For the Relief of Unbearable Urges (Short Story): excerpted from the full collection, 'For the Relief of Unbearable Urges' Audiobook

" Highly recommend it, Englander is a great story-teller, and I don't use that word that often. After this book, and after the Ministry of Special Cases, he's become one of my favorite authors (along with DeLillo, Bezmogis, Calvino and Zadie Smith). "

" unbelievable collection of stories, well crafted and so clever "

" Tantalizing, delicious, wide open and over the top "

" I particularly enjoyed "The Twenty-seventh Man", "The Wig", and the titular "For the Relief of Unbearable Urges". "

" The stories in his second collection, What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, are much more accessible and less bizarre and disturbing. But apparently this is the book that put Englander on the map as one of the great new Jewish writers of our generation. "

" Again, it's one of those books that make more sense if you are Jewish, preferably with an Orthodox background. Because if not, the traditions and the culture will just seem weird. But if you are, this book is beautifully told and wonderfully resonating. "

" Love these short stories! Very imaginative, but dark. "

" Mostly wonderful. "

" Famazing. I'd rate some of these stories 5+ stars. "

" I found many of these stories funny or poignant, but I didn't feel that any of them concluded strongly. "

" the story about the wig, A+ "

" Impressive unpacking of often hidden stories. Compelling, rich, unexpected. "

" Apart from one or two stories, I just couldn't get into this. I struggled to engage with any of the characters and felt totally depressed by it ... I'm sure I was missing something! "

" I'm generally not a fan of short stories. All of the stories in this collection were, at the very least, very good. And some of them were great. "

" The last story was my least favorite, but the others were so beautifully written and engaging. I felt a part of the culture that Englander was describing and appreciated his twists, which often went in directions I didn't foresee. The tales were finely executed, but felt effortless. Very enjoyable. "

" Englander should have kept "Reb Kringle" in a drawer. Skip that story and this collection is five stars. "

" 3.5. I had heard that this book was amazing but I actually preferred What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank: Stories, the stories felt more resolved and they definitely stuck with me more. "

" I liked this book. I liked the stories. I think I just started reading it at the wrong time, because I couldn't finish it. Since I bought it, I'll just pick it up again later. "

" read this a few years ago and several of the story lines still kick around in the back of my mind. outstanding writing and fascinating characters, i didn't want the stories to end. "

" Great Stories. Comparable to Jhumpha Lahiri. "

" These stories have a marvelous dark humor. Englander's imagination is amazing. The situations are absolutely crazy, but Englander makes them seem perfectly plausible. Very unique writing. "

" Sad and funny, simultaneously. "

" Really enjoyable yet sad characters... "

" Parents being holocaust survivors I eat up anything having to do with Judaism......... "

" Shorts stories from the Orthodox Jewish community. Touchingly personal and different. "

" The last and the first stories in this collection are the strongest, most acute. Englander is a talent for sure, but the subject matters of his stories fail to disarm. "

" Rarely have enjoyed short stories more. A detailed and loving inside look at Jewish culture, and humans, too. Funny, sharp, kind, unflinching, and beautifully written stories. "

" Apart from one or two stories, I just couldn't get into this. I struggled to engage with any of the characters and felt totally depressed by it ... I'm sure I was missing something! "

" A beautifully wrought collection of short stories. "

" I now see what all the fuss was about. By the very first story, you will be hooked. These characters and stories will stay with me for a very long time. "

" Interesting stories on modern Jewish life. The first story, though, of Yiddish writers in Stalinist USSR waiting for their execution is great. "

" The last story was my least favorite, but the others were so beautifully written and engaging. I felt a part of the culture that Englander was describing and appreciated his twists, which often went in directions I didn't foresee. The tales were finely executed, but felt effortless. Very enjoyable. "

" I love good short stories, and these are great short stories. "