World Famous Comics: Human Resources: Stories (Tin House New Voice)
Human Resources: Stories (Tin House New Voice)
By: Josh Goldfaden Publisher: Tin House Books Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Tin House Books Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 225 Publication Date: March 07, 2007
Humorous, energetic, and inventive, the stories in Josh Goldfaden’s debut collection are laugh-out-loud funny. Goldfaden’s genius is pushing the limits of absurdity without sacrificing the emotional core of his characters or their stories. A nanny works for a traveling writers colony (his charge is named Camus). A pirate saves up for his own restaurant. A litter specialist tackles the overstuffed homes — and psyches — of the rich. As zany as they come, Goldfaden’s characters seek purpose and community and, every now and again, they find it.
Quirky, multifaceted, cleverly amusing... This gem of a collection of short stories is full of magical near-realism, and also some very knowing glimpses into the underbelly of people's private lives - hidden secrets, motives and thoughts that few admit but many will share. It is very amusing and entertaining while also prodding some uncomfortable truths that some might wish to keep hidden.
Many of the stories take an imaginative "what if I wrote a story about" approach, a quirky idea taken to surprising reaches and conclusions - sometimes fantastic and unbelievable, yet knowingly so in a way that the reader enjoys the twists, turns and quirks.
Highly recommended as a book to dip into story to story, or read in one enjoyable day...
Great characters ! Human Resources is populated with some of the most memorable and offbeat characters I've encountered in a long time, dealing with some rather unusual issues. In my personal favorite story, King of the Ferns, the author looks into the minds of a husband, wife, dog...and the household fern ...with darkly humorous result. The stories offer something for everyone, whether you're thinking about changing your career to professional pirate, or wondering who to call on to help a dear aunt with a clutter problem. Well done.
Best Book of Short Stories I've Read in a Long Time! I read a lot of short stories, from Raymond Carver to George Saunders, from TC Boyle to Lorrie Moore from Haruki Murakami to the Best American Short Stories anthology. This book, Human Resources, by Josh Goldfaden is simply one of the most consistently great, hilarious, and moving books I've read in years.
One of the things I don't like about many short story collections is that it seems like there are 2 or 3 great stories in the book followed by a bunch of duds. With Josh Goldfaden's book, every story in the collection was strong, unique and complex. I certainly have my favorites among this book, however every story in Human Resources had me laughing out loud, and a few of them even had me...gasp... tearing up a bit.
What I like best about these stories is the way each of them seems to totally encompass it's own unique world. Yes, it's our world, but it's a slightly skewed and more interesting version of our world. So we're introduced to a traveling writers colony in Europe, are shown the lives of modern pirates, of phone psychics, of national Geographic photographers, of litter removal specialists, and of a woman making a documentary film about childbirth. I feel like each of these stories could have been a novel, such is the richness of the worlds they inhabit.
I know I'm going on and on, but I can't recommend this book enough. Another thing I loved about Human Resources was that so many short story writers seem to choose these completely ambiguous endings, where you have no idea what actually happens at the end. I have no problem with subtly, and I don't like when stories try to wrap up every aspect of the story, but I often think that short story writers cop-out of doing the work necessary to get a great ending, and simply end the story ambiguously. Goldfaden's stories feel whole in a way you don't see often. It's not that everything is too neatly tied up, it's just that each story accrues emotional weight as it goes on and the ending serves to increase that weight, and to leave the reader fulfilled.
Anyway, if you're looking for a hilarious book of short stories which seems to perfectly straddle the line between being funny and being emotionally resonant, you can't go wrong with Human Resources.
Fascinating read Cool, contemporary stories from a truely creative mind. Well written and captivating. Several of these would make really good subjects for T.V. shows. Can't wait for this author's next effort!
Best new short story writer in years I'm not your typical short story fan, but got a tip from a friend that one of these "Nautical Intervention", had been optioned for a movie by someone she knew so I took a read. I couldn't believe this was a first book. The stories and the construction pulled me in and I read every story and each was more delicious than the last. No formulaic first time writer stuff here. Each stands alone and left me with the satisfied feeling that I usually don't get from short stories, which is why I usually avoid them. Hate that contrived "left hanging" feeling.
Can't wait to see what else this young writer has to offer.
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