#18: Pictor’s Metamorphoses by Hermann Hesse

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100 books, book review, books, Hesse, literature, Nobel Prize, short stories

For my eighteenth book of the year I decided to go with Pictor’s Metamorphoses and Other Fantasies by Hermann Hesse, marking my fourteenth book by the German-Swiss Nobel laureate.  Hesse is an author who never seems to disappoint, and Pictor’s Metamorphoses is no exception.  It is a collection of short stories from throughout Hesse’s life (including one from his childhood).  Although the subject matter is diverse, they are united by certain magical or fantastic characteristics.  Most of the stories are only a few pages long, and the longest are only a few dozen pages in length.  This makes for a quick and relaxing read that is highly enjoyable.

My favorite story in the collection was “Bird”.  This story is about a unique bird that lives in a Swiss town and becomes something of a symbol for the area.  Eventually he becomes a legend and attracts the attention of a curious noblemen from the North.  A bounty is placed on the bird’s head, and the townspeople struggle with their desire to earn the easy money and their respect and love for their mascot.  One citizen in particular has had a special bond with Bird over the years, and decides to capture him.  He readies a gun with the finest birdshot to be found and waits.  Eventually Bird appears to him and the man shoots.  Bird disappears, without leaving so much as a feather behind.  He is never seen again.  Hesse’s descriptions of the communal spirit and the relationship between tradition and modern issues are poignant and thought-provoking.  His ability to create an authentic and enchanting atmosphere is unrivalled.  I would recommend any book  by Hesse, including Pictor’s Metamorphoses.

The Current Count

18 Read, 82 To Go

#74: The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway

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100 books, book review, books, classics, Hemingway, literature, short stories

Ernest Hemingway is the Tupac Shakur of English literature, with a significant body of work coming out after his death.  The Nick Adams Stories is one of those posthumous works.  It gathers all of Hemingway’s short stories that feature his famous character Nick Adams.  Eight of the stories were never published by Hemingway, and the others appeared in many different formats throughout Hemingway’s career.  This volume collects them all and rearranges them in an order that follows the life of Nick Adams chronologically.

Many of these stories are classic examples of Hemingway at the top of his game.  My personal favorites are “Big Two-Hearted River” and “Fathers and Sons”.  The previously unpublished stories are enjoyable as they shed light on the development of one of Hemingway’s signature characters, but are clearly below Hemingway’s exacting standards for publication.  The book is good, but is not my favorite Hemingway volume.  Stick to the works that Hem wanted published and you will be much better off.

The Current Count:

74 Read, 26 To Go

#4: Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower

Tags

100 books, book review, books, literature, short stories, Wells Tower

Twelve days and four books down!  My fourth book was Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower.  This collection of short stories is an homage to the down-and-out, featuring protagonists that even Hemingway would have pitied.  The prose is crisp and easy to read, the characters are sincere and believable, and the subtle humor is relentless.  The title story is my favorite, starring a band of Vikings coming up on middle age and rethinking their pillaging ways.  Wells Tower is a new author worth keeping an eye on.  Spend the fourteen bucks to get this book.  You will not regret it!

The Current Count:

4 Read, 96 To Go