2007-10-19 - 12:24 p.m. The rewards of reading a good short story collection are qualitatively different than those that come from the full commitment slog through a novel. Something about staying closer to the surface, but allowing the surface to be as rich and lovely and potent as the emotional depths of a novel (or the satisfaction of riding the suspense of a plot-driven novel). When I haven't read short fiction in a while, it makes me feel like I'm just discovering literaure for the first time. And so it is that I am enjoying this Charles Baxter collection, and look forward to reading more. His story "Xavier Speaking" really captures the folly and power of religious conversion and bad love affairs. thoughts? (2 comments so far) previous - next blog archive contact