Michel Faber's first collection of short stories reveals an extraordinarily vivid imagination, a deep love of language and an adventurous versatility. Playful, yet profoundly moving, wickedly satirical yet sincerely humane, these tales never fail to strike unexpected chords. The title story, 'Some Rain Must Fall' (winner of the 1998 Ian St James Award), juxtaposes the tragic circumstances of traumatised schoolchildren with the interior monologue of a teacher/psychologist enlisted to aid their recovery. In the pseudo-sci-fi 'Fish' (winner of the Macallan/Scotland on Sunday competition in 1996) a mother tries to protect her child in a terrifying world where fish swim through the streets and lurk in alleyways. Faber has an exciting talent, rich and assured, with a dazzling reach. Some Rain Must Fall is one of the most engaging debuts for years and is refreshingly different from anything else you are likely to read this year.
Some Rain Must Fall And Other Stories
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
About the Author
MICHEL FABER has written seven other books, including the highly acclaimed The Crimson Petal and the White, The Fahrenheit Twins and the Whitbread-shortlisted novel Under the Skin. The Apple, based on characters in The Crimson Petal and the White, was published in 2006. He has also written two novellas, The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps (2001) and The Courage Consort (2002), and has won several short-story awards, including the Neil Gunn, Ian St James and Macallan. Born in Holland, brought up in Australia, he now lives in the Scottish Highlands.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By taking a rest
HALL OF FAME
Format:Paperback
I found Michel Faber's Novel, "Under The Skin", to be both disturbing, wildly inventive, and unique. I could think of no one to compare his work to then, and now after reading his first collection of short stories, "Some Rain Must Fall", I still can gather no comparisons. There are stories that taken alone might lend them to be classified as similar to this person's work, or another's collection of short stories. However taken as a whole the works in this volume encompass so vast a range, from pure imagination, to a short story that reads as a documentary of a profession, no one else comes to mind.
There is a story of a teacher, a specialist who commands three times the normal rate for running a classroom. The start of the story is seemingly harmless, and then it progresses steadily to a horrific experience. Another begins and quickly becomes surreal, however the change is so subtle you might read it more than once to be sure it all is not a metaphor as opposed to a severe form of retribution.
Other stories focus on a narrower field of a person or two, and how presumptions that are made almost unconsciously can have life altering effects. This latter theme may not sound new, however the setting for his story and those that inhabit it are definitely not what would be called a traditional venue.
Mr. Faber is about as far from the traditional as a writer can get, and still be understood. "Under The Skin", pushed the envelope for me to grasp what he had in mind, but it nevertheless was powerful and unsettling. His workings on the fringes of his imagination seem to naturally produce a story of a most interesting universe. However with at least one tale he seems to condemn another extreme branch of expression without compromise. I agree with what he had one character write, whether the author agrees, who knows?
Like nothing you have probably read.
There is a story of a teacher, a specialist who commands three times the normal rate for running a classroom. The start of the story is seemingly harmless, and then it progresses steadily to a horrific experience. Another begins and quickly becomes surreal, however the change is so subtle you might read it more than once to be sure it all is not a metaphor as opposed to a severe form of retribution.
Other stories focus on a narrower field of a person or two, and how presumptions that are made almost unconsciously can have life altering effects. This latter theme may not sound new, however the setting for his story and those that inhabit it are definitely not what would be called a traditional venue.
Mr. Faber is about as far from the traditional as a writer can get, and still be understood. "Under The Skin", pushed the envelope for me to grasp what he had in mind, but it nevertheless was powerful and unsettling. His workings on the fringes of his imagination seem to naturally produce a story of a most interesting universe. However with at least one tale he seems to condemn another extreme branch of expression without compromise. I agree with what he had one character write, whether the author agrees, who knows?
Like nothing you have probably read.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Michel Faber proved his credentials with his fine novel Under The Skin. But is well worth going back to this earlier collection of short stories. All of the stories possess a vivid imagination and a tightness of prose that would impress Joseph Conrad.
It begins with the title story which shows the first signs of Faber's use of female protaganists. Expertly crafted it has an emotional hammerblow at the end that shocks you to the core. The rest of the collection deals with diverse stories from God finding planet earth in a rubbish tip to a bunch of grotesque artists who are victims of a large practical joke.
Faber's stories are always thought provoking and thoroughly entertaining. Please buy this book...you'll be glad you did!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
There is great writing and a wonderful imagination to be found in these stories. The range is amazing - a day in the life of a factory girl from the point of view of her hand, a love story in a porn shop, a scientist researching rain in the desert, God finding Earth on a rubbish pile - and there are some cunning plot twists along the way. And if you find modern art ridiculous you will love the final story. One of my favourite short story collections.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 10 reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
What an imagination...
Great book, you wonder where each story is going to take you and some of them I didnt want to end! Highly recommend.
Published 13 days ago by V Brodie
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not conclusive!
A book of many shorter tales inside, I didn't like this book. Not because the stories are not well written to begin with but because each story never really concludes, its just a... Read more
Published 20 months ago by J. L. Wilson Bradley
1.0 out of 5 stars
never again
This book was recommanded by one teacher at the flemish school where I read English.I hated almost every one of these short stories. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2009 by M. Levarlet
2.0 out of 5 stars
A bit of a mixture
Like all short story collections, the standard is variable. In this case, some of the stories seem to be more an indulgence on the part of the author to demonstrate what an... Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2003
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
