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A Kind of Flying
Ron Carlson's stories, sometimes wicked or bittersweet, often zany, are rich with a hard-earned hopefulness frequently absent in contemporary fiction. In this generous gathering from collections no longer available, longtime fans and new readers alike can savor the development of a master of idiosyncrasy.
Properly celebrated for his range, Carlson offers us a rural sheriff who's wary of UFOs ("Phenomena"), a lawyer on a mission in remote Alaska ("Blazo"), a baseball player turned killer-by-accident ("Zanduce at Second"), and a nineteen-year-old who experiences an unsettling sexual awakening during an Arizona summer ("Oxygen"). Here also is a man accusing Bigfoot of stealing his wife, followed by Bigfoot's incomparable response. Not least of the treasures is "The H Street Sledding Record," a story perfect for family holiday reading, in which a young father creates the magic of Santa by throwing manure on his roof on Christmas Eve.
This book proves Carlson's axiom that "a short story is not a single thing done a single way," and it offers us—finally—a full view of his remarkable talents.
Properly celebrated for his range, Carlson offers us a rural sheriff who's wary of UFOs ("Phenomena"), a lawyer on a mission in remote Alaska ("Blazo"), a baseball player turned killer-by-accident ("Zanduce at Second"), and a nineteen-year-old who experiences an unsettling sexual awakening during an Arizona summer ("Oxygen"). Here also is a man accusing Bigfoot of stealing his wife, followed by Bigfoot's incomparable response. Not least of the treasures is "The H Street Sledding Record," a story perfect for family holiday reading, in which a young father creates the magic of Santa by throwing manure on his roof on Christmas Eve.
This book proves Carlson's axiom that "a short story is not a single thing done a single way," and it offers us—finally—a full view of his remarkable talents.
466 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
About the author
Ron Carlson
82 books126 followersRon Carlson is an American novelist and writer of short stories.
Carlson was born in Logan, Utah, but grew up in Salt Lake City. He earned a masters degree in English from the University of Utah. He then taught at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut where he started his first novel.
He became a professor of English at Arizona State University in 1985, teaching creative writing to undergraduates and graduates, and ultimately becoming director of its Creative Writing Program.
Carlson also taught at the University of California, Irvine.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carlson
Carlson was born in Logan, Utah, but grew up in Salt Lake City. He earned a masters degree in English from the University of Utah. He then taught at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut where he started his first novel.
He became a professor of English at Arizona State University in 1985, teaching creative writing to undergraduates and graduates, and ultimately becoming director of its Creative Writing Program.
Carlson also taught at the University of California, Irvine.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carlson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
November 8, 2020
A book I couldn’t be without. Easily one of my favourites. Anytime I see something by Ron Carlson, I pick it up.
The stories inside here are full of so much warmth and compassion that they’re always a pleasure to read. This is the second time I’ve read it all the way through and I’ve come away with much more than I did the first time.
(As an aside, I sent Ron Carlson an email saying how much his stories meant to me, and how much he helped me as a writer. I also sent him a story of mine that was shortlisted for the 2020 Bristol Short Story prize. I hoped he would like it, hoped he wouldn’t mind me sending it. The email he sent back to me made my entire year.)
The stories inside here are full of so much warmth and compassion that they’re always a pleasure to read. This is the second time I’ve read it all the way through and I’ve come away with much more than I did the first time.
(As an aside, I sent Ron Carlson an email saying how much his stories meant to me, and how much he helped me as a writer. I also sent him a story of mine that was shortlisted for the 2020 Bristol Short Story prize. I hoped he would like it, hoped he wouldn’t mind me sending it. The email he sent back to me made my entire year.)
April 28, 2012
I felt ambivalent about these stories the whole time I was reading them. I think they're definitely for some people, just not for me. I didn't find the ones in the beginning interesting at all, but they were short enough for me to continue, which I guess was a good thing, as I then found some (mostly in the the middle) that sparkled.
I liked the more serious stories over the humorous ones (which says something about me, I know) and of those more serious, the longer over the shorter. The former seem more developed (which again says something about my tastes), yet I was almost in despair over the longest one that ends the book until the last two lines redeemed it for me. If not for that, this collection may have gotten one less star from me.
I liked the more serious stories over the humorous ones (which says something about me, I know) and of those more serious, the longer over the shorter. The former seem more developed (which again says something about my tastes), yet I was almost in despair over the longest one that ends the book until the last two lines redeemed it for me. If not for that, this collection may have gotten one less star from me.
January 3, 2020
I borrowed this book two years ago and didn't give it back. I enjoyed picking this up and reading the stories at random. I have a few favorites: H Street Sledding Record, Life Before Science, and Deray to name a few. Some of them have blended together in my mind but I found them an interesting concoction of imagination and quirkiness centered around the quotidian life.
Carlson offers insight into the male complex unlike any other author I've previously read. The details his male characters observe and the way they're written make you feel like you're inside that character's head. Carlson does it over and over with different people. It's fascinating. And it's amazing how he manages that familiarity within the short story format. One of the stories reminded me how a man can have a life-changing experience and keep it to himself, just turn it over and over in his mind, without saying a word. I respect it and it drives me crazy at the same time.
I appreciated the different scenes around Salt Lake City, which is familiar geography to me.
PG-13 for some language and mature content but honestly worth the read if contemporary fiction is your thing.
Carlson offers insight into the male complex unlike any other author I've previously read. The details his male characters observe and the way they're written make you feel like you're inside that character's head. Carlson does it over and over with different people. It's fascinating. And it's amazing how he manages that familiarity within the short story format. One of the stories reminded me how a man can have a life-changing experience and keep it to himself, just turn it over and over in his mind, without saying a word. I respect it and it drives me crazy at the same time.
I appreciated the different scenes around Salt Lake City, which is familiar geography to me.
PG-13 for some language and mature content but honestly worth the read if contemporary fiction is your thing.
August 23, 2017
Hard to say enough good things about this one. One of the very best collections of short stories I've ever read. I've enjoyed Carlson in the past (his novel Five Skies - how do you underline words in Good Reads??), but these are the first stories of his I've read. They run the gamut of subjects and characterizations - gritty; realistic; weirdly amusing; confusing (!); heart-wrenching. As Carlson says, "...a short story is not a single thing done a single way." An excellent collection for anyone who likes short fiction.
September 13, 2022
4.5 stars
Fell in love with the characters in every story.
Loved the incredible details.
Made me laugh out loud.
Some of my fav short stories to date.
Fell in love with the characters in every story.
Loved the incredible details.
Made me laugh out loud.
Some of my fav short stories to date.
April 30, 2009
A Kind of Flying is an omnibus that features most of the stories previously published in the collections, The News of the World, Plan B for the Middle Class, and The Hotel Eden. There are two types of stories in this collection: Carlson’s brand of contemporary realism, and Carlson’s brand of the fantastic.
If we can define magical realism by the blending of a specific culture’s folklore and contemporary fiction, then many of Carlson’s stories in the latter category fit into the magical realism that pays homage to American folklore and urban myths (or suburban myths). The story, “Bigfoot Stole My Wife,” is the narrative of a man confessing is irrational fears of exactly what the title suggests. By the end of the story, the reader understands that this narrator is in classically unreliable and in state of blatant denial – an interesting reading in itself, but paired with the story that follows “I Am Bigfoot,” the reader not only has the first privilege of experiencing Carlson’s retelling of suburban and urban myths, but it also gives the narrator of the previous story a newfound and credible ethos untarnished by delusions or denial.
“Phenomena” deals with a UFO sighting and the “The Chromium Hook” is at once an engaging remaining of the hook urban legend and an exercise in effective modular storytelling through shifts in point of view.
Other oddities that might not jive with my already loose interpretation of magical realism include “Max,” a story about a dog; “On the U.S.S. Fortitude,” a narrative from the point of view of an aircraft carrier mother with all the same gripes one would expect an aircraft carrier mother to have (how her children don’t land the planes with any care, whatsoever); “The Tablecloth of Turin,” a kind of sales pitch by a man who swears he possesses the table cloth on which the last supper took place; and the anachronistic, “What We Wanted To Do,” a Medieval report on one army’s failed attempt at pouring boiling oil on its enemies.
Carlson’s realist stories are in top notch, as good as anything Carver, or Cheever, or Ford, or Wolff might write. Most are in first person, and most possess Carlson’s unique and endearing voice; lots of parenthetical comments and asides giving his first person narrations a genuine and easy conversational tone.
Easy is the key word. Carlson makes what he does look easy breezy. A the risk of being book reporty, I think a plot summary of the stories as a whole is the most illuminating criticism: here, we have stories about husbands, workers, mothers, wives, and fathers living ho-hum lifestyles yet without cynicism or pessimism. Carlson manages to make the contemporary suburban family charming, marriage something to be praised, and the status quo valuable without slipping into sentimentality or melodrama. Quite a feat, I should say, and what a novel idea. His voice allows what would be otherwise mundane fiction to be worthwhile reading. Once again, he makes it look easy.
Favorites from this collection include, “The Governor’s Ball,” “The H Street Sledding Record,” “The Status Quo,” “The Summer of Vintage Clothing,” “Plan B for the Middle Class,” and “Keith,” a story that could’ve been a John Cusack movie from the 1987.
If we can define magical realism by the blending of a specific culture’s folklore and contemporary fiction, then many of Carlson’s stories in the latter category fit into the magical realism that pays homage to American folklore and urban myths (or suburban myths). The story, “Bigfoot Stole My Wife,” is the narrative of a man confessing is irrational fears of exactly what the title suggests. By the end of the story, the reader understands that this narrator is in classically unreliable and in state of blatant denial – an interesting reading in itself, but paired with the story that follows “I Am Bigfoot,” the reader not only has the first privilege of experiencing Carlson’s retelling of suburban and urban myths, but it also gives the narrator of the previous story a newfound and credible ethos untarnished by delusions or denial.
“Phenomena” deals with a UFO sighting and the “The Chromium Hook” is at once an engaging remaining of the hook urban legend and an exercise in effective modular storytelling through shifts in point of view.
Other oddities that might not jive with my already loose interpretation of magical realism include “Max,” a story about a dog; “On the U.S.S. Fortitude,” a narrative from the point of view of an aircraft carrier mother with all the same gripes one would expect an aircraft carrier mother to have (how her children don’t land the planes with any care, whatsoever); “The Tablecloth of Turin,” a kind of sales pitch by a man who swears he possesses the table cloth on which the last supper took place; and the anachronistic, “What We Wanted To Do,” a Medieval report on one army’s failed attempt at pouring boiling oil on its enemies.
Carlson’s realist stories are in top notch, as good as anything Carver, or Cheever, or Ford, or Wolff might write. Most are in first person, and most possess Carlson’s unique and endearing voice; lots of parenthetical comments and asides giving his first person narrations a genuine and easy conversational tone.
Easy is the key word. Carlson makes what he does look easy breezy. A the risk of being book reporty, I think a plot summary of the stories as a whole is the most illuminating criticism: here, we have stories about husbands, workers, mothers, wives, and fathers living ho-hum lifestyles yet without cynicism or pessimism. Carlson manages to make the contemporary suburban family charming, marriage something to be praised, and the status quo valuable without slipping into sentimentality or melodrama. Quite a feat, I should say, and what a novel idea. His voice allows what would be otherwise mundane fiction to be worthwhile reading. Once again, he makes it look easy.
Favorites from this collection include, “The Governor’s Ball,” “The H Street Sledding Record,” “The Status Quo,” “The Summer of Vintage Clothing,” “Plan B for the Middle Class,” and “Keith,” a story that could’ve been a John Cusack movie from the 1987.
September 4, 2012
I could not give this book enough stars. It has become one of my favorites, which is saying something since I'm not a huge fan of short story collections.
The writing in this is brilliant, but what makes this book sing is the wide range of stories, the heart in each of them, the risk and uniqueness of some of them. Carlson took some huge risks in some of these stories - risks in format and structure and point of view and topic. Risks that, in my opinion, pay off big. Although the book is fairly substantial in size, I never got remotely bored or started checking pages left. I never once skimmed.
I first read this book cover to cover and now am going back through and re-reading, more slowly, a few of the stories that grabbed me most. They are just as good and better the second and third time through.
I highly recommend this book.
The writing in this is brilliant, but what makes this book sing is the wide range of stories, the heart in each of them, the risk and uniqueness of some of them. Carlson took some huge risks in some of these stories - risks in format and structure and point of view and topic. Risks that, in my opinion, pay off big. Although the book is fairly substantial in size, I never got remotely bored or started checking pages left. I never once skimmed.
I first read this book cover to cover and now am going back through and re-reading, more slowly, a few of the stories that grabbed me most. They are just as good and better the second and third time through.
I highly recommend this book.
October 1, 2017
Carlson's stories are such a breath of fresh air for me. I do a lot of reading and research on absurdist authors, Beckett, Kafka, Camus, etc. While I love them, I find myself getting worn down by the absurdity in them; the borderline postmodern tactics. Carlson is a master of language, his work is always well crafted and great for the aspiring author to study. He manages to be a traditional story-teller with a certain contemporary flair that keeps me interested, thinking, and at ease. The title for this collection is perfect: I feel as though I'm floating when I read Carlson. I feel closer to the world and less alienated by - the way I feel when reading those absurdists. Carlson is who I go to when I want to learn to write. He's who I turn to when I need a break and need a reason to fall back in love with the world, people, and everyday life. I love his work.
February 11, 2013
I'm a bit stingy with my stars, Carlson deserves all 5 here.
I found this collection of short stories intriguing and moving. Carlson is able to bridge the gap between literature and art. I didn't so much read these stories as experience them. Gritty at times and definitely a strong PG-13, the characters brought to surface many experiences from my own life. The fact that they are mostly set in my hometown of Salt Lake City is a bonus. Highly recommended.
I found this collection of short stories intriguing and moving. Carlson is able to bridge the gap between literature and art. I didn't so much read these stories as experience them. Gritty at times and definitely a strong PG-13, the characters brought to surface many experiences from my own life. The fact that they are mostly set in my hometown of Salt Lake City is a bonus. Highly recommended.
June 29, 2009
Carlson is the best short story writer alive. I read these over and over.
March 15, 2026
Exquisitely crafted, but one-third I'd previously read | In 2003, I attended a huge City of San Jose library book sale. When I say "huge", I mean it. It was held in a warehouse and had thousands of books discarded from all the branches. The books were sold individually but priced by the boxload, so buyers would pick up any nearby book that looked half interesting, to fill a gap in a box. Which is how I ended up with an ex-library copy of The Hotel Eden: Stories by Ron Carlson. I really enjoyed it, and it remains on my living room shelf all these years later.
This month, looking to hit the free shipping point in a thriftbooks order, I thought of Carlson and decided to try another of his collections. A Kind of Flying is as good as I hoped it would be, but I wish I hadn't bought it. If I had found it in person in a bookstore I would have flipped through it and discovered that the entire Hotel Eden collection, bar only one story, is included here. Instead, because the online descriptions only say "generous gathering from collections no longer available", I thought I might get a story or two from Hotel Eden, but that this collection would be mostly new to me. It's disappointing to spend money on a 466 page book only to find that 172 pages of it are already on my shelf.
All that complaining aside, Carlson is excellent at the short story. There is a melancholy to his work, even the pieces with entirely happy endings, that's absorbing and creates a kind of nostalgia. You get swept up. I can imagine some readers may not connect with it, finding it too intentionally literary, but I like it. I'll likely pick up another of his collections down the road, but I'll scrutinize in an attempt to avoid re-buying what I already have. Imagine if I accidentally bought Plan B for the Middle Class or The News of the World, the two other collections included in this one! Too funny!
This month, looking to hit the free shipping point in a thriftbooks order, I thought of Carlson and decided to try another of his collections. A Kind of Flying is as good as I hoped it would be, but I wish I hadn't bought it. If I had found it in person in a bookstore I would have flipped through it and discovered that the entire Hotel Eden collection, bar only one story, is included here. Instead, because the online descriptions only say "generous gathering from collections no longer available", I thought I might get a story or two from Hotel Eden, but that this collection would be mostly new to me. It's disappointing to spend money on a 466 page book only to find that 172 pages of it are already on my shelf.
All that complaining aside, Carlson is excellent at the short story. There is a melancholy to his work, even the pieces with entirely happy endings, that's absorbing and creates a kind of nostalgia. You get swept up. I can imagine some readers may not connect with it, finding it too intentionally literary, but I like it. I'll likely pick up another of his collections down the road, but I'll scrutinize in an attempt to avoid re-buying what I already have. Imagine if I accidentally bought Plan B for the Middle Class or The News of the World, the two other collections included in this one! Too funny!
July 7, 2018
In this collection of short stories, Carlson shows that you can write wonderful stories about happy people. In most of the stories, there is some sort of problem, but it is rarely dark or drastic. In “The H Street Sledding Record,” there really is no trouble at all: a nice family spends a pleasant evening sledding together. The story is driven by strong, positive desire, and it is enough to push it through to the end.
January 28, 2021
This writer is without a doubt one of the finest storytellers I've ever read, and I've read many. I know it's a good story when I am so deeply into it, I can't feel that little knot of pain in my shoulder blade from holding the book on my chest while propped up on a pillow. Carlson intrigues me with his ability to take me deep inside his characters where I remain until I look up and gradually fade back into my own life.
May 6, 2018
A really fun collection of short stories. I don’t even like short stories, though I admire the craft. But these are readable and intriguing. I keep it by my bedise for re-reading. I also don’t even usually reread things!
August 2, 2019
A thoroughly mixed bag. Some stories were great, some were hilarious, some were sweet. And some were...awkward and not good at all. The final story in the volume is one of these, and unfortunately ends the whole collection on a sour note.
May 28, 2021
the best short stories I have read outside of george saunders. He can really grasp amazing elemnets of life with jsut a few pages, and unlike lots of short stories his stories are often quite uplifting. Almost no bad stories in the whole collection.
July 24, 2018
One of my favorite short story collections. I enjoy the realistic stories more than the fantastical stories, but they're all well-written.
October 26, 2018
Some of these I liked and others I simply could not get into. Eventually I just gave up.
June 21, 2020
Great book of short stories.
December 27, 2020
An excellent collection of short stories, told with precision and focus. Carlson writes with wit and depth about the lives of everyday people. Relatable, honest, and clear.
August 11, 2021
For school
December 7, 2022
Three and four star collection of imaginative stories. Diverse: sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, often moving, a little crazy and deeply insightful. So many good things! Definitely worthwhile.
February 16, 2011
Ron Carlson is a man who understands the male complex extremely well. Our way of thought, the way we look at things, and the way we talk. Carlson is an expert. While reading his “A Kind of flying” I discovered we share a love for the awkward, as some of his stories revolve around crazy situations that cannot fail to force a laugh out of you. Mixed in with the crazy, Carlson presents hart warming and reflexive situations that one could relate to. All while being able to keep his everyman attitude throughout the book, Carlson comes off as a man just trying to tell you a story, with some important lessons in between his words.
“A Kind of Flying” is a short story collection comprised of stories from three of Carlson’s previous collection currently out of print. Carlson’s imagination has no limits, Carlson tells stories about various Men in various times and settings. Trying to make it through life the only way they know how. There’s a father trying to create new and creative Christmas traditions in “The H Street Sledding Record” A man pleading his chase that Bigfoot stole his wife in “Big Foot Stole My Wife”. With could only be followed up by Bigfoot’s formal response in “I Am Bigfoot”. Others are more enduring like “Milk” where a father refuses to get is children fingerprinted because he believes it is propaganda. Or a young man’s strange sexual encounter that left him estranged from his girlfriend one summer in “Oxygen”. The mix here is absolutely wondrous. Characters looking for closure with the death of a love one are sharing pages with Men accusing Bigfoot as a womanizer.
Carlson’s writings are easily accessible. His writing has a layer of experience baked in with every helping. His characters are learning something about life the same time you are. These shorts are extremely varied and could be read over and over. Many of the stories could mean many things to many different people. The steadily creeping fears that come with parenthood, is something many feel with newborns. As if the world is conspiring against them. The Father in “Milk” starts off stubborn and headstrong in his beliefs that nothing could happen to his children. Soon finds himself scared of everything and seeing missing children in the faces of every person he meets. Or the painter in “Life before science” he was uninspired and bored only when he gets serious with both aspects of his life. (His wife and artwork) does he get inspired to paint. But in between these life lessons and reflections Carlson’s comical side shines through. “Bigfoot stole My Wife” is hilarious relentless in its absurdity. How one would come to the conclusion that one: Bigfoot was in his house and two: stole his wife. Is a mystery to me. Continuing the madness is the response by Bigfoot, which is equally entertaining. Telling the plight of a village trying to pour hot oil on their enemies “What we wanted to Do” was by far the story I enjoyed the most. Showing the unyielding determination of men trying to do what they wanted to do no matter how complex, absurd or impossible it seems. Carlson’s stories touch on something familiar. If not because we ourselves have been through these situations or know someone who has. It’s that Carlson presents life as it happens, right in front of your eyes.
The lessons of the older generation are there to enlighten and guide the youth of tomorrow. Carlson hides his teaching in smartly developed characters; going about their lives the best way they can in Carlson’s bizarre situations. The Men in his story might not be the last action hero but they are Husbands, Fathers, teachers and lain old delivery boys. Each one is a hero in their own way. “A Kind of Flying” shows the short story can be just as engaging and rewarding as a full novel. We get all the development and character, only a new story starts every chapter.
“A Kind of Flying” is a short story collection comprised of stories from three of Carlson’s previous collection currently out of print. Carlson’s imagination has no limits, Carlson tells stories about various Men in various times and settings. Trying to make it through life the only way they know how. There’s a father trying to create new and creative Christmas traditions in “The H Street Sledding Record” A man pleading his chase that Bigfoot stole his wife in “Big Foot Stole My Wife”. With could only be followed up by Bigfoot’s formal response in “I Am Bigfoot”. Others are more enduring like “Milk” where a father refuses to get is children fingerprinted because he believes it is propaganda. Or a young man’s strange sexual encounter that left him estranged from his girlfriend one summer in “Oxygen”. The mix here is absolutely wondrous. Characters looking for closure with the death of a love one are sharing pages with Men accusing Bigfoot as a womanizer.
Carlson’s writings are easily accessible. His writing has a layer of experience baked in with every helping. His characters are learning something about life the same time you are. These shorts are extremely varied and could be read over and over. Many of the stories could mean many things to many different people. The steadily creeping fears that come with parenthood, is something many feel with newborns. As if the world is conspiring against them. The Father in “Milk” starts off stubborn and headstrong in his beliefs that nothing could happen to his children. Soon finds himself scared of everything and seeing missing children in the faces of every person he meets. Or the painter in “Life before science” he was uninspired and bored only when he gets serious with both aspects of his life. (His wife and artwork) does he get inspired to paint. But in between these life lessons and reflections Carlson’s comical side shines through. “Bigfoot stole My Wife” is hilarious relentless in its absurdity. How one would come to the conclusion that one: Bigfoot was in his house and two: stole his wife. Is a mystery to me. Continuing the madness is the response by Bigfoot, which is equally entertaining. Telling the plight of a village trying to pour hot oil on their enemies “What we wanted to Do” was by far the story I enjoyed the most. Showing the unyielding determination of men trying to do what they wanted to do no matter how complex, absurd or impossible it seems. Carlson’s stories touch on something familiar. If not because we ourselves have been through these situations or know someone who has. It’s that Carlson presents life as it happens, right in front of your eyes.
The lessons of the older generation are there to enlighten and guide the youth of tomorrow. Carlson hides his teaching in smartly developed characters; going about their lives the best way they can in Carlson’s bizarre situations. The Men in his story might not be the last action hero but they are Husbands, Fathers, teachers and lain old delivery boys. Each one is a hero in their own way. “A Kind of Flying” shows the short story can be just as engaging and rewarding as a full novel. We get all the development and character, only a new story starts every chapter.
December 4, 2015
ection of short stories A Kind of Flying is filled with quirky characters, bizarre stories, and heart wrenching moments. Occasionally his stories border on the bizarre; for instance, his short story “Bigfoot Stole my Wife”, which is narrated by a man who’s wife recently ran off with Bigfoot, as the title suggests. These creative storylines make the book extremely entertaining. My particular favorite of Ron Carlson’s short story collection is entitled, “What we wanted to do” which explores the possibility of protecting a city from attack with merely lukewarm oil. Amusing concepts such as this one are found throughout the collection. One of Ron Carlson’s talents is creating characters that are slightly insane and yet relatable. Each of his character has some sort of peculiar characteristic or is in some way a bit off balance. These characters, though in some instances bizarre, are very believable and the reader forms a connection to each.
Unfortunately, I do have one criticism against the collection, and so I find myself unable to recommend it to other. Although the writing is in many parts interesting and well written, it is full of lewd scenes. These scenes tainted the otherwise good stories, and drew away from their beauty. I felt like collection of stories was given an overall feeling of cheapness. That being said, I would highly recommend the two stories mentioned above: “Bigfoot Stole my Wife”, and “What We Wanted to Do”. These were well written and free of the crudeness that unfortunately filled many of the other stories.
Unfortunately, I do have one criticism against the collection, and so I find myself unable to recommend it to other. Although the writing is in many parts interesting and well written, it is full of lewd scenes. These scenes tainted the otherwise good stories, and drew away from their beauty. I felt like collection of stories was given an overall feeling of cheapness. That being said, I would highly recommend the two stories mentioned above: “Bigfoot Stole my Wife”, and “What We Wanted to Do”. These were well written and free of the crudeness that unfortunately filled many of the other stories.
November 5, 2007
I didn't get to read all of the stories in this collection because I have to return it to the library and I'm on a tight reading schedule, but what I read fulfilled the hope I'd developed from reading Carlson stories here and there in journals -- these are wonderful stories. Strong points: (1) Carlson's ability to write shorter short stories, (2) the ability to write stories about nice people in somewhat happy situations without coming off as ridiculous or sentimental in the least. ("The H Street Sledding Record" being particularly life affirming.) I preferred the realistic stories to those that played around with the absurd in a jokey way, like "Bigfoot Stole My Wife," but I really admired the somewhat spiritual (also done with a good dose of humor) "Plan B for the Middle Class." I will definitely pick up this book again.
December 21, 2008
I found that most of the stories in this anthology of short stories from this author had an unfinished character to them. The quality of the writing was fine, but the plots and endings left much to be desired. I found "The H Street Sledding Record" mildly entertaining and the Big Foot stories intriguing, but the idea was undeveloped. Overall I found these stories disappointing from such an acclaimed author. Most unfortunate.
To be fair, I have just re-read my review and it seems a little harsh. I should say that this is my first reading of any of Ron Carlson's work. Perhaps he does better elsewahere, or perhaps it is just not my cup of tea.
To be fair, I have just re-read my review and it seems a little harsh. I should say that this is my first reading of any of Ron Carlson's work. Perhaps he does better elsewahere, or perhaps it is just not my cup of tea.
November 22, 2010
Ron Carlson came to BYU and gave a lecture that I went to. I had read a few of his short stories which are rather wonderful, 'What We Wanted to Do' is a delight. I laughed for a good while before trying to explain my feelings on the story to other classmates. 'Zanduce on Second' is the type of story I wish I had written, the premise is funny but the tone of the story is serious. I felt like I related to this story more than I actually can in real life; I've never been with a prostitute, nor have I been a professional baseball player, nor have I killed anyone.
February 9, 2013
It has it's moments. Some of the stories are excellent, many are just ok or good. the writing is almost always effortless and flows well. There is a distinct, modern 80's and 90's feel to them- clear, present and ever so slightly cynical or knowingly-jaded. Closing the collection and last pages of the book with a not-very-empathic or thoughtful depiction of sexual assault leaves a bad after-taste.
November 21, 2014
A collection of stories from three original collections—a “best of the best.” All of them quite good—plain language but sophisticated, about “everyday” situations, yet every one of them is limned in a unique way. Particularly loved story “Keith,” which later became a film. Keith speaks with a great idiolect that establishes his character immediately. It's worth the price of the book just to read that story!
March 28, 2008
Carlson's forte is the monologue from an oddball vantage point, like that of a man cuckolded by Bigfoot. More often than not, Carlson's stories have a happy ending with no one dead, like the very fine "The H Street Sledding Record." Breaking the POV pattern, "Keith" is a sweet story of high school infatuation.
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