Diverse stories, common threads
926056
This is a fantastic survey of contemporary lit by Ukrainian women--wonderfully diverse in home region, age, and background of the writers. I've used this anthology in a summer course on Slavic literature for the last two summer and I'd say it's a must have for anyone interested in modern Slavic literature. Bravo to all the translators and Michael M. Naydan, truly he is the patron saint of Ukrainian to English translation.
4266185
Green Card Stories takes the controversial topic of immigration and brings it to life with individual stories and photographs. It is eye opening to read these dramatic accounts of different paths to citizenship and realize just how diverse immigrants and their stories are. The authors do a great job of representing a broad range of home countries, ages, and professions in the fifty short narratives to showcase this diversity. The book is very enjoyable to read, as you can start and finish a single narrative in a matter of minutes or get lost in consecutive stories. Regardless of how many immigrants you meet each time you pick up the book, you cannot help but feel a personal connection to these people and have a greater appreciation for immigration.
4514045
Itchy Whispers is a collection of stories from new writer Nescher Pyscher (pronounced Nesh-ur Pie-sure).  For the most part, the stories told here are fictional, but there are quite a few instances where fiction melds with fact and where fact and history is warped into fiction.  Only the author knows for sure where the lines between one and the other lie.  Some of the stories read like a journal or blog entry, others are straight up fiction and may take place in the gritty back alleys of downtown or a mythical other-world, or deep within the recess of the scariest place of all . . . Mr. Pyscher's mind.

It would appear that Itchy Whispers is Mr. Pyscher's first published book . . . and at times that seems obvious by its content.  Itchy seems to be the first effort to explore different voices and rhythms, as though the author is filled to bursting with tales and ideas and is stretching newly formed muscles in expressing those ideas.  The content of Itchy is so varied, I think it safe to say Mr. Pyscher has stretched a lot of muscle and has come up with a collection within which anyone all can find something fascinating.

A few words of warning are now due.  If there's something someone can be offended by; religious topics, sex, violence, harsh language, etc., they're all here in some form and to some degree.  I think it safe to say that if these stories were produced as movies, their ratings would range from G to X.  Most would probably rate PG-13 to R.  This book is for the adult reader who can handle a little jarring.

So, in the final analysis, should you buy this book?  YES.  Will you enjoy it?  I feel confident in saying you will at LEAST enjoy portions of it.  This is a collection of stories, after all, there's something for everyone.  And as a primer or introduction to what else this new author has to offer, I think it the perfect start.  I imagine that there will be readers eagerly awaiting a novelized form of many of the different stories included herein.  Itchy whispers a foretaste of things to come from Nescher Pyscher . . . many good things to come. Speaking of which . . . you might just want to check out Mr. Pyscher's other offerings available from Amazon . . . .
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Tales-of-the-Fallen/dp/0615523870/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Tales of the Fallen</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Tales-of-the-Fallen-Book-2/dp/B005UQHVAQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Tales of the Fallen: Book 2</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Dreams-of-Trees/dp/B005AVSEJI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Dreams of Trees</a>
819111
The book is a compilation of several stories which are interconnected. The author does an excellent job in bringing all the stories together into a unit. Very well written.
2953888
The latest offering from Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni - it is a set of short stories strung together with a common narrative much like Chaucer's Canterbury Tales that is referenced in this book.

The basic setting of the book is that nine people are trapped in the basement of an Indian Consulate in the US during an earthquake. With limited supplies of food, oxygen and light and unable to get out themselves, they are forced to rely on each other to keep up their spirits and morale.

Uma, born of Indian parents in the USA (who needs a visa to visit India), suggests that they tell each other a story of "One Amazing Thing" that happened in their lives.

The initial sketchy characters reveal the depths of their layers as each tale unfolds.

What is really interesting to me is how Divakaruni has tried to shed light on the same issue from different perspectives. Take for instance, the heavy book that Uma carries with her to the consulate, that she needs to review for her class and hopes to read while making use of the time spent waiting at the consulate. Malathi, a recent arrival from small town India to USA, to work at a secretarial level at the Consulate interprets it as a brash young girl, trying to show off her college education.

It is these insights into the various individual interpetations of events based on each characters past experiences that makes this book a fascinating read.

An ex-army vet, a second generation Indian muslim in a post 9/11 America, an estranged American couple, Uma, Malathi, an Indian Chinese emigrant and her talented grand-daughter (who didn't even know that her grandmother spoke English!) and an Indian bureaucrat at the Consulate. Each brings a different tale to the table.

Some are touching for their bravery, some bring understanding, some leave more questions than before. Romance, courage, hopelessness, helplessness, frustration, promise, hope - no matter what the underlying theme of their story is, each one is a powerful tale taking the readers and the listeners on a journey to a different time and place.

The book is an easy read, but the stories stay with you for awhile because they are human and touching.

There has been some criticism of this book in the West, as to why the trapped individuals "wasted" their time telling tales instead of "brainstorming" their way out of the situation. I think that stems from the stereotypical way each culture reacts. In General, Americans are action-oriented and the host of disaster movies from Hollywood have heroes whose sole focus is on rescuing themselves and those closest to them. Indians are more pragmatic/fatalistic in their actions and if initial efforts aren't successful, then further consequences are left for a higher power to decide.

The ending is a bit abrupt and doesn't tie up all the loose ends. But isn't that what life is like?
4401685
This well-crafted set of stories provides the reader with the opportunity to share the lives of a geographically and emotionally diverse group of people. The attention to detail places the reader at the scene and often 'inside' the characters. The only complaint is that the book and the stories end as you are left wanting more of the great stories and the characters.
3387760
These 9 short stories belong in different genres, such as folk tales, supernatural, or sci-fi.  Most of them involve weird things or beings: angels, aliens, witchcraft, or mermaids.  Most of them are interesting.  A few I didn't like.  And a few are quite moving, especially the title story.  But as long as a collection of short stories, such as this one, has several good stories in it, I can recommend it even if it has a few stories I don't like.
3383975
"The Penguin Book of International Women's Stories," edited by Kate Figes, is an anthology with a truly global sweep.  Authors from every continent except Antarctica are represented.  The stories represent a healthy variety of approaches--humor, horror, fairy tale, the grotesque, satire, realism, etc.  There is also an excellent variety in terms of story length, ranging from a 50-page entry to stories of only 4 pages, with a nice mix of lengths in between.  At over 460 pages long, it's a hefty collection.
I'll mention a few of the highlights.  "The Jewess," by Irene Dische of Germany: About a German-American's trip to Germany to deal with his inheritance, this is a disturbing piece that deals with family history, Jewish identity, and the shadow of the Nazi era.  "Nineteen Fifty-Five," by Alice Walker of the USA: About the relationship between an African-American female singer-songwriter and a white male performer, this is an interesting meditation on art and creativity.  "A Wilderness Station," by Alice Munro of Canada: The story of a frontier wife, told in fragments from multiple voices.  One of the longer selections, it's a fascinating and richly peopled story.  "Distant View of a Minaret," by Alifa Rifaat of Egypt: Compact but deliciously ironic glimpse inside a marriage in Cairo.  "In the Family," by Maria Elena Llano of Cuba: Macabre, witty, and humorous tale about a mirror with a supernatural power.  "Broken Transformers," by Bi Shumin of China: a very down-to-earth story about the impact of an expensive child's toy on a financially struggling Chinese family.
There are many other memorable stories; other countries represented include Russia, Botswana, Japan, France, Australia, and others.  A rich variety of themes are covered.  I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for college courses, book discussion groups, or individual reading.
2508480
This book has so many different stories and themes that there is something for everyone
Short stories that really grab your attention and you find hard to put down
1557287
A collection of deep, thought-provoking stories about what was, what is and what could have been, each very different from the other.
3415823
This is a collection of eight intriguing stories from different authors. I found all of the writing well done and enjoyed each story. It is always fascinating to find a look at new authors through collections like this. The stories inside take a look at a somewhat similar them of alternate history and times. I won't go into each story, but I will just say this collection is a one to pick up and would make a great addition to anyone's library. The stories take you into a different dimension of thinking and on  a great journey.
2489534
The writers themselves are good writers and there's a diversity of tales. I enjoyed each and everyone of the 14 stories and highly recommend this book to anyone interested in SiFi.
2290876
This book is a collection of short stories in various genres in wildly diverse styles. There is definitely something for everyone here.

My personal favorites were:
The Old Scale Game. (Humorous fantasy story)
Not with a Whimper, Either. (Written as a chat room log)
Black Sunshine. (Written as a TV or movie shooting script)

There were only one or two stories that I didn't care for that much, so overall I would give this a 3.5 stars.
4501996
Excellent collection of short stories! The author has a knack for writing from so many different perspectives (e.g., male, female, an expectant mother, a dutiful daughter, an army recruit, a stranger within a foreign country, etc.). It is hard to believe all the stories were written by the same person! Yet despite the diversity of perspectives each story provides an emotional connection. The first sentence of "Pinocchio" is perhaps the most entertaining opening line to any story ever written! Many of the stories are so thought provoking that I did not want to read more than one story per day so as to savor each one. My only complaint is the book is too short, however it is definitely worth the price. It needs a sequel!
3334112
This anthology of short stories written by accomplished writers from around the globe is a compilation of the diverse experiences that people face in their daily lives. While the stories tug at the heart, the writing is thoughtful and provocative, the cultural insight rich, and the authors do an incredible job of transporting the reader to the various countries around the globe where these stories are set. I do not typically review books on Amazon, but felt the one review of this book is unjust in that it does not speak to the power of the stories or the immense amount of intercultural learning one gets out of reading this text.

As a professor of intercultural and comparative education, I plan to use this anthology in future courses as it speaks to realities that many people within Western cultures are not aware of or have not had exposure to. The stories are targeted and each chapter could serve as a basis for a different topic such as immigration and migration, gender and women's issues, poverty and inequality, and development.

Anyone who enjoys the writing of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Jhumpa Lahiri will get a great deal out of this selection of short stories by them and other writers.
4566990
This is a wonderful and provocative exploration of the journey of each of the women in the collective that produced this collection.  It underlines with a good deal of passion the struggles of being a woman and a person of color in the world of hierarchy, neo-colonial social forces and white male supremacy.  Provides lots of areas for discussion and elaboration of gender, race, culture, community, sexuality and other fundamental issues that we all face. This is a good addition to anyones reading list.
4766879
A diverse and interesting collection of short stories.  These fun the gamut from sweet and cute to slightly disturbing.  There is sure to be something in this collection to entertain everyone.