Who Would Like This Book:
If you love your fiction dark, weird, and laced with killer satire, CivilWarLand in Bad Decline is a must-read. George Saunders mixes dystopian America, absurdly crumbling theme parks, and dry humor in a way that will delight fans of Kurt Vonnegut, David Foster Wallace, or anyone who thinks "Black Mirror" could use more laughs. Saunders' stories are populated by lovable losers, surreal situations, and a deep undercurrent of empathy for the downtrodden - perfect for readers who appreciate smart, inventive short stories that swing between hilarious and heartbreaking. Anyone interested in offbeat social commentary, bizarro fiction, or just really great writing will be hooked.
Who May Not Like This Book:
This collection isn’t for everyone. If you prefer uplifting tales or feel-good endings, you might find the relentless bleakness a bit much - some stories lean hard on misery and emotional pain. The tone and style are fairly consistent across the stories, which some readers found repetitive or too "samey." Also, Saunders' brand of absurdity and dark humor can be pretty unsettling, so if you're not a fan of satirical dystopias or morally ambiguous characters, you’ll probably want to steer clear.
About:
CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders is a collection of darkly humorous and satirical short stories and a novella set in quasi-dystopian American settings. The stories explore themes of critique of American society, hedonistic consumerism, guilt, redemption, and love, all while being laced with absurdity and humor. The writing style is described as inventive, absurdly funny, irreverent, and humane, with a touch of dark humor and macabre sense.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers/content warnings include themes of violence, depression, existential despair, economic hardship, and dark humor.
From The Publisher:
THE 2017 MAN BOOKER-SHORTLISTED AUTHOR OF LINCOLN IN THE BARDO
In his first collection, George Saunders' vision of our near future is as black and funny as you can get. He takes us on a trip to the shopping malls and theme parks and enviromental hazards that lie just around the chronological corner, introducing us to a gang of misfits and losers struggling to survive in an increasingly haywire world. Bizarre but familiar, fierce but always humane, these are stunningly original stories by a master of the form.
'Saunders is a morally passionate, serious writer, who perfectly expresses the madness of the times we live in. He will be read long after these times have passed' Zadie Smith
'He makes the all-but-impossible look effortless. We're lucky to have him' Jonathan Franzen
'There is no-one better, no-one more essential' Dave Eggers
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CivilWarLand in Bad Decline?
About the Author:
George Saunders was born in 1958 in Texas and trained as a geophysical engineer. In 1988, he obtained an M.A. in creative writing from Syracuse University and went on to teach on the MFA program. His works comprise several collections of short stories, including Tenth of December (2013)a novella, The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil (2005), a children's book, a book of essays, screenplays and travel pieces for GQ magazine. In 2006 Saunders was awarded a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship and a Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2009 he received an Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He lives in Rochester, US, with his wife and children.
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