Granta 71: Shrinks

Granta: The Magazine of New Writing #71

by Ian Jack (Editor)

The talking cure, otherwise known as analysis or therapy. Invented Vienna, c. 1886. Most celebrated exponents: Sigmund Freud, Jerry Springer. Favorite question: "Can you tell me a little more about that?" Diseases to which normally addressed: unhappiness, personal torment. Efficacy: contested. Effect on the written word: vast. This issue of Granta is devoted to the kinks and twists of the human mind, and their treatments.

Genres: Nonfiction, Anthologies

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2000

About the author

Ian Jack is a British journalist and writer who has edited the Independent on Sunday and the literary magazine Granta and now writes regularly for The Guardian.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story, "The Emotions Are Not Skilled Workers" is one of the best stalking stories I have read in a long time. I usually don't like the idea of these stories, but this one takes a very icky topic and slips it in under the door, as it were, without scaring off the reader.
Emund White's "Shrinks" will be appreciated by anyone who has already enjoyed one of his other autobiographical pieces on growing up different in the 50s.
This was actually a rereading of this volume, as I subscribed to Granta and read this when it came out in 2000. We moved, had a yard sale, and sold a lot of my books. So, that's why I ended up buying this again in a book shop during my recent recoup following a car accident.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

In high school science classes, the "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" ideas is frequently discussed. I think that this book, a collection of stories related (at least loosely) to psychoanalysis is actually less than the sum of its parts.

Theoretically, a book with such a nice collection of authors & artists should be a thoroughly compelling read. In reality, I trudged through many of the stories, with the exception of the first. Even Paul Auster's contribution was a bit of a letdown, and I'm a fan of his writing.

In a word: okay.

[sisterimapoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skipped a couple of the pieces that didn't grab me in this selection. But enjoyed most of what I did read.

The non-fiction pieces by White, Parker and Parks were all very good. And the Paul Auster was short but sweet.

And I could spend forever looking at photos of body shapes made by Gormley.

[Philip Taffs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for the couch.

[Aaron Makepeace · Rating 2 out of 5]

The extract from "seven types of ambiguity" was wonderful.