is introspective and honest, the characters heart-warming and earnest. The ever-present need to “move forward” in the protagonist’s life both pushes him forward and renders him motionless, which is a situation all-to-real for many young people.
Stars: ☆☆☆☆

Anderson Takes the Short Way - Another nano-story. The main character finds himself in head-over-heels admiration of an enigmatic bakery employee from afar. Although short, the bundles of anxiety, affection, and real-vs.-dream-world inner conflict come across surprisingly well. Is he a coward or practical, or maybe a little bit of both? I still haven’t decided which way I wanted Anderson to walk, because safe isn’t always better than sorry, but it’s not always better to have loved and lost either.
Stars: ☆☆☆☆

Relationships - Easily the highlight. This story is the most different, but it doesn’t feel out of place. When the man who married his mother only a few months before her untimely death and became his guardian himself dies several years later, the narrator finds himself remembering what it was like living under the same roof as this stranger: independent but powerlessness, confident but confused; the house was lonely and cold yet comfortable. It’s not a suspense story, and there’s no pretense of a “twist ending,” but the story’s conclusion is unpredictable throughout.
Stars: ☆☆☆☆☆

A Convenient Thing - Scott and his wife are college-sweethearts-now-turned-sour, and now, as Scott lies unconscious on their hotel room floor in the aftermath of an earthquake, his wife realizes just how much she hates him. Can she help Scott? Can she help herself? Is it possible to save them both? This quick look at an emotional crisis amidst an external one is entertaining, but doesn’t quite resonate with much magnitude (I apologize for the pun).
Stars: ☆☆☆


Travel - Most of the characters in these stories have been at least slightly cynical, but this pessimist is a little more “complainy, ” and he also carries himself like he has everything and everyone figured out. It makes him a little less readable, but the story doesn’t suffer much for it. There’s a lot of “what if” reminiscing, and those recurring themes about how life-sucking careers are, and placid relationships are central to his motivations. There just might be a glimmer of hope at the end, or perhaps just an idea of how to begin to accept the manner in which life happens.
Stars: ☆☆☆

Something to Stem the Diminishing (essay) - Back when Clausen was 26 years old and teaching English in Japan, he found himself uncertain about his future, and torn between doing what seems responsible and what seems invigorating. All those themes he gets at in the prior seven short stories are addressed more directly, and even more personally. By the end of the book, and this last article in general, the reader really has the feeling they’ve been sitting in an empty parking lot talking with Clausen about those fears and aspirations that make us both unique and universally connected.
Stars: ☆☆☆☆

Average: ☆☆☆.7

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something to Stem the Diminishing

A collection of short stories that examines different people in different experiences. This book looks closely at the human condition and how we conduct ourselves in different situations. For me, some were intriguing and thought provoking, while other stories I cruised past.

#GoodreadsGiveaways

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Goodreads Giveaway

I'm not smart enough to fully appreciate any symbolism or whatnot in these stories, but I did enjoy reading them! Well written, I found myself easily picturing these people and places I've never seen

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when a book allows me a look into the psyche of the author. I think some of the short stories could've been expanded just a BIT more for them to really hit home or get a message across. Overall, I enjoyed this quick read.