Review: I was torn between liking this book, and disliking it
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 16, 2012
The author describes his included stories as "extraordinary things" happening to the "most ordinary of inhabitants." Personally I feel `Slightly unusual things happening to people who are as quirky as all get out' would have better described the majority of the book. Either that, or London has a whole lot of truly odd citizens (flaky, forgetful, violent, and unconcerned). It was also a little predictable.I found it odd that a writer was censoring God which is generally done to avoid blasphemy, but didn't seem to think the F-word and similar equivalents are a big deal. So I have to assume it was misguided attempt to avoid offending readers, as readers offended by blasphemy would generally find such words offensive too.Fascinating however, is his ability to skirt subjects related to sex in such a way that the reader is usually left with the feeling that he didn't actually cross the line, but he may have walked up to it and spat over it.The graphics are nice, each fitting the story it supports rather well, though I'm not sure why every one reminds you that you're reading a short story by Biss. It could just be so that we remember his name, it could be fear of theft, prior publications, or even just ego. Still they're a nice touch and help break up the book more visibly.