Reasons to Live
Amy Hempel
1985
Around 130 pages
Hey, I'm always looking for more reasons to live, so I was quite happy to sit down with this short story collection.
She really means it when she says short stories. We get a few pages for each vignette, which feature characters experiencing small triumphs in life. The stories pack a lot of punch considering their brevity, and Hempel is a compelling and unique writer.
My favorite was probably "The Man in Bogota," where we learn a kidnapped man in Colombia forms the healthiest habits of his life in captivity. I found Hempel to be a breath of fresh air. It's not easy balancing optimism with realism, and Hempel does that here in tiny, comedic moments.
So a quick and digestible read that makes for a good chaser after some of our heavier content.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
Hempel currently teaches in the MFA Program at the Michener Center for Writers at University of Texas at Austin.
UP NEXT: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
