Stefi W. (stefisbook) -
Great lit for a lover of short stories.
I'm not generally a huge fan of short stories, but these were well-written and totally self-contained. I assumed I'd want to read more about the story, but I guess that's the sign of a talented short story writer, being able to tell the end-to-end story in such a way that the reader doesn't walk away wondering what happens next.
Debbie T. (debbietarr) reviewed I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere on + 11 more book reviews
great short stories! a great book to read if you just have a few minutes here & there to read!
International Best Seller. Winner of the 2000 Grand Prix RTL-Lire and Sinner of the Academie Francaise Short Story Award (2000). A perfect book to throw in your purse and read while waiting for the bus, plane, doctor, etc.
Amazon.com
Reading Anna Gavalda's story collection, I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere, is a bit like choosing the mini-éclair over its full-size counterpart--while the smaller size makes each morsel that much more satisfying, you can't help but wish for just one more bite. Still, in many cases, Gavalda does a better job of capturing the essence of human emotion in each five-to-ten page story than many writers manage to do in epic novels.
Gavalda sets up every story such that each character's fate can be decided in a single moment. Whether the protagonist's pivotal moment is decided by fate or free will is what keeps these 12 stories fresh and unique. In "Lead Story," traveling salesman Jean-Pierre does not learn the true horrific consequences of an almost-missed exit on the highway until opening Le Figaro the next morning. The veterinarian in Catgut decides her fate in the instant after a brutal crime leaves her feeling physically and emotionally victimized. And when the mysterious stranger answers his cell phone on a first date in Courting Rituals of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés, our heroine decides she has heard enough to cut short what could have been a passionate love affair. ("I come to my senses all at once. Traitor. Ingrate.") It is in these crucial instants, where fate plays a hand, that Gavalda truly shows off her ability to convey love, longing, loneliness, and satisfaction. And perhaps the clarity of these moments is worth more than any full-size French pastry.
Amazon.com
Reading Anna Gavalda's story collection, I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere, is a bit like choosing the mini-éclair over its full-size counterpart--while the smaller size makes each morsel that much more satisfying, you can't help but wish for just one more bite. Still, in many cases, Gavalda does a better job of capturing the essence of human emotion in each five-to-ten page story than many writers manage to do in epic novels.
Gavalda sets up every story such that each character's fate can be decided in a single moment. Whether the protagonist's pivotal moment is decided by fate or free will is what keeps these 12 stories fresh and unique. In "Lead Story," traveling salesman Jean-Pierre does not learn the true horrific consequences of an almost-missed exit on the highway until opening Le Figaro the next morning. The veterinarian in Catgut decides her fate in the instant after a brutal crime leaves her feeling physically and emotionally victimized. And when the mysterious stranger answers his cell phone on a first date in Courting Rituals of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés, our heroine decides she has heard enough to cut short what could have been a passionate love affair. ("I come to my senses all at once. Traitor. Ingrate.") It is in these crucial instants, where fate plays a hand, that Gavalda truly shows off her ability to convey love, longing, loneliness, and satisfaction. And perhaps the clarity of these moments is worth more than any full-size French pastry.
