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Pulp and Paper
by
Josh Rolnick (Goodreads Author)
“I glanced out the window as my train pulled into the station and saw the girl who killed my son.” So begins Josh Rolnick’s powerful debut collection of eight stories, which utilizes a richly focused narrative style accenting the unavoidable tragedies of life while revealing the grace and dignity with which people learn to deal with them. The stories—four set in New Jersey...more
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
October 1st 2011
by University Of Iowa Press
(first published September 16th 2011)
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What I find really admirable about these stories is how patiently they proceed, committed to a sort of dramatization that really feels like the author has gotten the eff outta the way so characters can take charge of their speech and actions -- or more so, exist and intermix. The first story, "Funnyboy," was a favorite among the billion stories I read during two years in the IC, definitely one of the fastest, one that lingers five or six years later. But a lot of these stories were new to me. "M...more
This book is not a novel, but a collection of short stories, which makes it harder to give a rating to the "whole" when each one stands on its own individual merits. Some of these stories dipped into 2.5 or 3s stars (The Herald, Mainlanders) while others zoomed to solid 4.5 and 5s for me (Funnyboy, Big River, Big Lake). The best stories in this collection, however, more than made up for the ones that weren't quite as resonant and make the entire collection well worth the read.
Josh writes with a...more
Josh writes with a...more
This collection of short stories offers diverse experiences from a varied group of characters.
This collection is a winner of the John Simmons Short Fiction Award. The eight stories here are split into two sections, with four stories set in New Jersey and four set in New York. The main characters in the stories range from children to adults, and include both women and men. From a bereaved father to a young boy struggling with his mom moving on from his father's death, from violent disruptions to...more
This collection is a winner of the John Simmons Short Fiction Award. The eight stories here are split into two sections, with four stories set in New Jersey and four set in New York. The main characters in the stories range from children to adults, and include both women and men. From a bereaved father to a young boy struggling with his mom moving on from his father's death, from violent disruptions to...more
This was a nice debut short story collection, very consistent and it held together well without getting monotonous, which is not always easy. I like how Rolnick structured the stories -- the first half set down the Jersey Shore, the second in New York (mostly upstate, with one at Coney Island). While the work definitely has a freshman feel, it kept reminding me of really early Stephen King, before he went exclusively horror/fantasy -- Night Shift, Different Seasons -- without those earwormy cade...more
Originally posted at my blog Chasing Empty Pavements
This book of short stories was a pleasant surprise for me as it was published by University of Iowa Press and I really appreciate the exposure UI Press gives up and coming authors.
The Good: I think it takes a talented writer to write short stories that not only have tightly woven plots but characters with depth and a story to tell. I know short stories are a hard sell for me usually because I love to become invested in the story and the charac...more
This book of short stories was a pleasant surprise for me as it was published by University of Iowa Press and I really appreciate the exposure UI Press gives up and coming authors.
The Good: I think it takes a talented writer to write short stories that not only have tightly woven plots but characters with depth and a story to tell. I know short stories are a hard sell for me usually because I love to become invested in the story and the charac...more
Nov 04, 2011
Anittah
marked it as to-read
Saw the author read in Philly on 11/3. He read the first third of 'Mainlanders' and I can't wait to find out what happens with the girl whose uncle teaches at USC!
If the rest of the book is anything like what the author read last night, then it seems like the book equivalent of a deliciously fuzzy blanket on a soggy day, or a bowl of macaroni and cheese, or hot cocoa that's not too sweet but definitely contains fluffy marshmallows. In other words: perfecto.
If the rest of the book is anything like what the author read last night, then it seems like the book equivalent of a deliciously fuzzy blanket on a soggy day, or a bowl of macaroni and cheese, or hot cocoa that's not too sweet but definitely contains fluffy marshmallows. In other words: perfecto.
My only complaint about this book of short stories is the book wasn't long enough! I would gladly tackle a huge book of Rolnick's stories -- they were amazing. Each struck a different chord with me, and I'll just leave this to say, read it!
Lori Anderson
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Lori Anderson
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Book Blog Page
Eight exquisite stories about ordinary folks attending to their losses. One is set in a struggling Jersey shore inn and another on a wooden carousel on Coney Island, so they didn't need to be nearly so good to capture my attention. But they are so good. Seek this out.
2 1/2 but upgraded because of writing. Bias: not a short story lover. Divided into NJ and NY--4 each. Went from good to less so--just about progressively. If you enjoy short stories, read them, but...
Here is a link to my review of "Pulp and Paper": http://jchariscarlson.blogspot.com/20...
Nice collection of short stories that are thoughtfully written with a bit of seriousness to them. I enjoyed the distraction.
wonderfully crafted short stories. nice variety of voices. looking forward to more. a writer to watch.
Dec 04, 2011
Mim
added it
He has an amazing way of putting suspense into each story. Great first book.
Very interesting stories of loss of one kind or another. These are characters we all know.
A great group of short stories--I found myself enjoying nearly every page of this book.
U of iowa john simmons short fiction award winner 2011 wonderful, old fashioned short stories set in new jersey and new york (out side of nyc). Old fashioned in the way of updike, malamud, bellow, cather, f scott, ford, faulkner, like that. No pomo "tricks", no smoking meth and beating people up. Just good ole islanders vs mainlanders, pregnant women vs dubious future husbands, slow cricket nights vs the will to be fast. Hope to see much more of josh rolnick.
Great first collection. Josh Rolnick has a natural storytelling voice, the kind you could listen to for ages. Excellent observation and language. Some very unique stories set in New Jersey and rural New York state.
Compelling, funny, beautifully written -- plus, they are short stories that have something to say (and go somewhere) as opposed to the type where you're done and you say, "ok, that was all very Meaningful, but . . ."
May 19, 2013
Amy
added it
Apr 11, 2013
Patrick
marked it as to-read
Apr 06, 2013
Kenny
is currently reading it
Apr 01, 2013
Ms. Roeder
marked it as to-read
Feb 13, 2013
Katiek
is currently reading it
Feb 06, 2013
MacKenzie Hill
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Audiobooks: Audiobook giveaway | 2 | 72 | Feb 26, 2013 05:45pm |
Josh Rolnicks short stories have won the Arts & Letters Fiction Prize and the Florida Review Editors Choice Prize. They have also been published in Harvard Review, Western Humanities Review, Bellingham Review, and Gulf Coast, and have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best New American Voices. A reporter, editor, and journal publisher, he grew up in New Jersey, spent summers camping hi...more
More about Josh Rolnick...
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