Flying Leap: Stories

I am an avid reader of short fiction, and I have to say this collection by this young writer is the finest I've read in the past several years. It is at once subtle and crazy, at once humorous and sobering, highly imaginative, and great fun to read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates youthful, contemporary, literate literature.

I purchased the book on the recommendation of a writer's digest report. I read everynight and I love to read first time works. I usually find them fresh and origional. But I have never read anything like Judy. She is a remarkable and insightful young lady and I hope she will not wait long to publish again. I will be the first in line for her next work. Another review said "it leaves you wanting more." I find that an understatement. If you read this, thank you Judy for your commitment to excellence. It shows on every page.

I think that the stories in Flying Leap are very interesting. Some may think they are a bit twisted but I think being a teenager I can relate to some of the stories. Budnitz is a very good writer and I think her stories definitly have deeper meaning than what is written, I think of it as poetry rather than a book. I look forward to the next one!

Judy's stories are creative and clever in unexpected ways. I had to pace myself so I wouldn't finish the book too fast, each story was a treat that I looked forward to reading. Some of the stories are truly astonishing and disturbing. There is a wicked streak in stories like the cheerleader story and the first story was one of my favorites. It's definitely a book of stories you'll want to read again.

I saw Judy Budnitz do a reading at the Breadloaf writing conference this summer, (she read 'Skin Care' from Flying Leap) and I was pretty knocked out. Then I bought the book when I got back, and I'm just stunned. 'Yellville' is as amazing a story as I could imagine. (if I only could have imagined it) These stories are unlike almost anything else I've read by a contemporary writer - their startling invention, the sly depth of their wisdom, the humor and playfulness, the dead on dissection of the diseased body of society - yet for the caustic and sometimes grim wit, there's plenty of room for redemption - they're grounded in a firm sense of humanity. And man oh man, I can't remember laughing so much reading a book, and laughing so well.