For readers who thought Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies were too long, here’s a new short story collection that captures Mantel’s wit and writing style. Much of Hilary Mantel’s fiction have historical aspects to them, but these short stories are more contemporary. Mantel has fun in these stories, too. There’s a ghost story, stories about marriage, gender, sex, and culture. My favorite stories are “The Long QT” where a husband who is found groping a neighbor at a party has to deal with the unexpected consequences and “Offenses Against the Person” where a daughter discovers her father is having an affair with a secretary. If you’re a Hilary Mantel fan, you’ll be reading this book soon. If you’ve been wondering if you’d like Hilary Mantel’s work, here’s the perfect place to try a sample. GRADE: B
Table of Contents:
•Sorry to Disturb
•Comma
•The Long QT
•Winter Break
•Harley Street
•Offenses Against the Person
•How Shall I Know You?
•The Heart Fails Without Warning
•Terminus
•The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher
Eager to try her short stories, George. You are on top on everything. And thanks for the postcard. We love Santa Fe and Albuquerque too
Patti, you’ll enjoy Hilary Mantel’s short stories. Glad the postcard arrived. I wish I could have sent you and Phil a BREAKING BAD donut!
I read the review of this in the NYTimes Book Review and will be getting it as soon as I whittle down the pile of stories I have already, byKaren Joy Fowler, Ron Carlson, Elizabeth McCracken, Charlotte Armstrong and others.
Jeff, I know the feeling. I’m backed up on books, too. I’m trying to whittle down the Stack by finishing the Library books that are due first.
It helps that the new television season is so mediocre. Even Jackie can’t find enough shows to fill the DVR!
Jeff, I’m just about ready to dump GOTHAM.
I, too have too many books on my plate, so this will get a pass. I admit non-genre short stories come pretty far down my reading list at any rate. I just started a mystery by Leo Bruce.
Rick, I’ll be interested in your review of that Leo Bruce book. I have a bunch of his books to read, too.