Short, Vigorous Roots: A Contemporary Flash Fiction Collection of Migrant Voices

by Mark Budman (Editor), Susan O'Neill (Editor)

This flash fiction anthology examines the experiences of being a transplant in a foreign land and looks critically at what it means to forsake tongues, traditions, and comforts in the hope of starting a new life in another world. These stories push readers to expand their understanding of the world beyond their own front doors.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2022

About the author

I’m a first-generation immigrant. My novel “My Life at First Try” was published by Counterpoint Press. I have published two short story collections with Livingston Press and two anthologies with Ooligan Press. My work has been featured in publications including Catapult and the Mississippi Review. My latest collection received a starred review from Kirkus, and Kirkus also named it one of the best books of 2023, and one anthology had an honorable mention in the 2022 Foreword Indies Award.


markbudman.com


A trailer for his anthology "You have Time for This."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBfOw1...
***
Mark Budman’s "My Life at First Try," is smart and funny and compelling, and in an era when both the immigrant experience and the resurgent aggression of the once-Soviet Russia are central issues, the novel is timely, as well. This is a splendid debut by an important new American voice.

Robert Olen Butler, a Pulitzer Prize winner, the author of "Intercourse" and "Severance"
***
A review of "My Life at First Try" in Publishers Weekly.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/artic...

Reviews

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slim volume of short stories which speak to the immigrant experience. I liked how there were a variety of perspectives from recent immigrants as well as those who have come to call their new country home. I also appreciated the depth of locations which were represented. Recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about what it means to be an immigrant.

[Julie Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of stories from migrant voices from all over the world was heartbreaking, hopeful, unique, and magical. I loved it. I thought the way that it was able to reveal perspectives of immigrants from all over the world was unlike something that I have been able to find and experience. It was raw and honest while at the same time being fictional and creatively imagined. These stories put the reader in the shoes of someone vastly different from them, who comes from a vastly different array of cultures and experiences, but frame the stories in a way that readers can understand those vast differences and feel what they must have felt. The ability to create such intriguing stories with such deep characters in such a short amount of time in a flash fiction piece is amazing, and I loved every story I read.
This collection is split into four different parts, ranging from countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Cuba, England, Finland, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Moldavia, Morocco, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United States, and Vietnam. Some stories are contemporary fiction, taking place in newer years, while others take place in later years and/or are more magical to the point where magical realism is in play and the story felt more like a folktale than a piece of contemporary fiction. I loved the stories that had that magical aspect to it. Such as “Throwing Down Roots,” by Amit Majmudar, where a young boy becomes an apple tree. The extended metaphor in this flash piece was beautiful. It was such a grotesque story with images that were startling and exciting. I was taken off guard in the best way imaginable. I found myself immediately drawn in, and the horrific and sad events that take place are mixed with wonder and curiosity. It was such a wonderful story, in my opinion. However, I also loved the contemporary pieces such as “Living Out Loud” by Yong Takahashi and “Beating Boris” by Masha Kisei, where I could find myself relating to the characters on a level I had not expected to.
All in all, this is a beautiful collection of flash fiction pieces that took me by surprise at how crafted they were and how fast I became attached to each character and their story in such a quick amount of time.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I review a book such as this? Each story was so incredible, so beautiful and heartbreaking, so unique and stunning, I am struggling with finding the words to best write the review. This is a collection of short stories brilliantly written by immigrant authors who have all come together in one book. Then, it’s the seamless editing by Mark Budman and Susan O’Neill that really brings Short, Vigorous Roots together. What a truly wonderful collection of short stories.

Many thanks to the publisher, Ooligan Press, and LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program for allowing me the chance to read this eBook in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thanks to the authors for sharing their stories as well.

The authors are:

Elison Alcovendaz
Nancy Au
Genia Blum
Aida Bode
Raffi Boyadjian
Philip Charter
James Corpora
Walerian Domanski
Ingrid Jendrzejewski
Varya Kartishai
Masha Kisel
Ruth Knafo Setton
Nina Kossman
Rimma Kranet
Shaun Levin
Amit Majmudar
Maija Mäkinen
Sayantika Mandal
Erick Messias
A. Molotkov
Feliz Moreno
Kathy Nguyen
Alexandros Plasatis
Irina Popescu
Stuart Stromin
Edvin Subašić
Yong Takahashi
Alizah Teitelbaum
Lazar Trubman
Jose Varghese
Marina Villa
Yara Zgheib

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)

Like all anthologies, some stories worked more for me than others. Overall, this was a really compelling collection filled with humanity, culture, and heartbreak. A really important look into what it means to be a migrant in today's ever-changing world.

[Steve's Book Stuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, Vigorous Roots is an anthology of flash fiction around the topic of immigration. The term “flash fiction” has differing definitions depending on who is using it. But the consensus is that flash fiction is writing that is shorter than a short story, and generally no more than 2000 words. In this anthology the forty stories are all 1000 words or less.

Editors Budman and O’Neill invited first and second generation immigrants to submit stories for the anthology, and the authors have immigrated from countries around the world - Vietnam, India, Ukraine, China, Cuba, Poland and South Africa to name a few. In all thirty-two authors responded. Their stories have been grouped around four parts, loosely based on shared themes - Past the Limits of the Familiar, The Change is Slow, Inheriting the Earth, and Tired of Waiting for Home.

This is my first time attempting a review of an anthology, and my first time reading a collection of flash fiction. It can be tough to convey thoughts about a group of writings like this one so I’ll stick with overall impressions.

I have to give kudos to most of these writers for being able to pack so much story into so few words. Some seem like scenes in a larger story, some a full story in themselves. The last story in the collection Hilsa in Hog Plum Sauce by Sayantika Mandal is one of the most complete. It’s also probably the sweetest story in the collection.

In the second part of the book, Amit Majmudar’s Throwing Down Roots seemed the most incomplete. Majmudar’s story is an allegory and I’m sure some would find it intriguing, but I confess I didn’t get the point.

The tone of many of the stories is serious and some are downright downbeat. There are for example lost children, uncomfortable and unexpected goodbyes to colleagues, and fathers confronting double dealing “coyotes” in illegal border crossings.

Even so, there are a few lighter moments, including the plum sauce story I referred to above.

One story, Stuart Stromin’s Crayfish Cocktail managed to convey a full story arc of happiness to tragedy in three short pages.

As you might expect this is a quick read. I completed it in one sitting. Yet, days later some of the stories have stuck with me.

Overall this book would be of interest to anyone who is a first- or second-generation immigrant themselves, or who likes flash fiction, or is looking for a quick book to read. I give Short, Vigorous Roots Three Stars ⭐⭐⭐.


NOTE: I received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of LibraryThing, the authors and Ooligan Press. In return I am providing a fair and unbiased review. This anthology will be released in paperpack February 1, 2022.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how to put in words how much Short, Vigorous Roots impressed and moved me!

Though short in page number, Short, Vigorous Roots is not short on detail. Reading each of the flash fiction pieces felt like stepping directly into the moment with each of the narrators. The total of forty pieces are arranged in parts elegantly named to describe a theme that represents the migrant experience.

One of the best parts about this collection is the writing itself. Many of the stories are practically poetic with their striking word choices. In Edvin Subašić’s “Chasing Gods,” he describes the experience of a temporary shelter in Croatia with the sentence, “Humanity is drowning in desperation and desire, in its own smell of stale fear, soiled diapers, and laundry detergent.” Some pieces have unique sentence structures. “The Perfect Girl” by Ruth Knafo Setton, for example, uses run-on sentences in a way that captures the feeling of the built up pressure to “be perfect” as a second generation immigrant. The story cleverly describes what perfect girls don’t do as all of the things the narrator clearly must do in her life. The grating push and pull from one expectation to the next is artfully shown in one of my favorite expressive lines:

The perfect girl always knows the difference between right and wrong and is an example to her younger brother and a shining example of a perfect American girl, and she does not—she does—she always—she is—she is not—the only thing we know for sure is that she is not me.

This collection of flash fiction acts as a window into so many experiences and feelings of migrant voices. Loss, love, frustration, and fear are just a few of the emotions these stories convey. To capture such vulnerabilities in a way that feels authentic is an incredible feat. Though the stories are works of fiction, the authors who have written them all draw from their own experiences as first and second generation immigrants. I appreciate that at the end of this collection, small bios of the authors are included. The range of countries represented is impressive, including China, Ukraine, Morocco, South Africa and India to name a few. I felt privileged and grateful to be able to hear these stories.

I highly recommend this anthology to those who look to literature to open their eyes to new perspectives or to those seeking reflections of their own immigration experiences. The short form is perfect for readers who desire impactful but brief pieces of writing. I’ll be returning to this collection many times, I’m sure.

[Annaliese Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written collection of flash fiction. There are over thirty different authors and while some of the stories seem to be based on the author’s lives, others are magical realist or historical fiction. However, their writing styles all share a similar tone that makes the collection feel cohesive. Each story is only four pages maximum but still manages to convey so much of the character’s life. My favorite stories were “Two Nights Only”, “Illegals are the Best Drivers”, and “The Perfect Girl”. I really empathized with these characters from such a small snapshot of their lives. I also appreciated that the latter was more like a poem than a short story, which helps give the collection variety.

However, not every story is exceptional. The story “Putting down roots” in which a tree sprouts from a boy’s body stomach after he swallows an apple seed is arguably well-written, though a little too grotesque and seemed only tangentially relevant to the theme of immigration. In addition, I wish that the author’s country or countries of origin was included next to their names to better understand the context of their story. Although this information is available in the “about the authors” section at the end of the collection, it’s tedious to keep switching between this section and each story.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a more focused collection of flash fiction than You Have Time for This, which was also co-edited by Mark Budman. Each of the short works is an immigrant story and illuminates often intimate moments of each writer’s experience having picked up and moved to a strange new country. What this collection may lack in the sometimes magically disturbing imagery of the former collection, it makes up for by giving you a window into the immigrant experience. And not to say it is completely lacking in the fantastical; there is, after all, a tomato that turns out to be, well something else (I don’t want to give spoilers), and a man who claims to be able to dissolve. We are left wondering if he really did. But, overall, it is the personal moments of challenge, and sometimes pain, navigating the unusual newness, the uprooted feeling, the longing and uncertainty of home and what that means, that draw us in. There is the powerful sadness of hardship, silence, and denial in “Unexpected Sunday Meeting” by Lazar Trubman; the poetic dance of belonging in “Throwing Down Roots” by Amit Majmudar; and the personal, quiet need to understand, to be heard in “Chasing Gods” by Edvin Subašić. Those are just a few examples of why this short book of short reads is well worth your time.

[Dory Hammersley Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flash fiction has a unique ability to really drive an idea home. Whatever theme or emotion the author wants to communicate to their reader becomes SO concentrated and pointed with so few words. It also allows a uniquely specific glimpse into some tiny idea or event in a way that longer story formats can't necessarily do, to devastating and inspiring effect.

In the case of this flash fiction collection, we focus a microscope on miniscule individual experiences, magnifying them by their proximity to other tiny experiences, collecting them into a whole that gives a stunning look into the experiences of migrants all over the world, in many different circumstances. We follow the thoughts of a bewildered child trying is best to behave for his anxious parents, a desperate refugee who finds a rickety boat in the open ocean to be safer that where he came from, a daughter returning her mother's ashes to the home she never saw again in life...and 39 more such stories.

Tiny story after tiny story, this anthology brings together a community of authors, and their characters, that then becomes a whole that tells the long and diverse saga of those who leave their homes hoping that a new one will be better.

[Alexandra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually go for anthologies, but this one really stood out to me. I think that having books like this out there is very important and I am glad to be able to read differing perspectives. Immigration is such an important topic to talk about and is something that this country doesn't seem to handle well. A good way to figure out what lens to look at immigration from is to go straight to the source. This book has so many voices in it and offers a lot of valuable insights on what it means to be an immigrant and the emotions and circumstances that surround it. There is so much substance in each and every story in this book––though this is flash fiction, it certainly doesn't leave anything out. It might be a light book, but it certainly is not a light read. Each story conveys a different experience on what it's like to be from somewhere else, from an entirely different world, and the tragedies and happiness that people experience when faced with it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every experience from each author and story, and I think this is an important read for anyone trying to understand immigration.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an anthology of flash fiction around the immigrant experience with each story being told in less than a thousand words. The authors were all first or second generation immigrants. As you would expect the stories were diverse with many countries represented among the writers. The quality of the stories varied; some were excellent and I wished they would be turned into something longer, others were fine, but felt as though the writers were trying too hard, while yet others were opaque and I was left wondering what the story was really about. The stories that appealed to me the most were the ost straightforward, the ones that told a story of what it was like to be an immigrant, and that directly explored the immigrant experience. You could sense a biographical element that I liked. The anthology was arranged in four sections giving shape to the immigrant experience. The first section was about arrival, the second about adapting, the third about belonging and the fourth about nostalgia and missing home. It wasn't always clear why a story had been chosen for a particular section but it did lend structure to the reading. It could easily have been read in one sitting, but I left time between each section for reflection on the stories I had read.
I received an advance copy of this book courtesy of LibraryThing, and Ooligan Press in return for an unbiased review.

[Ági Bori]

A carefully chosen selection of 40 short stories that tell heartfelt tales about immigration and growing roots in the United States. Each story is as unique as the authors themselves, who range from Finland to India, and places in-between, including Russia, Morocco, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldavia—the list goes on. Some authors describe the day of their arrival, some talk about a later period in their lives; the styles of the stories are wide-ranging, unique, and distinctive. I absolutely loved the anticipation that surrounded the reading of each story. They are full of deeply rooted emotions about separation and dispersion. Readers can truly sense that the authors poured their heart and soul into their personal stories. Each section is beautifully illustrated with wild flowers and plants that are native to the Pacific Northwest. I savored each story and enjoyed reading a few a day and let them penetrate my soul. This is a slim but powerful book that is sure to reach the hearts of its readers.

[Alexandra Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of flash fiction looks short, but is a heavy read. The stories are no more than a few pages but are so strong and emotionally evocative you're forced to pause and think after each one. You can flip to any page in the book and start reading because each story is so unique and powerful.

Some of the writing feels more like poetry while others read like memoirs, so every page has a different tone and perspective. The authors who contributed to this anthology are diverse, and I wish their biographies were listed with the chapters so I could adjust to each new story without flipping to the back of the book. However, it reads quite well without their introductions.

It's almost difficult to remember that these are works of fiction only because the narrative is so personal and genuine that is reminiscent of a memoir. This book is one I'd take my time with and return back to fully digest both the quality of writing and emotional narratives.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a great time reading Short, Vigorous Roots. Not to say it's all chipper. There are some very emotional stories here (especially considering their incredibly short amount of time to build). It's incredibly pertinent to the world today due to the ever increasing coverage of migrants across the world. I, for one, have never been an immigrant nor so closely connected to any to hear their stories first hand. Perhaps the closest idea we may get from American literature would be Grapes of Wrath.
Being flash fiction really allows the reader finishing the collection to get a snippet from the lives of many authors. Short fiction, nonfiction, biographical fans should definitely give this a go. It reads fast and hits hard, so it can cover a lot of genre ground for folks. This feels like something I'd have been given in a college course to read for either history or literature.
It's a wonderful book you should experience.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest: I don't have the immigrant experience. What I can say is that reading these stories made me feel grief and anger and horror, and those feelings were earned. While it's hard to pick which left the biggest impression on me, these particular pieces I remember best—Arrivals, The Ravine, Welcome the Red Army, Crossing the Line—all created something concrete rather than asking the topic alone to carry the emotional weight.

Flash fiction can be fairly hit-or-miss for me. Sometimes it feels like a writer trying so hard to be poignant and pithy that the story and characters get buried under the craft. These didn't do that. Each moment of each story spoke.

This isn't a collection I could read in one sitting. Not because the writing was difficult—but because each piece needed the space to breathe. They're compressed, and that compression has weight.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: I won a free eBook copy of this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers (December 2021).

"Short, Vigorous Roots" was my introduction not only to flash fiction, but also to many facets of the immigrant experience which I had not considered before. Each of the vignettes in this volume read and feel markedly different, with their narrators and protagonists hailing from all corners of the globe and across several generations of history. Some are refugees, some are migrants, some are naturalized citizens in their new home countries, and some remain strangers long after they've arrived. Yet so many of these stories relate how it feels to be caught in a liminal space between worlds, nations, cultures, and identities. Particularly poignant are the stories in Part One, "Past the Limits of the Familiar," as they detail the trials, tribulations, and anxieties that transnational people experience. Other stories in Part Four, namely "Disbelief" and "The Immaculate Heart of Mary," venture into the surreal. Overall, this short fiction collection is a worthwhile read for its fresh perspectives on contemporary human migration.

[Jessie Levine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories from migrant voices had an impact on me. The combination of so many tiny stories and different voices made me feel the magnitude of each individual person who has left their home in search of a better life. Instead of thinking about the immigrant experience as a monolith, this book helped me recognize individual voices within the growing choir. That said, not every story was a banger. Some felt too short to be fully realized, and even though the book was organized into four sections, the stories in each section didn't all necessarily seem to fit or unify under their headings. Qualms aside, I think this is worth a read for anyone seeking to understand the immigrant experience.

[LK · Rating 4 out of 5]

An anthology of 40 fictional short stories that in all are beautifully written in their own way.
This book gives the reader a look into the different and diverse understandings of the word immigration through migrants voices.
The writers portray their sense of what being an immigrant means to them, and this in turn leads to each story leaving some sort of impression. From 'A Nice Boy' being touching, 'Living Out Loud' being liberating, 'Dust Day' showing a beautiful emotion, to just a simple but meaningful 'Pet Rock'.
Even though the stories are fictional I still found them interesting to read as I'm pretty certain some of the emotions are of reality.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each of the 40 stories in this collection was written by a first or second generation immigrant and was limited to 1000 words. As with any collection the quality varied a lot from story to story. A few read like poetry. Some were traditional, engaging stories. Some were incomprehensible, and not in a good way. For many the theme of immigration was clear, sometimes uplifting and sometimes tragic. Others left me puzzled about what they had to do with the theme. A word of warning, this came as a (free) pdf that didn't convert well to mobi and was difficult to read in either format on my Kindle Fire. I don't know if it comes in a better format.

[DeeDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shines a spotlight on the individual immigrants coming to America. These people were very strong-willed and determined to be able to endure what was needed to be endured in order to make if here for the chance of a better life. Their perspectives of their journeys and their first days in America were very different than what I expected. Some of the stories were difficult for me to understand what their perspective was because of the culture difference. Which I think was deliberate. It emphasizes that no matter how different our cultures are, we are still the same in our feelings and ambitions.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, Vigorous Roots is an amazing and heart-catching book. It is a collection of very short (under 1000 words) stories about being a stranger in a new land. The stories are written by forty multigenerational immigrants from over 25 nations. They are wonderful, emotional stories about the immigrant experience - all sharing certain aspects yet all so very different. They are at once devastating and beautiful. The stories deal with leaving behind one's country, traditions and languages to travel to an unknown culture. This is a brilliant group of stories. Many thanks to Ooligan Press and LibraryThing for the advance reader copy of a book I will never forget.

[coffeedog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thought-provoking collection of brief writings by immigrants from many different countries, revealing various backgrounds and motivations for their migration. It’s impossible for me to choose favorites among them, because what I might miss today could become a favorite as my own awareness changes. At the moment, I’m quite fond of the last entry, “Hilsa in Hog Plum
Sauce” by Sayantika Mandal, for the deft arc of the story and the depiction of all the senses. There is tremendous variety in this collection and it is relevant for anyone who wishes to understand some of the human dilemmas of these determined individuals.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredible collection of stories! From beginning to end I felt so many emotions, and I loved the quickness of each entry because it felt like I was reading and experiencing other peoples’ lives so quickly, yet so strongly at the same time. Short, Vigorous Roots is a collection of short stories that addresses immigration from multiple countries and points of view. It balances fiction and nonfiction, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to learn and feel as they read because this book will do both. One of my personal favorite stories was “Learning to Float” by Jose Varghese from Part Two.

[Noraa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each flash fiction piece in this collection serves as a window into the complexities of identity, belonging, and the journey of migration. One of the best things about Short, Vigorous Roots is how it connects with so many people. Whether you've experienced migration yourself or just want to learn more about the immigrant experience, this book provides deep and meaningful insights. This collection shows the power of storytelling and the strength of those who build lives in new places. "Short, Vigorous Roots" is more than just a book; it's a celebration of the human spirit and a must-read for anyone interested in the rich, detailed stories of the immigrant experience. Each story, though short, makes a lasting impact and gets readers thinking about what 'home' really means.

[Elle Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a day and was completely in awe of the stories within it. This is a collection of short stories from various authors from all over the world, such as Cuba, Greece, Brazil, India, and more. The overall theme of the book discusses the feeling of setting down roots in a new place and all the awkwardness, difficulties, and excitement that comes with it. These stories are raw and powerful and shine light on the loss that comes with reinventing oneself in a strange new place. There is a perfect collection of diverse migrant voices for all of the stories featured. Highly recommend this book to any and all readers!

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories (ranging from 2 to 10 pages) about the immigrant experience by writers from various countries. The tales tend to be little snippets of life, that are in sections focused on immigrating, living as an immigrant, or dying in a foreign country. There are a few duds, but overall, I was impressed with the quality of the stories, which are probably best appreciated spaced out to allow for some contemplation before proceeding to the next.
Thank you to the author and publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Claire]

Short, Vigorous Roots offers a look at the many different experiences of immigrant authors from all over the world. I don’t frequently read flash fiction story collections, but I found this selection very moving and it truly captured the variety of experiences, situations, and emotions that come up around immigration. There are stories about family, about adjusting (or not), about language, about the significance of a passport. I’m glad I had the chance to read this collection!

[eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reexamines what we mean by "home" and how some homes are more cemented than others. That homes can be uprooted and the soil they use to replant can feel infertile.
The theme is strong in this book and each story hones in on the meaning of "home" and the migrant experience.
I appreciated how each story shared a different voice from another part of the world.

[Elise Noorda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection of short essays describing a glimpse into each unique immigrant experience. Heartwarming and heartbreaking. Beautiful book.
Additionally, I'm always a fan of a perfect title, and this is one.
Well done Ooligan Press!

[beets4borshenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of short stories about the immigrant experience. I enjoyed some more than others but each one was unique. There were a lot of Eastern European stories especially, which I always love to read about. Overall it was a decent read, nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed it.