A New York Times Book Review Editors the same character recalls her most memorable and significant hunting experience. Set in locations ranging fro...
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reviews
Mar 06, 2010
Grant
rated it: 
After reading this collection, my guess is that Bass is a good essayist, particularly when it comes to topics of the natural world. His best work in this collection is when he is describing that world or the work of men an women living in that world. He writes as only one could who has a real connection with nature and does not find himself separate from it. Bass not only vividly celebrates that kind of landscape, but is adept at evoking the loneliness a person might feel among nature de
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Jul 27, 2010
Brian
rated it: 
Rick Bass's new collection contains a broad range of characters and settings: the title story concerns a woman recovering from cancer; "Pagans" tells, at forty years' distance, of a girl and two boys -- one of whom was in love with her -- and the dangerous games they played; in "Her First Elk," a woman reflects on her first elk hunt and on her memories of her father and two brothers, now all dead. These stories, distinguished by their maturity, are narrated by men and women w
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Feb 13, 2009
Greg
rated it: 
A very nice collection of short stories, several set in or near Houston, Texas.
It's a little hard to review a collection of short stories, since they can be very different. However, they do all reflect the writer's style, which I found very enjoyable.
Almost all of the tales in this book dealt with nature, and had a romantic, nostalgic feel. The writing was clear and often used imaginative metaphors or descriptions. Of the ten stories in the collection, my favorites were More...
It's a little hard to review a collection of short stories, since they can be very different. However, they do all reflect the writer's style, which I found very enjoyable.
Almost all of the tales in this book dealt with nature, and had a romantic, nostalgic feel. The writing was clear and often used imaginative metaphors or descriptions. Of the ten stories in the collection, my favorites were More...
Sep 20, 2008
George
rated it:
I like short stories in general, but this collection contains two about a woman deer hunter named Jyl, which alone make this book a must-read. They are thoughtful and surprising. (Even for a Southern Californian non-hunter like me). The first involves her downing a huge buck without the faintest idea what to do with it afterward, and being helped by a couple of seasoned hunters who become lifelong friends.
The second is years later when she is recovering from cancer in a remote cabin More...
The second is years later when she is recovering from cancer in a remote cabin More...
Jun 27, 2011
Kat
rated it:
The writing seemed too distanced. An earlier reviewer here called it "tired." Maybe that applies. I think I would rather hear what Bass has to say in his nonfiction. I am a subscriber to Orion Magazine, so maybe I can find that out there.
Nov 27, 2009
Robert
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On the whole, barely worth it -- a handful of really really good stories "Her First Elk," and the title story come to mind. Most though, failed for me, the settings seemed real, the characters not.
Dec 20, 2010
David
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Fell in love with Bass when I heard "The Canoists" as an audio story. My type of stories. Rural, romantic, dream-like examiniations of life.
Oct 02, 2009
melissa/missy
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Favorite stories: "Pagan," "Fiber," and "The Lives of Rocks."
I love Bass's writing style--his lyrical run-on sentences, his musical defiance of certain grammatical conventions. This collection was a teensy bit uneven for me, though, despite a few truly gorgeous stories.
I love Bass's writing style--his lyrical run-on sentences, his musical defiance of certain grammatical conventions. This collection was a teensy bit uneven for me, though, despite a few truly gorgeous stories.
Feb 22, 2009
Catherine
rated it:
A collection of short stories written in very powerful prose. My favorites were "Pagan," "Her First Elk," and "Fiber."
Feb 09, 2009
Tone down the volume of The Watch and up the gorgeousness. Something is going on here, and it's true.
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Jan 30, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it: 
I was impatient with his stories, managed to finish the first one and scan a few others.
Jun 28, 2011
Jamie
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Excluding Fitzgerald, as you do to make it a fair fight, my favorite short story for years has been “The Watch” in Rick Bass’s The Watch. I’ve been curious what would finally pose a threat on that score and now I know. I’ve read “Pagans” and “Goats.”
Five stars to something that’s not Faulkner on the heels of All The Pretty Horses? You’d think that’s overreaching or even impossible but not so much, not at all. More...
Five stars to something that’s not Faulkner on the heels of All The Pretty Horses? You’d think that’s overreaching or even impossible but not so much, not at all. More...
Aug 01, 2007
Rick
rated it:
A wonderful collection of short stories that displays Rick's deep love and appreciation for nature.
I first read The Book of Yaak, and was happy to see that many of the themes I encountered in that book were also present in The Lives of Rocks.
He doesn't just write specifically about nature, though. But each story seems to weave a little of Rick's need to express his deep connection to the natural world. This book is a work of fiction and almost all of the stories revolve More...
I first read The Book of Yaak, and was happy to see that many of the themes I encountered in that book were also present in The Lives of Rocks.
He doesn't just write specifically about nature, though. But each story seems to weave a little of Rick's need to express his deep connection to the natural world. This book is a work of fiction and almost all of the stories revolve More...
Jun 25, 2009
Andy
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I'm giving this a 4 because of the story: "The Lives of Rocks". It's more of a novella than a short story(approx. 60 pages).
Mar 06, 2008
Jt
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Uneven collection. Only one has really grabbed me - the longer title piece. The first 2 seemed a lot like other stories of his, and kind of tired writing. I almost stopped... but was very glad I read the story "The Lives of Rocks" which reminded me why I like him - he can bring that edge of magic, or wistful mysticism, into everyday life.
I am reminded that I used to have a dreamier life, and used to pay attention to coincidence and hidden meanings and the possibility that More...
I am reminded that I used to have a dreamier life, and used to pay attention to coincidence and hidden meanings and the possibility that More...
Jul 12, 2008
Caleb
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Rick Bass is a favorite...These stories are very touching, bizarre, mystical. One in here is a fantasy of environmentalism...Weird almost David Lynch "log-man" episode...Another is an exquisite story of an ill woman who builds delicate boats that she sails down mountain streams to fundamentalist children. Rick Bass - even though I squirm sometimes - can do no wrong in my mind.
Finished this the other day...Title story is worth whole book, IMHO!
(I also think the c More...
Finished this the other day...Title story is worth whole book, IMHO!
(I also think the c More...
Jun 24, 2010
Casey
rated it:
The title story alone is worth the price of the book, though there are two or three others that are really great. I haven't read much of Bass before (only his first collection The Watch), but in The Lives of Rocks there are moments where he gets pretty heavy handed about his message, mainly that of environmental conservatism. Not that that isn't a worthy cause, but it seems to me most of his stories do a good enough job of conveying his beliefs without his having to come out and tell the reade
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Sep 17, 2008
Andrea
rated it:
I'm so glad I discovered this author. Two things immediately drew me to this book, 1)the title, and 2)the cover. Mine actually has an elk on it. Its been a while since I read a book of short stories, so this was a refreshing and fun change of pace for me. I loved most all of the stories, (10 of them) some more than others. It was a good character driven look at different ways that people are affected by and interact with nature.
Apr 27, 2008
Chris
rated it:
A mostly excellent collection, with a few duds.
These pieces feel more autobiographical than some of his other writing, though it's always hard to tell that kind of thing. There are certainly more obviously autobiographical details in the stories.
But the surrounding stories are, as always, a beautiful blend of possibility and reality - things that _could_ happen, that indeed could have happened, but gosh does it seem unlikely.
These pieces feel more autobiographical than some of his other writing, though it's always hard to tell that kind of thing. There are certainly more obviously autobiographical details in the stories.
But the surrounding stories are, as always, a beautiful blend of possibility and reality - things that _could_ happen, that indeed could have happened, but gosh does it seem unlikely.
Jul 02, 2008
i've read a bit of rick bass before, but not his fiction. i found that i prefer his fiction that flows more like his nature writing. this is a collection of short stories that cover a wide range of topics. i didnt make it through all of them, but of the ones i read, fiber was my favorite. it sucked me in more than the others.
Dec 04, 2009
Jeff
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A collection of ten short stories (the longest of which is titled "The Lives of Rocks"). I'd' never read Rick Bass before, never heard of him even, but finally got around to reading this book which I got as a Christmas present two years ago. I shouldn't have waited so long - the stories were good, but the prose was great.
Aug 18, 2008
laR
rated it:
Rick Bass is one of the few current American authors who *really* gets subtext and metaphor and applies them with a richness, complexity and subtlety that are infinitely rewarding. This collection of short stories is a bit uneven, but a few of them are absolutely stellar. It's Rick Bass. You can't go wrong.
Jun 25, 2008
Patrice
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"And what if we had it all backwards, she wondered. What if it is the mountain and the past that are living, while the river and the present are the unliving: merely a physical force, like wind, or electricity, not really alive, not in the sense that blood and memory are alive?"
Jan 17, 2008
David
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Fantastic nature fiction. I could do without the end of "Fiber," but the entire book is pretty stellar. Tuley a book to learn from. For example, if wanted to go out and skin an elk with a pocket knife, I could. Hey, I read "The Lives of Rocks." I know how it's done.
Mar 17, 2010
Virginia
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I've always enjoyed Mr. Bass' writing. He takes you right there. There is one short story in particular in this book that felt more open and revealing that I would have ever expected. There are few moments in art when this truly happens. Rick gives you his best.
Aug 20, 2008
Shannon
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Wow...this is some of the most beautiful and stirring writing I've ever read. The author is so in-tune with nature and the quality of human emotion. I felt so at ease and refreshed after each story...I'm really looking forward to reading more of his work.
Nov 27, 2007
Mariah
rated it:
Once again, Rick Bass astounds me with his clean and imaginative writing. He turns the mundane into magical. There are several stories in this collection that I recommend everyone read, especiallty "Pagans" and "The Lives of Rocks."
Jan 26, 2008
Christopher
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Solid collection and a great range of stories about humans (youth and age, alone and in groups) and nature. Each seems so different from the others and the one I can't get out of my mind is "Yazoo."
Moving on to "Oil Notes."
Moving on to "Oil Notes."
