When The Nines Roll Over And Other Stories (2005) - Plot & Excerpts
Many know David Benioff as one half of the team that created the stellar Game of Thrones HBO series adaptation. And no problem, that show is awesome and it's one of the most impressive film adaptations I've seen of fiction. But I originally was a fan of Benioff's work as an author, with both of his fantastic novels (the New York crime drama The 25th Hour and the WWII coming of age adventure, City of Thieves) on my list of favorites! Now I've finally completed the author's short list of fiction work with this solid collection of short stories. Each story is a slice of life tale, not featuring large moments of action, but instead focusing on each character at a critical turning point in their lives or at a time when they have to make the hard decisions. As usual, Benioff writes with a poetic ease and injects each story with a tangible atmosphere. One of my favorites in the collection was "De Composition," about a man struggling with his sanity after hunkering down in a survival bunker during the end of the world. I love how Benioff is intentionally vague with what is possibly a major reveal, leaving it up to the reader to interpret. Others I really enjoyed included "Garden of No," about a young waitress/wannabe actress in Hollywood about to hit her big break, and the heartbreaking final story, "Merde for Luck," that follows a gay couple in New York City as they struggle with AIDS during the mid-90's. "So many die without our caring, decline to silence in rooms beyond hearing. We honor the dead and abhor the dying." As much as I love Game of Thrones, I hope that Benioff returns to write more awesome books; he's up there on my list with Scott B. Smith as being overdue for another great novel!
A couple of summers ago, my parents and I went to visit my brother in upstate NY and stayed in this rambling, half-renovated bed and breakfast across the train-tracks from the Hudson River. While I was there, the owner noticed me carrying around a book and started telling me all about City of Thieves. He insisted that I read it and, since he didn't have it on him at the time, got my parents' address and sent it on after we left. I only bring it up because it's always stuck in my head as one of the nicest things a stranger's ever done for me. I loved City of Thieves, and I love short stories, so I was excited to find this book at the library. However, as with a lot of collections of short stories, I found that some of them serve as a kind of proto-story for the novel that's coming, and they aren't necessarily satisfying on their own. Still, all of these struck me in some way, though "De Composition" and "Merde for Luck" were high spots. The overall mood is gloomy, somber, both realistic and sometimes fantastical. The writing is downright beautiful in places. I have to say, though, that I felt distant from nearly all of the protagonists. None of them really clicked for me, though again, there are sentences in this book that are undeniably perfect. The kind of sentences you want to pull off the page and wrap yourself up in. But as a whole, the book doesn't hit the spot. For one thing, I remember City of Thieves having a sense of humor that these stories miss out on. I wrote in my journal: "haunting and provocative, but they don't feel like refreshment."
What do You think about When The Nines Roll Over And Other Stories (2005)?
Okay this boy is some sort of genius wunderkind. First I read his last novel, one of my favorirte books of the year, City of Thieves. I'm still waiting for his first novel from the library so in the meantime I picked up this collection of short stories. Oh my. He captures people in such a real way. (By contrast, I had to put down Pat Conroy's latest because nothing about it felt genuine to me. And Pat Conroy is considered one of the greatest living writers.) The last story in the collection is a real doozy. When I was done I felt like my seat had fallen out of the bottom of an airplane.
—Kdevoli
This collecction of short stories has momentum. I think each story was better than the previous one. At first I didn't think much of the first story, but realize that it is a good introduction to the common thread running through all of these stories - turning points, often where a character takes stock of his/her self worth or life as a whole. The stories are deeper than what is seen on first impression. I read them too hastily, I'm afraid, and realize that I may have overlooked a lot of thoughtful substance. Excited to read "City of Thieves," also by Benioff, as recommended by my book club ladies.
—Abby
David Benioff is a gifted writer who pulls you into the worlds he creates with his words. Several of his stories in this 8 short-story collection were so impactful that I found it necessary to stop and reflect before moving ahead with the next story. Other reviewers have mentioned their favorites including "The Barefoot Girl in Clover", "Zoanthropy". I loved those too, but in particular, my favorites were "Merde for Luck" about two gay men fighting Aids and and Neversink about the masks we wear during early stages of romance.Several of the stories felt unfinished, hence "4" vs "5" stars. Nevertheless, if you love good writing, pick this up.
—Margaret
