Things that Fall from the Sky

By Kevin Brockmeier

Book Overview

Weaving together loss and anxiety with fantastic elements and literary sleight-of-hand, Kevin Brockmeier's richly imagined Things That Fall from the Sky views the nagging realities of the world through a hopeful lens. In the deftly told "These Hands," a man named Lewis recounts his time babysitting a young girl and his inconsolable sense of loss after she is wrenched away. In "Apples," a boy comes to terms with the complex world of adults, his first pangs of love, and the bizarre death of his Bible coach. "The Jesus Stories" examines a people trying to accelerate the Second Coming by telling the story of Christ in every possible way. And in the O. Henry Award winning "The Ceiling," a man's marriage begins to disintegrate after the sky starts slowly descending. Achingly beautiful and deceptively simple, Things That Fall from the Sky defies gravity as one of the most original story collections seen in recent years.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375727698
• ISBN13: 9780375727696
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A Fresh, Imaginative Voice

Kevin Brockmeier, obviously wise beyond his years, writes with profound insight, empathy and imagination, in equal parts. These stories are brimming treasure chests that I simply could not put down and did not want to end! I can not wait to read his next work.

Excellent.

We were assigned to read "The Ceiling" and The Truth About Celia (novel), and with those two read, I had to buy this book. Kevin Brockmeier is an extraordinary writer, and I wait anxiously for his next book.

Interstitial fiction at its best

In this extraordinary collection, Brockemeier effortlessly crosses borders between many different modes of writing -- realism, surrealism, fantasy, mystery, fable, fairy tale -- to create sharply insightful stories that have much to say about modern life and the surreal world we live in. Tender, funny, painful, and deeply moving, I highly, highly recommend this collection to all fans of interstitial fiction.

A Fantastic New Voice

With Things That Fall from the Sky, Kevin Brockmeier boldy introduces himself as a writer worth reading. Every story is a joy to read, and taken as a whole the collection makes a lasting impression.

Wow.

Rich and whimsical and beautifully written; imaginative and tender and lovely.