BOOK: This Isn’t The Sort Of Thing That Happens To Someone Like You
AUTHOR: Jon McGregor
GRADE: C+
Jon McGregor’s collection of short stories is interesting; if a little high-brow for most. He definitely displays a knack for details, along with an understanding of life for those not generally given a platform. His execution tends to be a little on the droll side though.
This collection of stories invites the reader to come along as we watch to day laborers fish while fighter planes fly overhead in one story and a mad man build a tree house in preparation for floods that may or may not actually come in another. Marriage and isolation is discussed. Global warming is mentioned. All with a kind of “blah” tone.
I believe that McGregor was aiming for dry wit – but landed mostly in the dry category. Some stories are interesting and moderately entertaining even, but most are challenging to get through. A short book that takes a long time to read. I can’t recommend it for most.
No comments:
Post a Comment