This collection of four short stories are all narrated by Richard Ford’s famous character, Frank Bascombe, whose novels–The Sportswriter, Independence Day, and The Lay of the Land–have won awards. My favorite story in this collection is “Everything Could Be Worse.” Bascombe encounters a woman who claims she once lived in the house he owns. She asks if she could look inside the house she grew up in. Then, she tells Bascombe her story. Chilling. I also liked the third story, “The New Normal,” where Bascombe visits his ex-wife in an assisted living facility. The whole issue of aging looms large. The other two stories, “I’m Here,” and “Deaths of Others” convey Bascombe’s sometimes acerbic insights about Life. I’ve read all of Richard Ford’s books. Even this late in his career, Ford still has the power to move readers. GRADE: B+
I like Ford too, though I am behind on his Bascombe books. I had this from the library and will get it back when we go home, but I also need to finish the rest of the series. So far THE SPORTSWRITER remains my favorite.
Jeff, I enjoyed all of the Frank Bascombe books. LET ME BE FRANK WITH YOU is a fitting coda to the series.
One of the great writers. Couldn’t read the last one though.
Patti, I struggled through CANADA. But the Frank Bascombe books may be Ford’s best work.
Never cared for The Sportswriter on Independence Day. I did like his early short story collections esp Rock Springs.
Steve, I loved ROCK SPRINGS and Richard Ford’s early short story collections. Ford may be a better short story writer than a novelist.