Something Like Happy
A collection of short stories about hope and resilience
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:3rd Apr '14
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This collection of short stories explores the lives of individuals searching for hope amidst despair, as seen in Something Like Happy by John Burnside.
In Something Like Happy, John Burnside invites readers into the complex lives of individuals grappling with the weight of their circumstances. These stories delve into the experiences of men and women caught in the web of marriage, struggling with addiction, and facing the harsh realities of disappointment. Each character is portrayed with depth, showcasing their loneliness, infidelity, and the haunting specter of mortality as they navigate empty roads at night, seeking solace in a world that feels increasingly distant.
The notion of 'home' becomes elusive for these characters, who find it difficult to grasp the concept of happiness or freedom. Burnside's narrative reveals how these individuals cling to a dream-like vision of life, reminiscent of tales from childhood. As one character reflects, the essence of a person may reside in their work and the hidden depths of their inner world, often unknown to others. Through these poignant stories, the author highlights a fragile yet persistent belief in hope and beauty, even amidst despair.
Something Like Happy is a collection that transcends ordinary storytelling, offering readers a glimpse into the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. Each story serves as a testament to the possibility of finding light in darkness, making this work both transformative and emotionally resonant. Burnside's masterful prose captures the essence of these journeys, reminding us of the hidden gifts within everyday lives.
Each story has a splash of intense colour at the heart… These are Scottish versions of the stories of Raymond Carver… Burnside writes tough, home-grown prose that inhabits the story form with perfect fit. -- Brian Morton * Independent *
A haunting and beautiful collection that deserves to be read slowly and savoured but which you won’t be able to put down. -- Caroline Jowett * Daily Express *
Masterly… A spiritual, haunting book. -- Francesca Angelini * Sunday Times *
Burnside’s prose glitters. -- Leyla Sanai * Independent on Sunday *
Burnside brings a poet’s linguistic precision and emotional acuity… The writer’s deep, bloody engagement with the stuff of life can't fail to leave the reader enlivened, and keen to feel more. -- Hannah McGill * Scotland on Sunday *
Each [story] is a perfectly pitched, perfectly weighted gem. -- Paul Dunn * Times *
Burnside’s sentences flow with a music and logic that is inevitable yet compelling and display the keenest ear for life. -- Ben Felsenburg * Metro *
There is much familiar Burnside landscape here – the harsh beauty of dune-grass and headland, the casual and deadly knifing in the pub, the domestic violence… Magical. -- Margaret Drabble * Spectator *
For those unacquainted with his sublimely terrifying oeuvre, this is the place to start… Violence simmers under the surface of every story, breaking out in the kind of stark detail that becomes unforgettable. -- Stuart Kelly * Guardian *
John Burnside’s career is among the more remarkable in contemporary literature… Even his most routine stories have beauty and intelligence: he is never less than something like brilliant. -- Robert Hanks * Telegraph *
- Winner of Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Award 2013 (UK)
- Winner of The Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2014 (UK)
ISBN: 9780099575597
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 16mm
Weight: 181g
256 pages