Review: Not my usual type of reading but I like it!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 23, 2011
A very interesting collection of short stories.  Pardon me but I couldn't help but compare with Murakami's 'Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman' as far as the level of weirdness (of plot and characters) is concerned.  I think that they are on the same level, but Schaffer's collection for me has sense, most definitely.  The stories all end with the reader left to wonder about the obvious, and be awed by their own conclusion.Of all the stories, my personal favorite is 'Digestif', which is the author's way of explaining why he's into such plots.  This is also the one that is most in touch with reality, because of course it actually happened.  Next to ' Digestif', I will go for 'Cold Comforts', if only for the sense of revenge and triumph that it can cultivate among women readers.  It also succeeded (if that was the intent) in making me wince on the violation of the morgue and its residents.  'Nazareth' is last on my list.  Although it is up to the reader to judge the story as blasphemous or not, it made me feel uncomfortable.This is not my usual type of reading, and even with all the weird goings on and characters, I was surprised to find myself not smirking nor raising an eyebrow.