When "Reasons to Live, " Hempel's first collection, was published in 1985, readers encountered a pitch-perfect voice in fiction and an unsettling assessment of the culture. That collection includes "San Francisco," which Alan Cheuse in "The Chicago Tribune" called "arguably the finest short story composed by any living writer." In "At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom, " her second collection, frequently compared to the work of Raymond Carver, Hempel refined and developed her unique grace and style and her unerring instinct for the moment that defines a character. Also included here, in their entirety, are the collections "Tumble Home" and "The Dog of the Marriage." As Rick Moody says of the title novella in Tumble Home, "the leap in mastery, in seriousness, and sheer literary purpose was inspiring to behold.... And yet," he continues, ""The Dog of the Marriage, " the fourth collection, is even better than the other three...a triumph, in fact." "The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel" is the perfect opportunity for readers of contemporary American fiction to catch up to one of its masters. Moody's passionate and illuminating introduction celebrates both the appeal and the importance of Hempel's work.
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Book Description
The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel gathers together the complete work of a writer whose voice is as singular and astonishing as any in American fiction. Hempel, fiercely admired by writers and reviewers, has a sterling reputation that is based on four very short collections of stories, roughly fifteen thousand stunning sentences, written over a period of nearly three decades. These are stories about people who make choices that seem inevitable, whose longings and misgivings evoke eternal human experience. With compassion, wit, and the acutest eye, Hempel observes the marriages, minor disasters, and moments of revelation in an uneasy America.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Shane F
Format:Hardcover
Like most people, I had never heard of Amy Hempel until Chuck Palahaniuk recommended her in his collection of essays "Non Fiction". Hempel is a very different writer to Chuck and reminds me alot of Sylvia Plath. Most of the stories are short (except the novella "Tumble home") and very satisfying, whetting the appetite for more.
Hempel deals with the quotidien often incorporating her deep affection for animals into her stories.
Hempel is compared, by author Rick Moody in the preface ,to Raymond Carver and Richard Ford.
However I feel Hempel to be a more sensitive soul and this comes across in these short stories.
Hempel deals with the quotidien often incorporating her deep affection for animals into her stories.
Hempel is compared, by author Rick Moody in the preface ,to Raymond Carver and Richard Ford.
However I feel Hempel to be a more sensitive soul and this comes across in these short stories.
Format:Paperback
Hempel's the kind of writer who'll begin a story 'Belle developed a craving *after* her pregnancy'. Belle is a dog. Zany, breathy (one can imagine her composing these down the phone, which I suppose is some kind of compliment), like Lydia Davis Hempel is drawn to the short (or short-short) form, but despite occasional successes (The Center) reading these on the trot is a little like making a meal of popcorn. Put another way, every word written by Davis is worthy of being pondered, at least arguably; the same is not true of Hempel. And does she, do her editors really think 'incant' is a verb? See two-star review. ('It is now, suckers', they replied in chorus.) I'll look out for the odd Hempel story. And await the selected
By Jodie_2323
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought 2nd hand, which was evident but book was not in a bad condition and seller did say it was 2nd hand which was obviously reflected in the price. Great collection of short stories, and since Hemple is highly recommended on my uni course, it sure beats competing with everyone else for the one edition in the library. Arrived promptly, would recommend the book and the seller.
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Beautiful, sparse, evocative, unusual and interesting stories. Hempel's choices of words, sentences, phrases are intriguing yet fill me with much more than what is on the page. For such restrained style of writing, the characters and worlds intrigued me and left me dwelling upon them long after I had put the book down.
Highly recommended.
London. 2010.
Highly recommended.
London. 2010.
2 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By amazonian117
Format:Paperback
I read this book on the recommendation of several people whose tastes I generally applaud and/or share. Amy Hempel has had amazing things written about her in the press and I figured it was time I looked into her work.
However, I can't help but feel disappointed, having read the collection of her four short books of short stories/novellas.
Hempel writes almost tirelessly about things I have no personal interest in or experience of. This would probably be very interesting for others, but none of the reviews or descriptions warn you, so this is my warning to any future potential readers.
Main themes include pets, especially dogs, and children. If you have little experience of or interest in pet-ownership, child-ownership or loss of pets or loss of children, then this is not the book for you. I was bored by it. I skipped the end half of several of the many, many reflections on dogs and children. She describes at length a series of the most cliched and American of situations and scenes - things that as a non-American, I always thought were made up for adverts. Maybe they are, I don't know. Maybe to Americans this all rings true, but a lengthy description of Jello-based desserts; an outing with a frankly unrealistically childlike father and his equally and oppositely adult-like children, to a diner in the car; and White Picket Fence Neighbour anecdotes just don't interest me at all. I can't relate to any of this stuff. Fair enough, some Americans might, but I've definitely wasted my money here.
A couple of the stories had touching or thoughtful moments - one in particular, Memoir, is only a sentence long: "Just once in my life - oh, when have I ever wanted anything just once in my life?" I found that quite thought-provoking, quite witty and simple and elegant.... Read more ›
However, I can't help but feel disappointed, having read the collection of her four short books of short stories/novellas.
Hempel writes almost tirelessly about things I have no personal interest in or experience of. This would probably be very interesting for others, but none of the reviews or descriptions warn you, so this is my warning to any future potential readers.
Main themes include pets, especially dogs, and children. If you have little experience of or interest in pet-ownership, child-ownership or loss of pets or loss of children, then this is not the book for you. I was bored by it. I skipped the end half of several of the many, many reflections on dogs and children. She describes at length a series of the most cliched and American of situations and scenes - things that as a non-American, I always thought were made up for adverts. Maybe they are, I don't know. Maybe to Americans this all rings true, but a lengthy description of Jello-based desserts; an outing with a frankly unrealistically childlike father and his equally and oppositely adult-like children, to a diner in the car; and White Picket Fence Neighbour anecdotes just don't interest me at all. I can't relate to any of this stuff. Fair enough, some Americans might, but I've definitely wasted my money here.
A couple of the stories had touching or thoughtful moments - one in particular, Memoir, is only a sentence long: "Just once in my life - oh, when have I ever wanted anything just once in my life?" I found that quite thought-provoking, quite witty and simple and elegant.... Read more ›
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