“This week: Nathan Englander, William Trevor and lessons in taxidermy”
I've always enjoyed short stories; a little escape to get you through a commute. After finishing a collection of Hemingway's shorts I've been looking for something to move on to, and opinionsLtd's thorough review of Nathan Englander's What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frankconvinces me that this should be top of my list. This is Englander's return to the short story form and the "book is a success", containing "a diversity of styles, bite-sized history lessons, colorful characters [with] politics shaping the background." Stories full of humour ("Peep Show", for instance, which as opinionsLtd explains, "follows a normally virtuous husband into a surreal striptease club. The story leaves reality on the streets. But after each improbable scene, I wanted more") sit alongside tales that expose the darkness of human nature, such as "Camp Sundown" ("aged Holocaust survivors at a pensioner summer camp"). It is a book, says opinionsLtd, which is not only "funny" but "thought-provoking and insightful".
Another warm recommendation came for a novel by William Trevor. Jonathan Went was won over by Other People's Worlds, "the 10th of his 18 novels and novellas", which simply "beckons readers to come … this near peerless storyteller has created a morally unassuageable universe in which a conniving fabulist blackly wends his way into the lives of those unfortunate enough to meet him. Deception may be easily cast but the pain sewn is nearly always tragic." This sounds intriguing; I'm going to have to find myself a copy.
Finally, we at the Guardian welcome people and authors from all walks of life, so if instead of curling up with a book to fill the lengthening evenings you feel like trying your hand at a bit of stuffing then Mike Gadd's Beginner Taxidermy: Small Mammal may well be the book for you. It's certainly the book for IsobelH; she writes that "It really is almost as good as having Mike standing beside you and teaching! I can highly recommend this book to anyone who is starting out in taxidermy – whether you have already tried mounting a couple of squirrels or if you have never done one before, this book is invaluable." I can't say I've tried mounting squirrels before, IsobelH, but it's good to know which book I should reach for should the mood take me.
As always, if your review has been mentioned, get in touch with Sarah Crown on sarah.crown@theguardian.com and she'll be sure to find you a treat from the cupboards. Meanwhile, enjoy your weekend and don't forget to change the clocks.