Anthropology

Each 101-word story in this book (there are 101 of them) is a well crafted little masterpiece. A whole story gets told, sometimes with a quirky twist at the end, in 101 words, no more, no less. Most of them have the narrator grieving over a breakup, giving those stories a poignant sweetness. Others are just plain weird, but fun. Some are sad, but funny. All are trippy, about women named Treasure, Skylark, or Miracle. You know, you just have to read this little book for yourself. Your only regret will be that it is so short.

I was intrigued by the polka-dotted book at the library; I was in love by the third page. Dan Rhodes is, quite frankly, amazing. Anthropology can be read over and over again and only gets better.

Anthropology is a collection of humorous, surreal, cleverly crafted short stories with a special twist. Each of the 101 stories by Dan Rhodes is precisely 101 words in length. Each funny, heartbreaking, sweet, and true tale is told economically while capturing the many complex emotions that encompass the notion of love. Here is love in all its aspects, fancies, facets, and guises. Anthropology is one of those anthologies that will be read again and again, clearly establishing Dan Rhodes as a skilled, innovative, and talented writer to be reckoned with and sought out in the future.

Anthropology is the first book by Dan Rhodes. It was published in the UK in early 2000 to little publicity. Seeing a copy in a bookshop I picked it up, read a few of the 101 word stories, purchased; and during the year have been thrusting the book onto friends, and relatives telling them they must read it.This collection of stories cannot be simply categorised. Their common threads are that each is 101 words long, each deals with an aspect of a relationship (with an increasingly bizarrely named collection of female partners). The stories are very short, dark, cynical, bitter, moving. But, most importantly they are peppered with humour, sometimes gentle, sometimes surreal, sometimes absurd, sometimes harsh. In brief vignettes Rhodes says more about love and masculinity, than is said in far longer works.It took me one train journey to first read the book through, but this is too indulgent. The stories are as distilled as poetry, should be savoured. Since the first reading I have returned to the book regularly, and will often recall scenarios, brief expressions. Part Borges, part Calvino, part Brautigan, this short story collection was for me book of the year in 2000. If you enjoy Calvino's Invisible Cities, Brautigan's Revenge of the Lawn, anything by Borges, or James Meek's Last Orders you will enjoy this book.

This little book took me about 2 hours to read. Though its small sections do not allow for any sort of plot or character development, the formula works very well. Instead of a story, the reader is treated to little burst from the main character's life. Always focused on his love live(s), they can be funny or tragic, profound or slightly irritating. Their strength is in their simplicity. Pick this one up you won't be disappointed.