Some stories in the collection – such as “Say Yes” and “The Chain” – deal, if a bit indirectly, with race relations. Ugly honesties are laid bare and often go unredeemed. We find characters thinking things they’d never admit to those around them, and there is no defensive posturing - by them or by the author. In his non-fiction - particularly his childhood tale This Boy’s Life - Wolff cuts deep into every character and scene, revealing honesty that is not always immediately apparent, and often of an unsavory nature. Wolff’s stories share more than a few strengths with his equally excellent memoirs. These talents don’t always call attention to themselves, but for all their unassuming nature, Wolff’s stories are as readable as they are compelling. Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories, the new book by Tobias Wolff is a consistent celebration of his work.Ĭulling stories from his previous collections - In the Garden of North American Martyrs, Back to the World, and The Night in Question - along with ten newer stories, the book displays Wolff’s talent for unadorned language, subtle imagery, and a penetrating eye for detail. It denotes a pretty complete success, a long-running career of accomplished writing in the underappreciated and difficult genre of the short story. There is a recognition built into a new and selected story collection.
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