Elephants in Our Bedroom

Elephants in Our Bedroom

4.44 of 5 stars 4.44  ·  rating details  ·  62 ratings  ·  12 reviews
The debut short story collection from the editor of the Mid-American Review. Michael Czyzniejewski’s writing is both poignant and playful. The collection includes fl ash and longer fiction and is the antithesis of those collections complained about for having every story too similar to each other.

Michael Czyzniejewski was born in Chicago and grew up in its south suburbs. H...more
Paperback, 197 pages
Published February 1st 2009 by Dzanc Books
more details... edit details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 105)
filter  |  sort: default (?)  |  rating details
Jessica
Mar 14, 2009 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone
Recommended to Jessica by: creative writing professor
41 books for 2009.
This author is actually coming to talk to our creative writing class tomorrow. So I picked up the book and read it in two sittings, loving it.
The short stories may have a touch of the fantastical (such as literal elephants in a bedroom) but are in no way unrealistic. Quirky and occasionally just fun, however I found several of the stories to be brutally realistic and uncomfortably familiar.
And most delightfully, the author has an incredible gift of voice ranging from a dying ol...more
David
The stories in this collection are marvelously entertaining in their use of absurdist elements. Inventive and imaginative, the absurd is used to examine (with impressive insight) aspects of human life and what it means to be human. Czyzniejewski manages to write his characters with a voice that seems truly his own, different from the other absurdist fiction that I have read. I think that is extremely important in this kind of fiction. It conveys a sense of importance along with the ridiculous. R...more
Michael
I learned that if you rate your own book on MyReads, and you give it five stars, your average rating goes up slightly.
Carolyn
This writer does more with metaphor than anybody I've read lately. I liked it a lot.
Christie
Witty, moving, and unique. This book has a pulse all its own!
Tim Jones-yelvington
While I recognize and respect Czyzniejewski's talent, he is at times a bit crass & sadistic, and his women characters (many of whom are referred to only as "my wife") a bit shallow and/or shrill, for my personal taste.
Michael
Feb 01, 2012 Michael marked it as to-read
You can listen to audio of me reading the first story of this collection right here: http://www.wingchairbooks.com/2012/01...
Liza K
My old College teacher in creative writing!! Not bad, there are a few stories I loved and a few that were ok.
Samantha
Czyzniejewski came to my Advanced Fiction Writing course and talked to us about his writing process, his inspirations, and we were able to ask him questions about his stories. Then he led us in a writing exercise and also signed all of our books. As an added bonus he read a story from the not-yet-published book he had finished. It was a great experience.
Leah
I have a fondness for short stories. This collection was a pretty good read, though I wouldn't recommend it if you have a dislike for the bizzare. My favorites were "Sleepmurder," "Victor," "Cool," "The Magic of Oil Painting," and "The Death of Purple."
Gary McDowell
February 1, 2009. Can't wait.
Charlie
May 21, 2013 Charlie is currently reading it
Short Storyshort
Feb 20, 2013 Short Storyshort marked it as to-read
Ioanna
Nov 21, 2012 Ioanna marked it as to-read
Swati
Nov 15, 2012 Swati marked it as to-read
Mark
Sep 15, 2012 Mark marked it as to-read
Recommended to Mark by: Kasia S.
Shelves: to-get
Kasia S.
Sep 13, 2012 Kasia S. marked it as to-read
Sarah
Aug 05, 2012 Sarah marked it as read-after-to-read
« previous 1 3 4 next »
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
Elephants in Our Bedroom (Large Print 16pt)
Elephants in Our Bedroom (ebook)
Chicago Stories:  40 Dramatic Fictions Elephants in Our Bedroom: Stories Elephants in Our Bedroom: Stories Get Your Goat

Share This Book

Your website