Home :: Books :: Science Fiction & Fantasy  

Arts & Photography
Audio CDs
Audiocassettes
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Investing
Children's Books
Christianity
Comics & Graphic Novels
Computers & Internet
Cooking, Food & Wine
Entertainment
Gay & Lesbian
Health, Mind & Body
History
Home & Garden
Horror
Literature & Fiction
Mystery & Thrillers
Nonfiction
Outdoors & Nature
Parenting & Families
Professional & Technical
Reference
Religion & Spirituality
Romance
Science
Science Fiction & Fantasy

Sports
Teens
Travel
Women's Fiction
Things that Fall from the Sky

Things that Fall from the Sky

List Price: $12.95
Your Price: $9.71
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Heads up!
Review: Here are some of the things that fall from the sky in Kevin BrockmeierÕs striking and unusual debut collection of short fiction: an autumn leaf, errant fireworks, a lethal bucket, an impenetrable barrier of blackness, and a characterÕs dead mother. For Brockmeier, these strange rains come to symbolize the moments of pain and grace that intrude themselves upon our lives, falling without warning onto our unsuspecting heads.

These stories move effortlessly from naturalism (a boy shares his first kiss on the same day that his Bible teacher is killed by a falling bucket) to fantasy (a manÕs marriage falls apart as the sky above his house creeps ever lower), and each is distinguished by a richness of theme and character and a formidable stylistic talent. Not every story here works, but those that do are quite impressive. Brockmeier, it seems, is a writer to watch.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I was quite excited to read Kevin Brockmeier's Things That Fall from the Sky after I was exposed to his work in BASS and O'Henry (both stories I liked). That being said, I couldn't get through most of the remaining collection. Brockmeier often has lengthy, over-telling passages that state, too obviously, his themes. I imagine this reflects his background as a children's writer, but for the literary scene, it's far too much telling and makes the reader feel as though Brockmeier doesn't trust them to GET IT on their own. He'd be wonderful if he just SAID less...
Wouldn't recommend to my students at this point.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Interstitial fiction at its best
Review: In this extraordinary collection, Brockemeier effortlessly crosses borders between many different modes of writing -- realism, surrealism, fantasy, mystery, fable, fairy tale -- to create sharply insightful stories that have much to say about modern life and the surreal world we live in. Tender, funny, painful, and deeply moving, I highly, highly recommend this collection to all fans of interstitial fiction.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Fresh, Imaginative Voice
Review: Kevin Brockmeier, obviously wise beyond his years, writes with profound insight, empathy and imagination, in equal parts.
These stories are brimming treasure chests that I simply could not put down and did not want to end!

I can not wait to read his next work.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow.
Review: Rich and whimsical and beautifully written; imaginative and tender and lovely.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent.
Review: We were assigned to read "The Ceiling" and The Truth About Celia (novel), and with those two read, I had to buy this book. Kevin Brockmeier is an extraordinary writer, and I wait anxiously for his next book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent.
Review: We were assigned to read "The Ceiling" and The Truth About Celia (novel), and with those two read, I had to buy this book. Kevin Brockmeier is an extraordinary writer, and I wait anxiously for his next book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Fantastic New Voice
Review: With Things That Fall from the Sky, Kevin Brockmeier boldy introduces himself as a writer worth reading. Every story is a joy to read, and taken as a whole the collection makes a lasting impression.


<< 1 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates