Three Short Stories

Title:  Stay Up With Me

Author:  Tom Barbash

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Stay Up With Me, 2013

Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  Book

(ss) Yearly Count:  50

I liked the writing, but didn't feel like the story went anywhere.

Title:  Puppy : The New Yorker eMagazine

Author:  George Saunders

Genre:  Short Story

Published:  The New Yorker, 2007

Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  eStory

(ss) Yearly Count:  51

A family is out looking to buy a new puppy.  This was interesting at first, but turned weird.  It didn't leave me with good feelings.

Title:  Adams : The New Yorker eMagazine

Author:  George Saunders

Genre:  Short Story

Published:  The New Yorker, 2004  

Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  eStory

(ss) Yearly Count:  52

A neighbor comes into the house and stands in their kitchen facing the children's rooms.  Another weird story that left me feeling ick.

STORIES (7-12) The Thing Around Your Neck

Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: The Thing Around Your Neck, 2009

Personal Rating: 2.5/5 average (eh)

Format/Narrator: Audiobook/Adjoa Andoh

(ss) Yearly Count: 34 - 39 

UGH! I have never done this before, but I'm going to use Wikipedia for descriptions of these stories due to my failing memory. I happened to listen to this audiobook in the car (7-12 anyway) and by the time I was able to write anything down, I was unable to remember. HA!

Wikipedia Descriptions:

7. "The Thing Around Your Neck" a woman named Akunna gains a sought after American visa and goes to live with her uncle; but he molests her and she ends up working as a waitress in Connecticut.

8. "The American Embassy" in which a woman applies for asylum but ends up walking away, unwilling to describe her son's murder for the sake of a visa.

9. "The Shivering" set on the campus of Princeton University, it concerns a Catholic Nigerian woman whose boyfriend has left her, finding solace in the earnest prayers of a stranger who knocks at her door.

10. "The Arrangers of Marriage" in which a newly married wife arrives in New York with her husband; and finds she is unable to accept his rejection of their Nigerian identity.

11. "Tomorrow Is Too Far" a young woman reveals the devastating secret of her brother's death.

12. "The Headstrong Historian" covers the life-story of a woman who believes her husband was killed by his cousins and is determined to regain the inheritance for her son through his education by missionaries.

There were only a few stories in this collection that kept my attention, so overall it was a disappointing book for me. Two of the six above were worthy of at least a 3.75/5, but the rest were 2.5/5 or lower. It could have been timing and/or the format, but it just didn't entertain me.

JUMPING MONKEY HILL (6 of 12)

Author:  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  The Thing Around Your Neck, 2009

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good) 

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Adjoa Andoh

(ss) Yearly Count:  33

A group of adults join together for a two week writing workshop in South Africa.  The main character, Ujunwa, experiences harassment by the leader.

This went back and forth between the workshop and Ujunwa's writing.  I sympathized with Ujunwa's frustration.

UNPROTECTED

Author:  Simon Rich

Genre:  Short Story, The New Yorker

Published:  The Last Girlfriend on Earth: And Other Love Stories,  2013

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format: eStory

(ss) Yearly Count:  32

This story is the auto-biography of an inanimate object.

Books on the Nightstand highlighted this story from The New Yorker website.  What prompted me to click the link was that there was an interesting narrator.  I had no idea it was an inanimate object until I started reading.  I don't like personification, but toughed it out -- it was short.  :)  It could have gone off the deep end, but didn't.  I appreciated that.

ON MONDAY OF LAST WEEK (5 of 12)

Author:  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  The Thing Around Your Neck, 2009

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Adjoa Andoh

(ss) Yearly Count:  31

After reuniting with her husband in America, an African woman gets a job watching a couple's son.

This one had a little oomph at the end, so I liked it more than the others.

GHOSTS (4 of 12)

Author:  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  The Thing Around Your Neck, 2009

Personal Rating:  2.5/5 (eh)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Adjoa Andoh

(ss) Yearly Count:  30

A widower runs into a former university colleague who he thought to have died in the war.

This one ended up with the possibility of having many different meanings or topics to ponder.  Unfortunately, none of them really grabbed me.

A PRIVATE EXPERIENCE (3 of 12)

Author:  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  The Thing Around Your Neck, 2009

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Adjoa Andoh

(ss) Yearly Count:  29


While visiting an aunt, two sisters find their way into the middle of a riot.

This one started out really good, and I was intrigued as to where this one was going.  It really didn't get very far.

IMITATION (2 of 12)

Author:  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  The Thing Around Your Neck, 2009

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Adjoa Andoh

(ss) Yearly Count:  28

A wife/mother lives in the US with the children, while the husband/father lives in Nigeria most of the year.  The wife/mother makes an important decision.

I liked this one.  It kept my interest, and I was curious as to what the wife/mother was going to do.

CELL 1 (1 of 12)

Author:  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  The Thing Around Your Neck, 2009

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)  

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Adjoa Andoh
(ss) Yearly Count:  27

A son gets into trouble with the law, and the whole family has to deal with the ramifications.

Great start!  I felt like I was listening to a true story.  Well done.

WHAT REMAINS (14 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  26


Two women who have been friends and sculptors throughout their adult lives face the difficulty of parting ways.

This story was a little more emotional, and I could see it happening today.

DADDY'S GIRL (13 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  25


A young woman discovers more about her father than she ever expected after his death.

I shouldn't be, but I am surprised at some people's actions of way back when.

VANITAS (12 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  24


A girl questions the death of her cousin.

This was another story just shy of me saying "very good."  Listening to the thoughts of the times was interesting.

THE HUNT (11 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  23


Soldiers out to have a "good time" rope in a soldier who doesn't want to participate.

This story was infuriating.

THE LOST SEED (10 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  22


A man accuses people in his area of s*x crimes.

I was interested in where the story was going, but it was weird.  

THE GIFT (9 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  21  

A mother gives her child to an adoption agency just until she can get on her feet again.

Knowing this story is based on truth caused me a bit of anger.  It's so sad what people will do to others for their selfish gain.

THE BODY SWAP (8 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  20


A group of men have a plan to steal something for ransom.

This was good.  It's an interesting story, but one that I knew the outcome. 

THE LONG WAY HOME (7 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  19


A woman takes a prospector back to his family.

I found this story to be a bit weird.  The notes at the end of the story explain why.

SNOWBLIND (6 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  18


Two friends become prospectors.

This story kind of fizzled out.  There was a definite ending, but it made the story less exciting.

COUNTING THE DAYS (5 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  17


A husband residing in Canada, after traveling from Ireland a year earlier, is followed by his wife and daughter.

The trials and tribulations of relocating by boat was such a treacherous period in history.  This story gives a very real depiction of the husband and wife during that time.

LAST SUPPER AT BROWN'S (4 of 14)

Author:  Emma Donoghue

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Astray, 2012

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrators:  Audiobook/
Five Different Narrators

(ss) Yearly Count:  16  

A slave learns that he is going to be sold, so a plan is devised.

This was surprisingly a super short story, which resulted in not much depth, but still interesting.  I love the notes at the end of every story, though, including this one.