Tenth of December

Every time I read something by George Saunders, I’m in awe of what, for me, is his trifecta of powers: hilarious writing, fantastically creative situations, and deep compassion for his characters and their choices. This book is no exception, and I was particularly struck by The Semplica Girl Diaries, which shows what lengths a suburban dad goes to—it involves unusual, morally questionable human lawn ornaments—in order to support his daughters’ happiness.

While reading these stories, I found my sympathies shifting and unfolding from character to character, each a person whose beating heart lies just below the surface of their… show more.

One of my top short story writers, the word ‘unique’ was invented for Saunders. Selling in the literary category, he has a vernacular style all his own. His stories comment on American society and the horrors of capitalism but never shove a message down your throat. Saunders is simply immersed in these concerns and it comes out naturally in his writing. His stories contain sci-fi and futuristic elements, and use these, as well as a deadpan surrealism, to comment on the now. The story I will never forget from this collection is "The Semplica Girl Diaries", in which ‘Semplica Girls’,… show more.

George Saunders balances humor and horror in a way very few can, in a word: perfectly. Every single one of the stories in this collection makes me smile and laugh and then with a turn, gasp and stop reading because I need to take in what is actually happening.

Saunders is a master at creating characters that are innocent and good-hearted, yet must deal with their life choices in this (at times) cruel world. His voice is unmistakable, both endearing and dark.

I belong to writers’ group headed by George Saunders, and I’m pleased to report he is just as intelligent, funny, and kind-hearted off the page as on. Although he wrote an acclaimed novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, George is still known best for his long career as a writer of funny and empathic short fiction. Any collection of his stories might be recommended, but my favorite is Tenth of December. The title story, in my view, is a masterful achievement, evidence of America’s best writer working at the top of his game.

Tenth of December is a collection of brilliant, deeply touching, and often hilarious short stories by the greatest of modern American short story writers, George Saunders. He’s part Mark Twain, part Kurt Vonnegut, with an incredible knack for creating characters so real and pathetic that you will swear you have met them…maybe at Walmart. Don’t miss it.