Normal Rules Don’t Apply - Atkinson
Audio performance by Paterson Joseph
4 stars

Weird, very weird. It’s such a strange collection of strange little stories. The stories are linked, sort of, strangely. There was at least one recurring character, but he appears to have different life trajectories depending upon the story. The ending of several stories left me a bit outraged. After a number of pages of interesting buildup they ended abruptly while I wanted to shout, “Wait a minute! Is that it? Not fair!” At least two of the stories had a ‘gotcha!’ ending that made me laugh. I’ve always liked Atkinson’s characters even though they are often ineffectual, unsuccessful, and depressed. There are more characters like that in these stories along with a large helping of sardonic humor.

I enjoyed listening to Paterson Joseph. I also had a kindle copy of the book which allowed me to check if I’d actually heard the weird little stories correctly. This was the book that I was reading on Halloween. It was appropriately bizarre in keeping with the spirit of the holiday. ( )

Love her work not sure about this book. ( )

Not what you’d expect if you’re familiar with this talented writer, the first of eleven stories introduces The Void, a daily worldwide massacre that kills off any (formerly) living creature out in the open air. It occurs for five minutes per day, and at five minutes later every day, and seems to be the method used to remake the world, by a god named Kitty. Other strange and occasionally connected stories feature Franklin, who works on a popular British soap opera called Green Acres, encounters a talking horse, and becomes engaged to a woman with murderous sisters; a collection of stuffed animals whose child dies; a popular movie star who falls in love with a prince; and a fairy tale that springs into real life. Some of the stories are bound together, some not, and each is either enchanted/enchanting as a standalone or as part of the larger themes, which are the fragility of life and the sinister power of fantasy. Best read twice. ( )

Some mornings, she woke and felt that she might be on the cusp of something great. Other mornings, she was simply hungover and in a stranger's bed.

Kate Atkinson has written a collection of short stories and it is a delightful romp with a decidedly fairy tale feel. A few stories feature fairy tales explicitly but most use elements sparingly; an occasional talking animal or fortune teller used in unexpected ways. While each story stands on its own, the characters often appear in other stories, or see their earlier narratives turned upside down in another. Atkinson is a talented writer who knows how to spin an intricate plot and to create complex characters. Here, the format of the short story frees her to unleash her imagination in wild and wonderful ways. This collection will please anyone who loves Kelly Link's short stories. ( )

I guess this was mildly pleasant? Not bad but not good. A bit funny and sprinkled with whimsy but probably forgettable. ( )