If his earlier books reverberated with echoes of nathanael west and kurt vonnegut, mr. In his new collection, tenth of december, shortstory master george saunders quirky blend of dystopian fiction and dark satire is tempered by a new gravity. December 10 is the 344th day of the year 345th in leap years in the gregorian calendar. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of tenth of december by george saunders. One thing is certain while reading most of these stories. The book was published on january 8, 20, by random house. A family member recollects a backyard pole dressed for. Tenth of december by george saunders the boston globe. Jennifer egan, pulitzer prizewinning author of a visit from the goon squad. Buy tenth of december by george saunders from amazons fiction books store. George saunders is one of americas most celebrated short story writers. Tenth of december shows george saunders at his most subversive, hilarious, and emotionally piercing.
Few writers can encompass that range of adjectives, but saunders is a true originalrestlessly inventive, yet deeply humane. George saunders texasborn, chicagoraised, seven books, many prizes, satirist, buddhist is one of americas best shortstory writers. One of the most important and blazingly original writers of hi. Tenth of december is a wonderful antidote to any rubbish christmas reading. Tenth of december is a collection of ten short stories. George saunders captures the fragmented rhythms, disjointed sensory input, and wildly absurd realities of the 21st century experience like no other writer today. A look at george saunderss kindness on tenth of december. It includes stories published in various magazines between 1995 and 2009. The book itself won the 20 story prize and the 2014 folio prize, was a finalist for the national book award, was named one of the 10 best books of 20.
With an introduction from the new york times by joel lovell. Not since mark twain has america produced a satirist this funny with a prose style this fine, says zadie smith. Tenth of december 20 by george saunders is a collection of short stories that had appeared in numerous periodicals between 1995 and 2009. In all, tenth of december is george saunders at his absolute best, a collection of stories and characters that add up to something deep, irreducible, and uniquely american.
The story below comes from his new collection tenth of december. The 10 stories in george saunderss latest collection demonstrate why he is considered a modern master of short fiction. Goodreads members who liked tenth of december also liked. Tenth of december, the latest collection of short fiction by george saunders, revives the unique comedic poignancy of his best early work and adds even greater emotional depth. It was later included in his wellreceived 20 collection, tenth of december, which was a best seller and national book award finalist. Acclaimed fiction writer george saunders has long been drawn to the farcical elements of contemporary life, playing for laughs. Few writers can encompass that range of adjectives, but saunders is a true original restlessly inventive, yet deeply humane. But for fans of george saunders and fans of good fiction, in general, today is special because it shares a name with the title of what is arguably the best book published in 20. In a recent interview, when asked how he saw the role of the writer, saunders said. In the taut opener, victory lap, a boy witnesses the attempted abduction of the girl next door and is faced with a harrowing choice. Does this one feel different for you than the three that came before.
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. One of the most important and blazingly original writers of his generation. Saunders wonderful ability to portray a characters inner monologuethe secret voices, the little fantasies, the inside jokes, the spots of sadnessmight be his greatest talent as a writer. Tenth of december was selected as one of the 10 best books of 20 by the editors of the new york times book. George saunders deeply moving story tenth of december originally appeared in the october 31, 2011 issue of the new yorker. In the distance, he spots an emaciated man who appears to be wearing only pajamas. Tenth of december george saunders, one of our most important writers, is back with a masterful, deeply felt collection that takes his literary powers to a new level. Find books like tenth of december from the worlds largest community of readers. George saunders first shortstory collection in six years, tenth of december is as profound and moving as it is entertaining. If you read a book more than one time, it counts every time that you read it. Tenth of december, stories by george saunders the new. Tenth of december is a collection of short stories by american author george saunders. Bookbrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfictionbooks that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Robin plays makebelieve as he heads to a pond in the woods. The new york times named the collection one of the top ten books of 20. In tenth of december, his fourth and best collection, readers will encounter an abduction, a rape, a chemically induced suicide, the suppressed rage of. G eorge saunders texasborn, chicagoraised, seven books, many prizes, satirist, buddhist is one of americas best shortstory writers. George saunders tenth of december proves hes a little more in favor of humanity. Whether employing the voice of an almost15yearold girl about to be abducted and almostraped and almostwho. Thanks to those who have already posted questions on the catholic book.
Visit our audio book club archive page for a complete list of the more than 60 books we. Saunderss new collection of short fiction, tenth of december, manifests all of these appealing qualities. You can also count any of the little books that your child brings home from kindergarten if you read them together. Stories characters george saunders this study guide consists of approximately 43 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of tenth of december. The title story of that book introduced a narrative trope that by now has become a signature saunders device, a trope. Today is the tenth of december, a date celebrated by american short story writer george saunders in his collection published this year. Tenth of december by george saunders free download. Winner of the 2014 folio prize and shortlisted for the national book award 20 george saunderss most wryly hilarious and disturbing collection yet, tenth of december illuminates human experience and explores figures lost in a labyrinth of troubling preoccupations. To me, the writers main job is to make the story unscroll in such a way that the reader is. Saunderss latest offering, tenth of december, seems to have more in common with sherwood anderson. The tenth of december by george saunders book cover isbn 9780812993806. Tenth of december george saunders, 20 random house 288 pp.
A chubby boy with a vivid imagination and a terminally ill man intent on suicide share an adventure in survival on an extremely cold day. She is a fifteen year old who dreams of finding her prince charming in a world filled with ordinary men. George saunders most wryly hilarious and disturbing collection yet, tenth of december illuminates human experience and explores figures lost in a labyrinth of troubling preoccupations. A family member recollects a backyard pole dressed for all occasions. Please record the titles of the books that you read with your child. Tenth of december by george saunders, paperback barnes. Short stories, fiction, contemporary, literary fiction, literature, american, adult fiction, adult, humor, 21st century. One of the stories, home, was a 2011 bram stoker award finalist.
One of the most important and blazingly original writers of his generation, george saunders is an undisputed master of the short story, and tenth of december is his most honest, accessible, and moving collection yet. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Tenth of december, his first story collection in more than six years, showcases his singular voice, a spirited americanese that owes as much to marketing as to melville, yet taps a deeper anguish. Even better, the list features three stories from tenth of december, including the story after which the book takes its name. Length varies dramatically, from a couple of pages to much longer. The audio book club on tenth of december slate magazine. Alison pope is the damsel in distress character in the story victory lap. December 10th birthday girl gifts women moose lover gift moose birthday girl journal notebooks diary birthday present for girl. Before tenth of december, saunders had already won macarthur and guggenheim fellowships. This collection won him further acclaim, and the accolades increased from there. Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss, monday, march 31, 2014. The title story tenth of december is so powerful and important that i feel compelled to write this essay exploring saunders vision and insight. This same mastery of voice, set to quite a different tune, is achieved in tenth of december, a collection of short stories by george saunders, which the new york times called the best book youll read this year, and justifiably so. In his fourth collection of stories, tenth of december, saunders performs the most rigorous of his cultural biopsies, examining with.
All stories from the new collection have an asterisk next to the title. Tenth of december, by george saunders the new york times. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. It may be, in fact, his most consistently engaging book since his first, civilwarland in bad decline 1996. It smelled of mansweat and spaghetti sauce and old books.
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