Imaginary Museums: Stories

by Nicolette Polek

In this collection of compact fictions, Nicolette Polek transports us to a gently unsettling realm inhabited by disheveled landlords, a fugitive bride, a seamstress who forgets what people look like, and two rival falconers from neighboring towns. They find themselves in bathhouses, sports bars, grocery stores, and forests in search of exits, pink tennis balls, licorice, and independence. Yet all of her beautifully strange characters are possessed by a familiar and human longing for connection: to their homes, families, God, and themselves.

Miniature catastrophes --
The rope barrier --
Coed picnic --
Winners --
Grocery story --
Garden party --
Arranged marriage --
American interiors --
A house for living --
The dance --
The nearby place --
Invitation --
Doorstop --
Imaginary museums --
Your shining trapdoor --
Slovak sceneries --
Sabbatical --
Flowers for Angelika --
Thursdays at Waterhouse --
The seamstress --
How to eat well --
Owls fall in Nitra --
Library of lost things --
Girls I no longer know --
Guest books --
Field notes --
Rest in pieces --
Pets I no longer have --
The squinter's watch --
Love language

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Contemporary, Poetry, Literary Fiction, The United States Of America, Anthologies

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2020

About the author

Nicolette Polek is a fiction writer from Northeast Ohio. She is the recipient of a 2019 Rona Jaffe Writers' Award, and her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Paris Review Daily, Electric Literature, Spike Art Magazine, New York Tyrant, and elsewhere. Nicolette holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of Maryland and an MAR from Yale Divinity School. She currently teaches at SUNY Purchase and Bennington College.

Reviews

[Maggie Rotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago when working with a Jungian therapist, I wrote each morning in longhand every dream or fragment of dream I could catch by the tail as it was fleeing. I read some of these recently from one of the large 3 ring binders where they are stored. It occurred to me that perhaps there were the bones of short stories among the somewhat strange narratives. Imaginary Museums by Nicolette Polek is what I imagine such a project might become in the hands of a fearlessly imaginative writer. In these short pieces there is inscrutable logic, poetic flow of language and ultimately a grasping of the thing without words, Best read, I think, a few at a time.

[Mark Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The one who aggressively knows nothing can have more power over someone who is still in the process of knowing something".

Nicolette Polek's collection is surreal compact fiction where offbeat characters occupy outlandish spaces. Miniature narratives and delicate micro stories containing camera shots of life: the human condition, the quandaries of the everyday, and the complexities in our judgement on when to construct barriers and when to bare all.

[Tao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my interview with Nicolette here: https://believermag.com/logger/an-int...

[Jerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are wonderful little gems that pack in a lot about the human experience.

[Linda Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you ever see that diagram of a person’s head, focusing on the brain, in which we were told about the “attic” of the conscious mind and the “basement” of the subconscious? I think we have a new name for that basement – Imaginary Museum. This delightful (disturbing?) group of vignettes lets us peek into the lives of a variety of strange characters that could only rise up from the depths of a vivid imagination. Anyone who likes “different” and “short” will love these pithy, thought-provoking flashes of literary perfection. Enjoy the vision!

I met this book at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, WA.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Striking in their surrealist beauty and surprising humor, the stories in Nicolette Polek's debut collection accrue meaning through sharp sensory detail, like lingering, half-remembered dreams. The experience is divine, and Polek navigates the negative space between plot to give us the pure nectar of storytelling.

There is stunning imagery on display as well: strawberries are mashed into a sheep's coat; "large expensive men bob [in a bath house] like corks," beside the sound of money being counted; the tension and energy of youth builds like dense dry undergrowth, tinder for a forest fire.

Polek proves that it is all of us who are odd, after all.

[johnny ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

they’re just too short too fully enjoy. some are way more fun than others. i wish most of these has been expanded upon and made longer.

[Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars (rounded up)

Reading Polek’s wonderfully neat curation of 26 very short stories felt like being trapped in a lucid dream. Occasionally surreal, and often glum, she balances this with unexpected humor and irony.

Quote dump:

“That morning, Laszlo’s wife totaled their bicycle when she passed out from what she described as ‘demonic menstrual pains.’ Laszlo remarked at how very nineteenth century of her that was, to faint about like that...”

“I don’t have time to be down. I only have time to be productive.”

“The one who aggressively knows nothing can have more power over someone who is still in the process of knowing something.”

These stories are spare, but full and memorable and several warranted an immediate rereading. Thank you Raven for this excellent recommendation!

[Margaryta · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received a ditital ARC copy of the book via Netgalley to review**

"Imaginary Museums" is one of those books that you cannot have too much of because of how highly saturated and almost "sugary" they are. Polek is no doubt a skilled and clever writer. The stories are like rooms in a cosmic dollhouse that the reader peaks into, and even when characters are named they are still like open shells that the reader can insert themselves into; the "story" "Girls I No Longer Know," located in the last section of the book, was a great example of this. This leads me to another interesting characteristic of "Imaginary Museums": the fact that many of the pieces in it are more vignettes than they are short stories, even those pieces that are long enough to be considered short stories. This is a double-edged sword, because the charm and delight this stylistic decision elicits in the beginning of the book began to weigh on me towards the end. Perhaps that's because I began to try plowing through the book, which resulted in the kind of over-saturation I mentioned in the very beginning of this review. There are many pros to "Imaginary Museum" - cyclicality, hopelessness, and escape are central themes Polek explores in her collection that the writing style also reinforces, if not ironically heightens. There are also moments of great humour, particularly in the story "Winners", which, as a grad student, I thoroughly enjoyed. Broadly speaking, "Imaginary Museums" is a collection of light and satirical pieces of fiction - think of them as "stories" with a grain of salt. They're not going to be memorable, but you'll enjoy most, if not all of them, while you're reading them, and it's that kind of level of joy that I think we need more of in books.

[Lindsay Loson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Soft Skull Press for this ARC, out January 2020!

"The internet makes it easy to be seen and vanish completely at the same time. 'An ethereal corset that traps everyone in the same unnatural shape.'"

Don't get me wrong, I love weird books, short story collections, movies - you name it. But sometimes I read things like this collection and I'm so confused. I wanted to love it, and some of the stories hit deeper than others for sure, but otherwise I was left with a sense that I hadn't read anything of substance. The stories I wanted more from ended too abruptly, and many felt like they had no purpose at all. I'm not sure if I just didn't understand the underlying point of most of the stories, of if I truly just don't connect with things that are written in this way. I feel the need to compare Polek's writing to Ottessa Moshfegh because it is so out there, and that also with Moshfegh even if I don't love what I've read, I'm still intrigued. I do feel like I should say that I think Polek could be a writer to watch out for, because this is a style of writing that interests a lot of people and is also a very quick and easy read. Ones like "Field Notes" and "The Nearby Place" shine so brightly that I was able to appreciate this collection for what it was. Maybe on a reread I would enjoy it more, but on my first go I was just caught too off guard.

[Patrick Probably DNF · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterful collection of flash fiction "exhibits" that defy categorization. Imagine a series of mysterious and perfect kisses from a lover. You might feel as though you're falling in love, and it's thrilling, but you also know this relationship will never flourish, and you're left feeling at odds, perhaps even unsettled. So the question becomes: do you feel grateful for the experience or spurned by what could have been?

[Emily Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I deeply admire Polek’s perspective on life and how she approaches her writing. Imaginary Museums is a view-master; each story gives a little snapshot of humanity and when you click to the next slide—or turn the page—you are in another era, dimension, scene. It’s also like eating a bunch of delicious appetizers instead of a full meal.

[Crystal]

A week later and I've forgotten any lines or distinct details. A quick, easy read but nothing that leaves a mark.

[Natanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

haunting + simple

[Megan Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nice little book full of quandaries

[Stanislav Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo, a beautiful book.

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a trip. I love short story collections because they always seem to be a space for strange but powerful writing. This one is no exception. Each story felt like a fever dream, and I loved every second of it!

[Zach Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succinct, succulent, and successfully executed. Magical writing.

[Christian Felder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like small luxurious deserts, best enjoyed one at a time. For fans of Mary Ruefle and Lydia Davis. I can't wait until this author's next book.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminiscent of fairy tales you'd get read as a kid that would make the world seem a bit more curious than it had before.

[Nique 💫 chroniqled ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting at Orchard library in Singapore!!

[Deedi Brown (DeediReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

TL;DR REVIEW:
Imaginary Museums is perfect for this moment in history: relatively escapist, actually digestible, and well written. These stories were so good they made me feel like writing.

For you if: You like short stories that are very well written and only a tiny bit weird.

FULL REVIEW:
Thank you to Soft Skull Press for gifting me a finished copy of this book for review!

“The flight attendant is plump and comfortable like a babysitter, or a sausage, and she tottles down the aisle to make an announcement. The turbulence on the small aircraft gives Biba a bellyache. She wants an Ambien and a kiss.

Over the speakers, the flight attendant whispers, ‘We are lost.’”

Wow. Imaginary Museums was such a great collection of stories, and I’m so glad I read it. Nicolette Polek’s writing is strong, bold, precise, and a little haunting — exactly what short stories need, in my opinion.

Each of the stories in this collection is quite short, ranging from only a few paragraphs to a few pages. To pack such a strong punch into so few words is always impressive, but Polek also manages to do it without making them so weird that you have no idea what just happened. Don’t get me wrong, they’re a little weird, but in a way that doesn’t lose you in the process.

This combination — a little weird, quick to read, easy to follow, super impactful — made Imaginary Museums a perfect choice to read during the distracted stress of “social distancing.” The whole book will take you only a few short hours.

Ultimately, Polek’s stories were so creative and well-written that they made me feel like writing. In fact, after I finished reading the collection, I signed up for my next online writing class. And if that’s not a testament, I don’t know what is.

I initially dog-eared six of the 27 stories to mark them as favorites. When I was flipping back through the book to write this review, though, I found myself thinking, oh yeah, that was a good one, over and over. Still, my favorite six were:

- “The Rope Barrier,” in which a woman spends her life carrying around a literal rope barrier to shield herself from that which she perceives as dangerous
- “The Dance,” in which a husband and wife are discussing (you might say dancing around) whether to go out for the evening
- “The Nearby Place,” in which an old man is being wheeled toward something spectacular … or is he?
- “Thursdays at the Waterhouse,” in which a man’s clothing keeps getting stolen while he’s at the spa
- “Field Notes,” in which a woman goes on a hike and the trail signs seem to speak directly to her
- “Love Language,” in which an airplane’s pilot does not recognize his surroundings

Do yourself a favor and read this one. I can’t wait to see what Polek does next.

[Suzanne]

What to say about this collection of flash fiction? “Quirky” doesn’t begin . . .

I like writing that is somewhat experimental or unconventional, in structure, viewpoint, and/or language. I haven’t got a problem with that at all, so I was hopeful about this. The blurbs in the front of the book include descriptions and adjectives such as “little circuses of wonder,” “pressure-cooked little diamonds,” “little crystalline shards,” and my favorite, “rhythmic bulletins of crisp delirium,” and I suppose these are accurate. I appreciated the sharp, oddball imagery and succinct telling of specific moments in the characters’ lives, which conform to all the descriptions above, with a good measure of magical realism thrown in, although that is definitely not my favorite literary technique. Too often, though, I found myself thinking, “These are too avant-garde for me. I don’t get it.” The first half-dozen stories left me clueless as to how I was supposed to feel about the stories, their characters and situations, and I almost gave up.

But given the fact that this very short book of 128 pages contained stories of only one to three page each, it was fairly painless to keep sampling these tiny tidbits, and persevering brought me to several stories that I not only enjoyed from a craft perspective, but actually understood and connected with on an emotional level.

So, for me the stories fell into three main buckets: 1) The clueless “I don’t get it” bucket; 2) I liked it and appreciated the strange unconventional presentation, and 3) which may be a sub-set of #1, the “What the heck was that? I think perhaps I’m being punked” bucket.

I don’t know how to rate this overall. I will leave that to people smarter and more sophisticated than yours truly. For those curious or craving something different with little hits of literary weirdness, I say go for it. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.

[Ed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Total impulse purchase based off seeing an enthusiastic review on social media -- and maybe I should learn my lesson that my typical due diligence is by far a better predictor of whether I would like a book or not. Not that there is any terrible about this collection of short stories -- or should I say, "flash" or "micro" fiction as it's 26 stories in ~120 pages that typically take only a few minutes each to read -- but it just wasn't my thing. The stories are often random, odd, and surreal -- so while often have a problem with short stories collections and their often abrupt ends, here --and especially given the brevity of each - it was exponentially amplified and, every 5-10 minutes was a rinse-and-repeat cycle of Hmmm? Oooo0-kay! Whaaat? nose-crinkling and eye-rolling reactions.

The (only?) standout story for me was 'The Dance' (perhaps unsurprisingly, as it is one of the stories most grounded in reality), a wonderful internal/psychological study of a married couple trying to satisfy their own and their partner's need and failing at both.

There is immense creativity here from Polek and certainly writing skill, but the stories rarely elicited the smile or Aha! that I am guessing was the intention. I am sure others will (and already do!) find this collection very clever - but again, just not anywhere near enough personal Venn Diagram overlap of content/execution and enjoyment.

[Morgan Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book was entertaining and readable I found that once I put it down I couldn't remember any particular stories. None seemed to stick out to me. Eventually I remembered some enjoyable ones but struggle to remember them. Maybe that's partly on me. I do remember a story about a man in a grocery store. That one was fun. One about a woman who wonders the forest and at the end we find out that a bird saw the woman several times. Would have loved to read that story from the birds perspective. There was one that seemed to elude to a man in a wheelchair going to heaven but really ends up in a dark room. Once we die, nothingness. That one was probably my favorite.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced readers copy of this book as a giveaway.

As per most short story collections, there were some stories of Nicolette Polek's Imaginary Museums that I really enjoyed and others that left me a little cold. There's no doubt that Polek is a talented writer, and her stories are all very unique and strange. There's a mix of the absurd alongside the mundane. One of the things I liked, is that all of her stories were all very short, which made them digestible, and the book a quick read. I feel like this is a book that I may enjoy more upon multiple readings, since I suspect that there are nuances that I missed first go-around.

[Rachel Allred · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The one who aggressively knows nothing can have more power over someone who is still in the process of knowing something"

Felt a lot like flipping through channels on a TV. Little snippets into different lives and entering the intimate dreams of a stranger.

Some of the poems stuck with me more than others, and some felt just a little bit too short to really enjoy.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know what I was getting in when I started reading this. I quite enjoyed it! Some story are dark, similar to the Roald Dahl storied for grown ups. and some really sad and beautiful.

The story that resonate with me the most is Field Work. Erica, I feel you.

[Gabriella Ramirez]

tony soprano fever dream

[Anai Chess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polek’s first effort is impressive, interrogating the nature of truth and communication through a number of very short stories.