Ox-Tales is a set of four compelling and collectible books, each themed on one of the elements. Fire features stories by Mark Haddon, Geoff Dyer, V...
read full description
reviews
Jun 27, 2010
Ashleigh
rated it: 
The Island
I love Haddon's writing. This story repulsed yet intrigued me at the same time. It was enjoyable, in some sick and twisted fashion. 4/5
Playing With...
I thought this was clever & witty. It was funny, fun & it made me smile. It wasn't too long & it was generally pretty good. But it seemed a little bit, I don't know, empty in places. 3/5
Aflame in Athens
I loved this one <3 So very much. It had me from the very beginning, I loved the flow & I lov More...
I love Haddon's writing. This story repulsed yet intrigued me at the same time. It was enjoyable, in some sick and twisted fashion. 4/5
Playing With...
I thought this was clever & witty. It was funny, fun & it made me smile. It wasn't too long & it was generally pretty good. But it seemed a little bit, I don't know, empty in places. 3/5
Aflame in Athens
I loved this one <3 So very much. It had me from the very beginning, I loved the flow & I lov More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 11, 2010
sisterimapoet
rated it:
My third dip into the Ox-Tale soup - and my favourite volume so far.
'Dog Days' by Jeanette Winterson was delightful and heartfelt.
'Last' by Ali Smith was quirky and playful.
The William Sutcliffe piece took a turn at the end that would actually encourage me to read the full novel when it appears. Which is more than I can say for the boring Lionel Shriver piece.
The Victoria Hislop and Geoff Dyer both allowed me to sample authors I've never liked t More...
'Dog Days' by Jeanette Winterson was delightful and heartfelt.
'Last' by Ali Smith was quirky and playful.
The William Sutcliffe piece took a turn at the end that would actually encourage me to read the full novel when it appears. Which is more than I can say for the boring Lionel Shriver piece.
The Victoria Hislop and Geoff Dyer both allowed me to sample authors I've never liked t More...
Feb 10, 2011
Verena
rated it: 
I didn't like this part of the Ox-tales series as much as the others I've read. There were a couple of really good stories in there, notably "Into the world" by Xiaolu Go, "Last" by Ali Smith (I really liked that one) and "Dog Days" by Jeanette Winterson. The piece by John le Carré about "The King who never spoke" was also well worth reading.
What bugged me about this collection was that there were three excerpts from novels (in progress or just More...
What bugged me about this collection was that there were three excerpts from novels (in progress or just More...
Sep 21, 2009
Andy
rated it:
This is the third volume of the Oxfam short story collections featuring a collection of stories from many talented authors including Lionel Shriver, Mark Haddon, Sebastian Faulks and Ali Smith among others. The stories are variable and I enjoyed most of them in one way or another. Still, for a low price and a worthwhile cause it's not a bad deal.
Jul 28, 2011
Natalie
rated it: 
From a father trying to have a relaxing holiday whilst juggling a pre-occupied wife and two whiney children, via an over-parented student trying to figure out what’s going on with her mysterious new boyfriend, to a woman left to die on a deserted island by the man who has been her husband for twenty years, this collection of short stories sizzles with confusion and conflict.
Jul 19, 2011
Dan
rated it: 
What kind of previously-unpublished stories did authors submit to Ox-tales: Fire a fundraiser for Oxfam? Not very good ones. With the exception of a well-crafted fable by John LeCarre and a wonderful short story by Ali Smith (how did I ever mix her up with Zadie Smith?), this book is little more than wasted paper.
Nov 25, 2011
William
rated it:
some nice short pieces here and all for a useful cause. a bit wearisome the need for so many writers to contribute work about the vapid nature of middle class life in the u.k. when the money raised is going to people who may not even have a place to call home. wake up people and write about the outside world.
Oct 04, 2011
Amberle
rated it:
Apparently not-for-profit organisations haven't enough money for editors. This is evident in Oxfam's collection. One of the stars is for the famous people sending in crap. One additional star is for Oxfam. The idea was great Oxfam, but a bit of quality never hurts.
Plus one star for Lionel Shriver, whose writing is always good (even though she didn't submit a new story, but rather a chapter from a work in progress)
Minus one star for demeaningly trite story from Le Carre.
Plus one star for Lionel Shriver, whose writing is always good (even though she didn't submit a new story, but rather a chapter from a work in progress)
Minus one star for demeaningly trite story from Le Carre.
Jan 11, 2012
Iryna
rated it: 
Don't understand the purpose of this book. It's a combination of extracts from bigger pieces (well, mostly) and reading it is like watching a bunch of previews when you came to see a movie.
Jul 24, 2010
Fran
rated it:
I am glad the book ended on JW, and it was a really lovely story... Never read it before. A really lovely collection of stories and even the ones that I thought were going to be boring turned out to be not so bad :)
Nov 06, 2010
Mew
rated it:
My favourite of the Oxfam series so far. Lionel Shriver's excerpt of an unpublished novel left me wanting more. Ali Smith was great as was Mark Haddon. Brilliant.
Dec 17, 2011
Nov 01, 2011
Oct 23, 2011
Oct 17, 2011
Aug 26, 2011
Jul 27, 2011
Jul 25, 2011
Jul 24, 2011
May 02, 2011
