December Audiobook (Unabridged)

" The last story alone is more than enough reason to buy this book. Simply beautiful. "

" Powerful but scarring writing. I am not sure what purpose some of these stories serve but to maim a reader's conscience. Just because you have the power to shock doesn't mean the stories are good, important, or meaningful. "

" The cover quote said this book was "subversive, hilarious, and emotionally piercing". These stores are emotionally astute, poignant and provocative, but not hilarious. These stories stick with you. These people stick with you. "

" Read by the author. Such a treat. Semplica Girls Diaries was so funny, sweet and moving. Loved it. "

" Excellent book of short stories. Saunders is top-notch, whether he's writing sly, satirical SF in the slipstream mode ("The Semplica Girl Diaries", "Escape from Spiderhead"), or more mainstream literary fiction. He has an unerring sense of voice -- the first story in the book, "Victory Lap", is written from three different and distinct points of view in linear time, and is a tour-de-force of characterization through internal monologue. The first paragraph in "Puppy", particularly, struck me as brilliant. "

" The hype preceding publication of this book made me wary. I'm still wary. Some of the stories didn't gel for me, yet. I listened to the audiobook read by the author and I'm going back to review some of it. "

" Really, really excellent. Beautiful writing, and his ability to maintain specific voices is impressive. Makes me want to go back and re-read Civilwarland in Bad Decline and Pastoralia, just because it's been a long time since I last read them, and this volume reminds me how great Saunders is. "

" I didn't get it at all. "

" there are no words to describe how much i loved this book, the writing, the characters. it blew my mind, am an official devotee. recommend to all humans. laughed out loud, squirmed, cried. i feel myself more human and present because i read this book. yes. "

" Bitingly funny collection of short stories presenting a grotesquely exaggerated version of our current consumer culture. "

" ugh! Not worth the hype IMHO. "

" Dark and strange and frequently disquieting, yet ultimately hopeful. "

" quirky, funny, sad and thoroughly enjoyable stories "

" What's equally amazing to the book's originality is it's current run of two months (as of 3/2/13) on the NYT best sellers list while both being "literary" (in the most snobbish sense, of course) and a collection of short stories, which occasionally have sci-fi and fantasy elements. "

" Never read any George Saunders before. These are strange and dark little stories, I often didn't want them to end. "

" I love well-written short stories, and these are among the best. I loved how most of them told the story from the point of view of many characters, so that you got a more complete picture of what was happening. "

" This is one of the cleverest books I've read in ages. I loved the stories and the writing style. Will write more later if I can find the time. "

" My rating is more of a refelction on me. I am not a huge fan of short stories to begin with, but this book got such good reviews that I thought I would try it. I just didn't get it.....However I don't think that is the authors fault, but maybe mine.... "

" I get the fuss. Both funny and devastating, and always sharp. I liked best "Escape from Spiderhead" and "The Semplica Girl Diaries" -- v. biting commentary on where our society is headed. "

" Weird book with cool imagery. Had strange dreams while reading. "

" An incredible mix of science fiction and personal worlds of imagination. There is a strong focus on children and how they perceive the world. Some really amazing stuff in here. "

" One of the stories was truly great. Some of them were pretty good. I think the NY Times article made my expectations ridiculously high. I don't think this author can compare at all to David Foster Wallace. "

" Wonderful collection of short stories by America's modern master! Some of his best work. Title story is especially beautiful. "

" enjoyed the science fiction stories. some others were just odd. "