![]() Now, with an overt nod to short-story master Raymond Carver - a goyish writer if ever there was one - Englander balances caustic despair alongside absurdist epiphany. "The Ministry of Special Cases," Englander's novel (published in between his two books of stories), further showcased a talented writer uniquely attuned to the mix of burden and blessing that make up a modern Jewish identity. His writing has been called "hilarious" as well as "profound," and carving out such vast territory with deft originality is no small achievement. The title story alone is worth the price of admission, as is the complex tale of mercy and mercilessness that completes the volume, "Free Fruit for Young Widows."Īs in his first collection, "For the Relief of Unbearable Urges," Englander mostly focuses his explorations on Jewish life, both Old World and New. It's audacious and idiosyncratic, darkly clever and brightly faceted. That being said, "What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank," Englander's second book of stories, deserves high praise. ![]() ![]() Even if you're Nathan Englander, with a phenomenal record of placing individual pieces in the New Yorker, year in and year out, when it comes to a book-length assortment, you're bound to fall flat every once in a while. Let's face it: A story collection is a setup. ![]()
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