2017 Reading Challenge discussion

The only thing better than reading these stories would be listening to them. In the Acknowledgments the author tells us that "the book developed alongside a series of public readings in front of live audiences"; the stories feel as if a raised eyebrow, a longish pause or a small smile would season them to perfection, and hearing faint chuckles from fellow listeners would underscore their fragile charm.

Ranging from under ten words in length (The Literalist's Love Poem) to around 20 pages, the stories don't demand much in the way of commitment from the reader. Readers wary of commitments will be drawn to many of the stories' narrators, who are fastidious about enthusiasm and over-involvement. The definitely curable romantic who purchases sex robot Sophia only to return her in haste when she falls in love with him continues to listen when she has only "one more thing" to say. But this time he does it during a supervised visit in the lab where her designers can record her reactions to him, and he can escape with a press of the off-switch. Don, whose ability to hang onto his "straight face" means so much to him, passes this prized skill along to Don Jr. in Constructive Criticism, in which the lad critiques his architect father's construction most unconstructively.

Another reviewer noted that reading all 60+ of the stories at one sitting provoked a case of indigestion. I didn't feel that way, but I imagine a second reading would promptly cure any bilious reactions. That, and serious engagement with the discussion questions ("Do you think discussion questions can be unfairly leading sometimes? Why?) might make this one of your favorite things in the bookstore.

15 out of 50 / 52.