What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sadness of Beautiful Things: Stories
An exquisite new collection of short stories from award-winning author Simon Van Booy.
Over the past decade, Simon Van Booy has been listening to people’s stories. With these personal accounts as a starting point, he has crafted a powerful collection of short fiction that takes readers into the innermost lives of everyday people. From a family saved from ruin by a mysterious benefactor, to a downtrodden boxer who shows unexpected kindness to a mugger, these masterfully written tales reveal not only the precarious balance maintained between grief and happiness in our lives, but also how the echoes of personal tragedy can shape us for the better.
“Van Booy’s stories are somehow like paintings the characters walk out of, and keep walking.” — Los Angeles Times
"Simon Van Booy knows a great deal about the complex longings of the human heart." --Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
Over the past decade, Simon Van Booy has been listening to people’s stories. With these personal accounts as a starting point, he has crafted a powerful collection of short fiction that takes readers into the innermost lives of everyday people. From a family saved from ruin by a mysterious benefactor, to a downtrodden boxer who shows unexpected kindness to a mugger, these masterfully written tales reveal not only the precarious balance maintained between grief and happiness in our lives, but also how the echoes of personal tragedy can shape us for the better.
“Van Booy’s stories are somehow like paintings the characters walk out of, and keep walking.” — Los Angeles Times
"Simon Van Booy knows a great deal about the complex longings of the human heart." --Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
208 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2018
87 people are currently reading
1861 people want to read
About the author
Simon Van Booy
62 books1,085 followersSimon Van Booy is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen books for adults and children, including The Illusion of Separateness and The Presence of Absence. Simon is the editor of three volumes of philosophy and has written for The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Washington Post, and the BBC. His books have been translated into many languages and optioned for film. Raised in rural North Wales, he currently lives in New York where he is also a book editor and a volunteer E.M.T. crew chief.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
August 31, 2018
I don’t always get the significance of book titles, but this is one that fits this small collection of stories so perfectly, every one of the eight beautifully written sad stories. I was amazed that in such few sentences, in such a short time that I could come to know and care about all of the characters. These stories are not connected in the way that some collections are that make you feel as if you’ve read a novel. These are distinct stories, yet they have much in common. Smooth, even writing that in its sparsity reveals so much; each is filled with love in some way making even the saddest thing about each of them somewhat more bearable. I was taken perhaps the most by the first one, “A Sacrifice” which at first seems to be about a family with five children who lose their home to a fire but it is really about a neighbor whose mother’s sacrifice and love is the basis for a kindness that some might not imagine. I also found kindness and heart in “The Pigeon”, a young man training to be a fighter sees some good he can do for a young boy who mugs him. Two of the stories, with a sci-fi bent, although a little eerie, were equally filled with love. I enjoyed all eight. This felt more meaningful to me because Simon Van Booy tells us up front “Most of the tales in this collection are based on true stories told to me over the course of my travels.” I had only read one of his books and knew that I wanted to read more, so I was glad to have the opportunity to read this one. I definitely want to read others.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin through Edelweiss.
October 28, 2018
I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars.
I've read a lot over the years, so I've had the immense pleasure of experiencing the work—and the words—of countless authors. Some I remember more for how their books made me feel, what they made me think, or how they got my pulse racing or my tear ducts primed, while some I remember for the sheer beauty of their writing.
When I first read Simon Van Booy's story collection Love Begins in Winter back in 2009, I couldn't help marveling over the utter beauty of his prose. I mean, I loved those stories, but I remember wanting to go through the book with a highlighter simply to recall every gorgeous sentence which captured me. I've read a number of his books since then, some I've liked more than others, but every single time his words linger in my head.
His latest collection, The Sadness of Beautiful Things , is no exception to that rule. These stories are apparently based on things he has heard and been told on his travels. On their surface, many of these stories seem to be somewhat simple, but the deeper you delve into them, you realize how complex they are, and how deftly they explore emotions and the human condition.
There are eight stories in this collection. I really liked six of them, but still recognized the emotional power of the other two. Among my favorites were: "The Saddest Case of True Love," in which a man recounts a story told to him by a woman he met one night while on a trip to Florence, about the strange relationship of her parents; "The Green Blanket," which told of a man who turns to a very unorthodox treatment for what ails him; "The Pigeon," about a young boxer who turns the tables on his mugger in an unusual way; and "The Doorman," about interesting and poignant connections expressed through jazz music.
These stories are beautiful and heartfelt, and I found myself wanting to savor them at the same time I was tearing through them. Van Booy's writing is on majestic display once again, and I am reminded that his artistry with words and images is truly amazing. Even when the stories didn't quite work for me, it was more the quirkiness of their plot than the way they are told.
Not everyone is a short story fan, but I also enjoyed two of his novels, The Illusion of Separateness and Father's Day , although the former may be considered more a collection of linked stories that form a novel. No matter what narrative form you choose, I hope you'll be as dazzled with Van Booy's talent as I have been.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
I've read a lot over the years, so I've had the immense pleasure of experiencing the work—and the words—of countless authors. Some I remember more for how their books made me feel, what they made me think, or how they got my pulse racing or my tear ducts primed, while some I remember for the sheer beauty of their writing.
When I first read Simon Van Booy's story collection Love Begins in Winter back in 2009, I couldn't help marveling over the utter beauty of his prose. I mean, I loved those stories, but I remember wanting to go through the book with a highlighter simply to recall every gorgeous sentence which captured me. I've read a number of his books since then, some I've liked more than others, but every single time his words linger in my head.
His latest collection, The Sadness of Beautiful Things , is no exception to that rule. These stories are apparently based on things he has heard and been told on his travels. On their surface, many of these stories seem to be somewhat simple, but the deeper you delve into them, you realize how complex they are, and how deftly they explore emotions and the human condition.
There are eight stories in this collection. I really liked six of them, but still recognized the emotional power of the other two. Among my favorites were: "The Saddest Case of True Love," in which a man recounts a story told to him by a woman he met one night while on a trip to Florence, about the strange relationship of her parents; "The Green Blanket," which told of a man who turns to a very unorthodox treatment for what ails him; "The Pigeon," about a young boxer who turns the tables on his mugger in an unusual way; and "The Doorman," about interesting and poignant connections expressed through jazz music.
These stories are beautiful and heartfelt, and I found myself wanting to savor them at the same time I was tearing through them. Van Booy's writing is on majestic display once again, and I am reminded that his artistry with words and images is truly amazing. Even when the stories didn't quite work for me, it was more the quirkiness of their plot than the way they are told.
Not everyone is a short story fan, but I also enjoyed two of his novels, The Illusion of Separateness and Father's Day , although the former may be considered more a collection of linked stories that form a novel. No matter what narrative form you choose, I hope you'll be as dazzled with Van Booy's talent as I have been.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
November 14, 2018
So I did my new short story test. Waited a few days after finishing, looked at the table of contents to see how many I remembered. These were pretty darn good and I remembered them all. Of course there were only eight, and one was quite long, but still.
Loss and loneliness, ordinary people dealing with extraordinary events, are the commonalities they share. Well except for one which was more on the scyfy side, Playing with dolls, which had a novel take on loss, quite a strange one. Although many have a sadness within, the resolutions often contain something both unexpected and beautiful. Or maybe something bad made beautiful. The writing is spare, but lyrical in places. The stories quite complete in themselves and the characters well portrayed.
My favorite, if I had to choose, would be the last one, The Doorman, featuring a blind girl, a well known horn player and of course, a doorman. It was written with a great deal of empathy and tenderness. Something about it just pulled me in. A grand collection.
Loss and loneliness, ordinary people dealing with extraordinary events, are the commonalities they share. Well except for one which was more on the scyfy side, Playing with dolls, which had a novel take on loss, quite a strange one. Although many have a sadness within, the resolutions often contain something both unexpected and beautiful. Or maybe something bad made beautiful. The writing is spare, but lyrical in places. The stories quite complete in themselves and the characters well portrayed.
My favorite, if I had to choose, would be the last one, The Doorman, featuring a blind girl, a well known horn player and of course, a doorman. It was written with a great deal of empathy and tenderness. Something about it just pulled me in. A grand collection.
April 22, 2019
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories written by the author after a decade of listening to other people’s stories.
These are stories about everyday people from different parts of the world. Exploring love, loss, grief, and human connections that shape our lives.
These are stories about everyday people from different parts of the world. Exploring love, loss, grief, and human connections that shape our lives.
November 27, 2021
I have loved Simon Booy’s work in several books I’ve read. Those books had beautiful prose and stories that I really enjoyed and that touched me in some way. In fact, in one book the short stories became intertwined, which I thoroughly loved. Unfortunately, this book was not his best. I didn’t feel like he captured the essence of the stories. In fact the stories endings just fell flat off, like I had been dumped off at the corner. I just couldn’t get into the stories at all. This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t a standout either. Middle of the road.
There are 10 Short stories in the book. While I didn’t love any of them, I did enjoy The Green Blanket and The Doorman.
There are still a couple other of his books that I want to try and, hopefully, those will be better.
There are 10 Short stories in the book. While I didn’t love any of them, I did enjoy The Green Blanket and The Doorman.
There are still a couple other of his books that I want to try and, hopefully, those will be better.
August 3, 2022
Read & synced with Audible
….narrated by Simon Van Body, Alana Kerr Collins, James Fouhey, Giordian Diaz, and Darren Burrows
….3 hours and 53 minutes
Simon Van Body’s voice is nice. Pleasant to be with.
The themes are universal…..
…..sad & beautiful as the title suggests…..
They fiercely cover the many ways people grapple with life — compounded with driven feelings associated with
love, a little hate, moodiness, illness, aging, dying, death, loneliness, loss, grief, acceptance, family connections, sacrifices, a
purpose for living, self-sabotaging,…..
We read about
a hitchhiker, a boxer, a mugger, an art journey to Italy, a father and daughter— etc.
and we look at the larger global context —-
—of the very possibility that our world might come crumbling down — swallowing us up whole.
Each story is quite different - eight in all — but each are a reminder that stories -short poignant stories -connect us our flaws, our hopes, wishes, and desires — our hearts — our minds.
Readers can expect …. beautiful writing — painful situations — and perspective insights.
These stories kept me company while accepting my own lazy-low-energy disposition today.
Nothing like sad stories when feeling sad to brighten one’s mood ….. ha! 🥳
….narrated by Simon Van Body, Alana Kerr Collins, James Fouhey, Giordian Diaz, and Darren Burrows
….3 hours and 53 minutes
Simon Van Body’s voice is nice. Pleasant to be with.
The themes are universal…..
…..sad & beautiful as the title suggests…..
They fiercely cover the many ways people grapple with life — compounded with driven feelings associated with
love, a little hate, moodiness, illness, aging, dying, death, loneliness, loss, grief, acceptance, family connections, sacrifices, a
purpose for living, self-sabotaging,…..
We read about
a hitchhiker, a boxer, a mugger, an art journey to Italy, a father and daughter— etc.
and we look at the larger global context —-
—of the very possibility that our world might come crumbling down — swallowing us up whole.
Each story is quite different - eight in all — but each are a reminder that stories -short poignant stories -connect us our flaws, our hopes, wishes, and desires — our hearts — our minds.
Readers can expect …. beautiful writing — painful situations — and perspective insights.
These stories kept me company while accepting my own lazy-low-energy disposition today.
Nothing like sad stories when feeling sad to brighten one’s mood ….. ha! 🥳
December 26, 2019
"The Doorman" may just be the most exquisitely perfect short story I have ever read. This was my first excursion into Simon Van Booy territory, and I want more. Even with the stories where I didn't care for the plot, I was always captivated by his prose.
July 22, 2018
Even an average Van Booy work is better than 99% of what you'll find from other writers.
September 21, 2018
I really wanted to like these stories. I actually enjoyed the telling of many of them, but there wasn’t a single satisfying ending in the entire collection. Ultimately, they were, themselves, sad, beautiful things, in a horribly depressing way.
August 2, 2018
This review is from an Advance Reader Copy. The retail version will be published October 2, 2018.
I'm new to this author, so I didn't quite know what to expect. This book was both wonderful and disappointing at the same time. Wonderful because the stories are incredibly easy to read (ranging from folksy tales to speculative sci-fi), they make sense, and the narratives flow easily and naturally. Each story deals with beauty in the face of sadness, grief, death, or melancholy. Some of the stories ("The Pigeon," "Playing With Dolls," "Not Dying") pack much more punch than others ("The Sacrifice," "The Hitchhiker"). A few of them reminded me very much of how modern Twilight Zone episodes would unfurl ("The Green Blanket," "The Saddest Case Of True Love," "The Doorman"), and there's nothing wrong with that, it's just an observation. Oddly enough, it's both a happy and sad book at the same time. But because of the underlying sorrow throughout the book, I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who's depressed or feeling generally blue.
Now, for the disappointing part: it's too short! These eight stories clock in at a mere 192 pages, which I read in one day, despite not being a fast reader.
Summary: Excellent stories, well-written, too short. (Oh, and on a purely superficial level, I really dislike the cover.)
I'm new to this author, so I didn't quite know what to expect. This book was both wonderful and disappointing at the same time. Wonderful because the stories are incredibly easy to read (ranging from folksy tales to speculative sci-fi), they make sense, and the narratives flow easily and naturally. Each story deals with beauty in the face of sadness, grief, death, or melancholy. Some of the stories ("The Pigeon," "Playing With Dolls," "Not Dying") pack much more punch than others ("The Sacrifice," "The Hitchhiker"). A few of them reminded me very much of how modern Twilight Zone episodes would unfurl ("The Green Blanket," "The Saddest Case Of True Love," "The Doorman"), and there's nothing wrong with that, it's just an observation. Oddly enough, it's both a happy and sad book at the same time. But because of the underlying sorrow throughout the book, I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who's depressed or feeling generally blue.
Now, for the disappointing part: it's too short! These eight stories clock in at a mere 192 pages, which I read in one day, despite not being a fast reader.
Summary: Excellent stories, well-written, too short. (Oh, and on a purely superficial level, I really dislike the cover.)
January 28, 2022
The Hitchhiker - 4.5*
The Saddest Case of True Love - 4.5*
The Doorman - 5*
"He used to watch his mother load the stove with wood. He remembered her voice like no time had passed, not words exactly, but the tone of how she spoke, like ripples through his body."
The Saddest Case of True Love - 4.5*
The Doorman - 5*
"He used to watch his mother load the stove with wood. He remembered her voice like no time had passed, not words exactly, but the tone of how she spoke, like ripples through his body."
January 30, 2019
This man perhaps is one of THE most wonderful writers. His writing is beautiful, and it's hard not to read this all in one sitting, which is okay, but I think this is a keeper, and I'll be reading and savoring it later when I read it more slowly. If you're not into "sadness" it might not be the book for you. There is not one story I didn't think fantastic. Exquisite!!
March 25, 2025
Dit boek bestaat uit kleine verhaaltjes en dat was voor mij voor het eerst. Alle verhalen waren echt goed geschreven en hadden allemaal een boodschap, sommige duidelijker dan de ander.
Ik weet alleen niet of ik helemaal gemaakt ben voor die kleine verhaaltjes. Als ik er net in zat, was het alweer afgelopen.
3.75⭐️
Ik weet alleen niet of ik helemaal gemaakt ben voor die kleine verhaaltjes. Als ik er net in zat, was het alweer afgelopen.
3.75⭐️
October 10, 2018
Each of the short stories in this collection has so many layers to them that they are worth reading through a second or third time. These are well-written stories dealing with some sort of “beauty” in the face of sadness. That sadness presents itself in different ways:
• a mother’s “Sacrifice” which gets paid forward;
• a “Green Blanket” that brings forth memories of early love;
• “Playing with Dolls” wherein a couple turns to recent innovations in medicine to cope with loss;
• “The Pigeon” wherein a young man is kind in the face of violence;
• a “Hitchhiker” who finds unexpected affection from the one who picks him up;
• “Not Dying,” based on a true story of one man's love for his wife and disabled daughter;
• a women lovingly tells of her parents’ doomed relationship in “The Saddest Case of True Love”; and
• three different lives intersect in “The Doorman.”
Each of these stories manages to find some good or “beauty” despite situations of sadness, anguish, depression, heartache, trouble, pain, bereavement, or physical disabilities. My personal favorite is “The Doorman.” A second and third reading of “Not Dying” allowed me to see things from a totally different perspective.
This is the first time I’ve read anything by Simon Van Booys. I am very impressed with his writing style.
• a mother’s “Sacrifice” which gets paid forward;
• a “Green Blanket” that brings forth memories of early love;
• “Playing with Dolls” wherein a couple turns to recent innovations in medicine to cope with loss;
• “The Pigeon” wherein a young man is kind in the face of violence;
• a “Hitchhiker” who finds unexpected affection from the one who picks him up;
• “Not Dying,” based on a true story of one man's love for his wife and disabled daughter;
• a women lovingly tells of her parents’ doomed relationship in “The Saddest Case of True Love”; and
• three different lives intersect in “The Doorman.”
Each of these stories manages to find some good or “beauty” despite situations of sadness, anguish, depression, heartache, trouble, pain, bereavement, or physical disabilities. My personal favorite is “The Doorman.” A second and third reading of “Not Dying” allowed me to see things from a totally different perspective.
This is the first time I’ve read anything by Simon Van Booys. I am very impressed with his writing style.
October 3, 2018
The title says a lot about this collection, so if you're turned off by "sadness" in any form, it might not be your cup of tea. However, if you love writing that can capture a character and what they are feeling with beautiful language and creative yet efficient prose, then by all means you need to read Van Booy.
I am definitely a long-time fan, but these stories were a bit of a surprise for me. They take on a more grounded approach, in my opinion, but still have that signature Van Booy beauty in the writing. It was like listening to a new album by a favorite band that isn't a rehash of what you're used to but, instead, a progression in some ways and a diversion in others without being outrageously different.
I'm not sure which story is my favorite yet. They all hold varying mixtures of the sadness and beauty aforementioned. "The Green Blanket" was surprisingly uplifting, but "Playing With Dolls" apparently contained some dust on the pages that got in my eyes. I especially liked both because of their modern touch of darkness. I really enjoyed "Not Dying" as it reminded me of Van Booy paying homage to another favorite writer of mine, T. M. Wright.
I'm already looking forward to reading them all again.
I am definitely a long-time fan, but these stories were a bit of a surprise for me. They take on a more grounded approach, in my opinion, but still have that signature Van Booy beauty in the writing. It was like listening to a new album by a favorite band that isn't a rehash of what you're used to but, instead, a progression in some ways and a diversion in others without being outrageously different.
I'm not sure which story is my favorite yet. They all hold varying mixtures of the sadness and beauty aforementioned. "The Green Blanket" was surprisingly uplifting, but "Playing With Dolls" apparently contained some dust on the pages that got in my eyes. I especially liked both because of their modern touch of darkness. I really enjoyed "Not Dying" as it reminded me of Van Booy paying homage to another favorite writer of mine, T. M. Wright.
I'm already looking forward to reading them all again.
July 5, 2018
A new collection of short stories by Simon Van Booy never disappoints... and this one is no exception, except perhaps for its brevity. I could have kept reading twice as many stories as the eight served up here. And as usual, the title says it all, The Sadness of Beautiful Things. Simon nearly always writes about beauty, an there is usually a hefty dose of sadness around too. He tackles a wide range of subject here though, from some speculative fiction where parents turn to science to cope with grief in "Playing with dolls," to a beautiful ode to kindness overcoming violence in "The Pigeon." "Not Dying" tells a powerful tale of the love of family in the face of impending doom, and "The Doorman," is one of those beautiful homages to creative genius and the whimsies of life.
Take a few hours to spend with Van Booy's gorgeous writing, you wont' be sorry. This is a quick and beautiful read.
Take a few hours to spend with Van Booy's gorgeous writing, you wont' be sorry. This is a quick and beautiful read.
September 21, 2019
Much of the appeal of Simon Van Booy’s newest collection, The Sadness of Beautiful Things, lies in the subject matter – the lives of ordinary people. While a few of the 8 stories contain elements of the unreal, most of the content stems from the real-life stories of people the author has encountered. The collection starts simply, the writing matter-of-fact, but what Van Booy accomplishes throughout draws the reader into every scene. A depressed father seeks help from an “eye doctor;” an immigrant girl recounts her parents’ tragic love affair. With touches of magic, visceral relationships, and graceful death, Van Booy makes the ordinary extraordinary.
January 13, 2019
*2.75
i know i’m being very particular but this wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t remarkable. none of the stories really hit me and instead had me wondering if i was missing something. the pigeon was by far my favorite, but the doorman and the hitchhiker were enjoyable as well. playing with dolls and the saddest case of true love were interesting, but again i just wasn’t as wowed as i had hoped.
i know i’m being very particular but this wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t remarkable. none of the stories really hit me and instead had me wondering if i was missing something. the pigeon was by far my favorite, but the doorman and the hitchhiker were enjoyable as well. playing with dolls and the saddest case of true love were interesting, but again i just wasn’t as wowed as i had hoped.
August 4, 2018
Van Booy is a good writer and if you have a taste for short stories that have an element of darkness, you'll like this book. Unfortunately, that doesn't describe me. There were two stories I loved, even read one of them aloud to someone. The others, not so much.
July 23, 2018
Absolutley gorgeous. Unforgettable.
February 11, 2021
There's a lot I want to say about this book but at the same time, I don't know what to say. There were parts of some stories that were so beautifully written and touched the soft parts of my heart. Overall though, most of the stories I just didn't get. It felt like there was something missing. I was wanting to DNF it several times which I don't like doing so I committed to finishing it.
This book just wasn't for me and unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it to others.
This book just wasn't for me and unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it to others.
October 26, 2018
Aw, Simon... a better writer than most, but his true voice is lost in a few of these. 'Not Dying' and 'Playing with Dolls' should never have made the cut. But 'The Hitchhiker' and 'The Doorman' and 'The Pigeon'? Gorgeous.
February 7, 2019
This book is about that in between state of emotion. You experience the pain and happiness of those moments between joy and sorrow. The characters struggle between having what they want and simultaneously having it taken away.
October 24, 2018
A few stand-out pieces (A Sacrifice and The Hitchhiker), but too many missed the mark. I gave up on finishing The Dying because it dragged on in a voice that felt contrived and unengaging, and it takes a lot for me not to power through even the clunkiest of stories.
November 4, 2018
The way Simon Van Booy writes about humanity reminds me of the way someone might inspect a precious fragile object. It’s pure magic.
March 1, 2019
Wow, just wow. I absolutely love the way he writes - these short stories are just great. I wanted this book to be two or three times as long!
March 24, 2019
So different and thought-provoking.
December 27, 2023
Booy is easy to read. He is a deeply philosophical writer, with ideology that overwhelms his prose. I would be interested in delving into additional work by this author.
March 13, 2020
I absolutely loved this collection of short stories. Simon's writing style is beautiful and extremely visual. He paints amazing pictures with a limited quantity of words that makes this book a treasure to read. I recommend it to everyone.
November 3, 2018
3.5- The Saddest Case of True Love and The Doorman were a pleasant surprises at the end of the collection. I actually really liked them. But everything else, I didn't enjoy it much as I would have liked to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews