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Amazon.co.uk Review
True Tales of American Life is a collection derived from a project launched by Paul Auster on US National Public Radio. Auster credits his wife with the idea of having listeners send in their own short pieces of true-life writing, from which Auster would choose half a dozen to be read on air each week. But, for all the success of the radio programme, as Auster writes, "you can't hold the words in your hands". Here, then, is the fully "holdable" book. Auster has selected 179 pieces from the 4,000 plus he had received by October 2000. Split fairly evenly between male and female authors, with an age range of 20 to "pushing 90", the collection revels in its multifariousness: the contributors include "a postman, a merchant seaman, a trolley-bus driver, a gas-and-electric-meter reader, a restorer of player pianos, a crime-scene cleaner", and so on. The biographical detail is relevant because inevitably most of these true stories draw on the rawest of raw materials, the writers' own experience.
Auster wanted "true stories that sounded like fiction". In an age where talk shows (think Jerry Springer and Ricki Lake) demand that we tell our life stories as fiction--and encourage us to live our lives as fiction--it's a particularly timely and potent meeting place of reality and art, or in Auster's words, "an archive of facts, a museum of American reality" in fictional form. Unlike Auster, who regularly has to wade through 60 of these tales in a day to meet his weekly radio deadlines, the regular reader can dip in and out. And at a rate of, say, one story per day, this book will keep you fascinated with (and occasionally horrified at) American's true life tales for just about six months. --Alan Stewart --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Guardian, December 2001
It is difficult to think of another book published this year ... that is ... so excellent in intention and so elegant in its execution.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was bought this book as a present, by someone who had only read the first story about the chicken. The great thing about it is that you can stop wherever you like in the book, and carry on later. Its an ideal book to be reading alongside your novel.
The best part is that some of the stories you instantly want to tell the first person you see about, and others remind you of tales of chance, coincidence or just quirkiness from your own or your friends experiences.
The best part is that some of the stories you instantly want to tell the first person you see about, and others remind you of tales of chance, coincidence or just quirkiness from your own or your friends experiences.
All in all a thoroughly worthwhile and enjoyable book
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After the stresses of a long break from University, a relaxing Christmas and an amazing New Year, and the stress of not having a single exam I was in need of a week in the sun. Four friends joined me on a trip to Spain.
The talking point of our holiday however wasn’t the weather, it wasn’t my mates sunburn, nor was it the cheap food and alcohol. It was a book.
‘True Tales Of American Life’ had us all transfixed. It is a collection of stories submitted by listeners of America’s national public radio, and it has the ability to make even the coldest of hearts shed a tear. There are some wonderfully happy stories that will make you laugh out-loud, there are stories to make you cringe and grimace and some to question or confirm your belief in fate. This book is unique. It works really well on a personal level, different stories will mean different things to different people, but I’m sure that at least one will strike a chord with the reader. The writing is open, frank and honest, none of the authors are professional, just everyday people with interesting stories to tell.
While we were away, everyone picked up the book, even those who don’t usually pick up books struggled to put it down. I no longer have my copy, it’s been passed from friend to friend, and I’m yet to hear a bad thing about it.
True Tales of American life gets my full recommendation, go out and buy or borrow it now, unless you have mine of course, and in that case I’d like it back!
The talking point of our holiday however wasn’t the weather, it wasn’t my mates sunburn, nor was it the cheap food and alcohol. It was a book.
‘True Tales Of American Life’ had us all transfixed. It is a collection of stories submitted by listeners of America’s national public radio, and it has the ability to make even the coldest of hearts shed a tear. There are some wonderfully happy stories that will make you laugh out-loud, there are stories to make you cringe and grimace and some to question or confirm your belief in fate. This book is unique. It works really well on a personal level, different stories will mean different things to different people, but I’m sure that at least one will strike a chord with the reader. The writing is open, frank and honest, none of the authors are professional, just everyday people with interesting stories to tell.
While we were away, everyone picked up the book, even those who don’t usually pick up books struggled to put it down. I no longer have my copy, it’s been passed from friend to friend, and I’m yet to hear a bad thing about it.
True Tales of American life gets my full recommendation, go out and buy or borrow it now, unless you have mine of course, and in that case I’d like it back!
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Paul Auster once said 'stories happen to people who can tell them.' Here he has taken his words at their face value and produced an amazing document - an anthology of 200 true stories sent in to the National Story Project by ordinary yanks. Synchronicity, destiny and slapstick combine to make fantastic reading.
Paul Auster is an amazing writer and here he has tried an amazing experiment and it doesn't just work - there's something almost scary and magic in the result. Read these stories one a day for six months or gobble them down... - either way I think something in this book might change your life. Highly recomended.
Paul Auster is an amazing writer and here he has tried an amazing experiment and it doesn't just work - there's something almost scary and magic in the result. Read these stories one a day for six months or gobble them down... - either way I think something in this book might change your life. Highly recomended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Grimy, superstitious page turner
Paul Auster says it was his wife's idea to invite the audience of National Public Radio to submit their real life stories:"The stories had to be true, and they had to be short, but... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Emily - London
A Really Good Book
Replacement book for husband after his copy was loaned out and not returned! He was so happy to get another he read it cover to cover again. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mary Waters
True Tales......a good Holiday Read....
I have read True Tales of American Life perhaps 5 or 6 times since I purchased it some years ago. It contains the 'true life tales' of American people of all ages and backgrounds... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Musicman
an amazing idea
It's a book which gives you a pleasure to red. It's ab overview of american lifestyle caming form the story of the people. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2008 by Brambini Michela
Mixed bag - obviously.
I agree with all the other reviews! There are too many banal tales of dubious coincidences, but there are enough gems to make it worthwhile. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2007 by Booky
Bores reunited
I had high hopes of this book but frankly it's rather dull. There are one or two arresting anecdotes but the rest plods, wiht far too many of the tales revolving around... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2004 by M. G. James
Stories for Austerians with short-attention spans
Norman Mailer once said that the average American's attention span was fifteen minutes - as that was the time until the next commercial. Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2003 by P. A. Curran
Don't believe the hype
Despite the praise that has been lavished on 'True Tales of American Life', and despite the wholly admirable intent with which the collection was commissioned, it's actually not... Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2003 by "dave_taurus"
Engrossing
This is a totally engrossing book. I felt like I'd been invited to share in the experiences of a huge range of people, just to touch their lives for a few minutes. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2003
Simple stories told by ordinary people. Powerful stuff.
This book was almost never written. If it had not been for a chance remark by the author's wife these real life stories would have remained in the minds (and hearts) of the... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2002 by eagleeye
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