Night Soil: New Stories

by Levi S. Peterson

Book by Peterson, Levi S.

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars - I really enjoyed these short stories. There's tons of sex and guilt issues, similar to the Backslider and Levi really pulls that off well. I wish there were a few stories about other topics, but still loved reading these ones. The wonderful character descriptions remind me a bit of Steinbeck. Wish his books could be more mainstream so other people could find and read them.

[Callie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I fear high school and jr high English classes have soured me forever on reading short stories. Alwaya, always when I read them now there is a part of my brain going, "what are the major themes that emerge" "how do the characters develop?" "what role does the setting play in developing the plot?" I don't know. . . something about the short story feels so constructed, so unnatural to me. I can't see it as just a good story, I always feel like there's a POINT and I have to find it.

That said, I still love Levi Peterson. So much so that I would read these, even given all my hang ups about the short story as a form.

These stories remind me a little of Flannery O'Connor, misfits and sinners trying to find redemption. Of course his are Mormons instead of Catholics. Wish the wider world would discover him. Backslider is his best work though. Very satisfying. That's another problem with the short story--it's too short. You don't get the satisfaction.

[Dorry Lou]

I am still struggling with this book. I try to read a story from it each time I finish a book.

I finally finished this. I thought it was probably one of the worst books I had ever read. It was made up of short stories & there was not one that I enjoyed. Total waste of time and I would never recommend it to anyone.