Status Updates From Something to Stem the Dimin...

This is a big fat DNF!

A collection of short stories/essays, it was not an enjoyable read, at times I had absolutely no idea what was going on! So I stopped reading, I don’t have time for this, it’s like listening to someone just ramble on incoherently.

I read 3 of these shorts and not one was particularly interesting, I almost liked Native Monsters but it came to nothing in the end. So disappointing.

Travel
An elderly man and former writer / creative writing teacher meets a surfer that has dropped out of college, at a beach in Florida. The two start talking, mainly about books and writing, as the narrator also reminisces about his late wife.
This story had a certain magic, and a nice message as well.
4 stars

A Convenient Thing
In a hotel room in Tokyo, a wife finds her husband bleeding to death after an earthquake. She's debating whether to help him or not.
With more build-up this could have been real fun.
2.5 stars

Relationships
A young man attends the funeral of his mother's third husband. He's the only one showing up there. His mother died shortly after she had married the guy, and he recounts the difficult relationship he had with him in the years that followed.
This is a story full of unlikeable characters, and therefore was difficult to enjoy.
1.5 stars

Anderson Takes the Short Way
Every day on his way to work Anderson sees a woman that he feels attracted to. But he never talks to her. Instead his imagination creates a certain persona.
Another story that is just too short to really do much for me.
2 stars

Mogi
A short story about a young American on a one year contract as a teacher at an English conversation school in Nagasaki. While he very much likes the place, he feels lost, as his life is lacking direction. He starts to make regular trips to the small fishing town of Mogi. There he becomes acquainted with the family of a convenience store owner, [continued in the comments]

Youth and its Discontents
An essay on the waiting trap of middle class society and the spiritual death of the once adventurous child. On losing that fire, or maybe retaining it.
This one came as a bit of a surprise, as I was only expecting a collection of short stories. Very interesting. Some of it hit quite close to home.
4 stars, for now. But I'll read that one again.

Native Monsters
The second story is about a 9 year-old boy, who's hurting a lot, because of his potentially abusive foster parents. He dreams of monsters and of running away.
This one was better, but still lacking a proper pay-off.
2.5 stars

The Beginning
We start with a very short story about a man who in spite of professional success and wealth is not happy. He seems to feel numb.
Way too short to leave much of an impression.
1.5 stars