The View from the Seventh Layer: Stories (Vintage Contemporaries) Kindle Edition

This is a good book, and it made me think a lot; however, I was thoroughly confused by the meaning of many of the stories. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to get out of them, but it was interesting reading anyways. My favorite story was the parakeet story, because it made me think about what it is that I do that makes me me.I don't think this book is for everyone, and I'm not entirely sure it was even my type of book. But to be fair, it's an interesting and weird read. Some fo the weird may be more in or out of your ball park than mine.

The View from the Seventh Layer: StoriesAuthor: Kevin Brockmeier288 pagesVintage (March 4, 2008)I first came across Brockmeier when I read "The Brief History of the Dead." I loved the idea in that book that when you die, you go to a place just like the one we currently occupy and you continue to live out your life until all who have memories of you are gone."The View from the Seventh Layer: Stories" contains stories of exquisite imagination. There's a man who is mute in a world where everyone sings. He can't, so he raises parakeets aand gives them away in little cages on special occassions. You know parakeets mimic most everything they hear. What happens when the mute man dies is magical.There's a story of a girl who sells maps and such to the tourists. Some say her house is built from wood from an old race track. If you put your ear to the walls you "...could hear hundreds of cars speeding by..." In the village "...were lamps on the streets of the island that were still filled with the breath of the glassblowers."There's a story where all sound ceases for five seconds. The silence repeated again for 10 seconds the next time. "Each time one of the silences came to an end we felt as though we had passed through along transparent passageway, a tunnel of sorts, one that made the world into which we had emerged appear brighter and cleaner than it had before, less troubled, more humane."Once when I visited the John Day fossil beds, I was alone. It was so quiet, just the wind and a bird crying to another bird. It was wonderful. Nothing like the city with the constant sound of rubber on pavement coming from I-84, the garbage trucks on Monday banging the cans, dumping the recycled bottles. I hear voices over the fence in the backyard at night reminding me of my camping days. It's never quiet and most of the time we are not even aware of the noise or the ocean waves at the beach or the birds in the morning.I'm not finished with "The View from the Seventh Layer: Stories," but I had to let you know about my find. I like the way I feel when I read Brockmeier's words and love his detail. I have another waiting in the wings after this one. His new book to be released in February, 2011: "The Illumination: A Novel"

“The View from the Seventh Layer” is a thoroughly satisfying read. The stories in this collection defy easy categorization, although I suppose it could be classified as ‘magical realism’ if I had to pick a genre, or maybe ‘western zen meditation’ or ‘children’s stories for adults’. Most of the stories made me contemplate, several made me smile, a few reached out and touched my crusty ‘ol heart. “The View from the Seventh Layer” is almost as sharp and philosophical as it is playful, and I can’t wait to read it again.

Loved this book, could relate to each short story. Taking quite a turn when you got to choose your path halfway in. Very different

A great collection of short stories, very thought provoking. The "choose your own adventure" style story was a great "adult" version of the books I enjoyed as a child. I was also taken by the story with the ghost of Amy Elizabeth who haunts a priest and inspires him to produce inspriring sermons until he rejects her. There is even a tale about a Tribble for Star Trek fans. The tales were clever and imaginative and I enjoyed the whole book.

I'm in love with Kevin Brockmeier's work. I first read the Brief History of the Dead and was so enthralled by his rich imagination, I picked up the View from the Seventh Layer. I read the stories to my son, who at the time was playing semi-violent games on line. My son loved the stories, too. We didn't know which way Brockmeier was going with the story line and were completely amazed and shocked by his fantastic characters and images. Loved this one, too!

One of my favorite collections of short stories--I've purchased multiple copies and given them to everyone I know who needs a little SciFi, introspection, or moments of "wow"!

This collection of short stories are fabulous! I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure story, and "Little Slips of White Paper". I can't wait for Kevin's next book!