The Complete Stories

I picked this book up because I liked the cover and I thought, however right or wrong, that a publisher would release a collection of this length to only a quality writer. I was not wrong; this man is a master. I have read "The First Seven Years" at least fifteen times, and I have my classes read it all the time. I wish I could have met Malamud.

Malamud has written some of the most noted stories of the second half of the American twentieth century. His famous 'The Magic Barrel'with its broken characters broken Yiddish sufferings disappointments and strange poetic intensity is perhaps the most well- known and emblematic of his general approach as a writer. Malamud is a man of the precise word, the carefully drawn artistic touch, the minor note of beauty which suddenly... Read Full Review

Malamud is a wonderful storyteller. He creates compelling characters and vivid settings in every story. He brings people and places to life in just a few sentences. My favorites are the early stories, very short stories set in New York in the late 40s and early 50s. At the end of each story I wished he had written more, but wondered if the characters would have been less interesting if he had. There are many excellent... Read Full Review

Malamud's stories capture and bring alive the post world war years in New York City, with Jews as the central characters. I came to these stories after I exhausted all of Malamud's novels. For those who are not familiar with Malamud, wherever you start, his novels or these short stories, you will be grateful you did.