The Country Ahead of Us, The Country Behind : Stories

Rating:
Summary: I'm Unimpressed.
Review: This collection of short stories is flat, unmoving, and quite pretentious. I remain completely unimpressed.

Had I read this before I heard of Snow Falling on Cedars, I would not have read my all-time favorite novel. The poetic language and eloquent description that so impressed me in Snow Falling on Cedars seemed over done and contrived in this collection.

Yes, it shows a bit of promise -- just not enough to be worth reading. I recommend skipping this collection if it isn't required reading. However, I do look forward to reading a collection of short stories by David Gutterson once he has mastered the art of subtlty and once he has learned to moderate his flare for description.