The Bigness of the World: Stories Paperback – February 16, 2016

Ms. Ostlund has a sharp and sympathetic eye that makes each of her characters and their situations instantly engaging, and in many cases familiar, as if you or someone you know well has served as her inspiration. I also can't remember the last time I laughed out loud so often while reading a story collection, or any book. Even as she's writing a sobering story about how a romantic relationship fails or how a person loses his or her illusions about the world and his or her place in it, Ostlund is able to infuse the narrative with humor that saves her characters from complete despair or despondency. I can't recommend this debut collection strongly enough; it's truly a remarkable and unique book.

I love the short story that contributed its title to the book title

i'm somewhat disappointed. not in the writing itself, that is exemplary; the level of introspection of the characters & their interactions with each other and the world around them are masterful. & not in the subject matter, as i had no qualms with reading about Minnesota (i've never been, save through this work) or teachers (specifically english teachers) or older lesbian couples in deteriorating relationships. my disappointment lies in the fact that these characters occupy the same space in every story, the same POV, the same irritations & foibles. that despite the title of the collection, i felt in no way that i'd traveled anywhere further than the first couple of stories, that i'd been moved to a different space or been reading about a variety of characters. similar scenes, similar feelings, similar outlooks permeated every story to the point where i felt i'd reread the exact same story by the end of each, which has a feeling of being in a maze and running hopefully down a corridor for an exit, only to come to a dead end. the foreign characters could've been lumped into the same collective whole, with the same collectively strange mysteriousness about them, that they became nothing more than ornamental macguffins to the overall thrust of the stories, which served to go against the title and premise of the work.alone, the stories are without peer. but as a collection, i cannot fully recommend it. this is an award winning collection, so i expected much more variety in stories while retaining an overall cohesiveness. but this was cohesive to the point of nigh repetition. & while it's pretty much a given that a writer will dutifully "write what they know" when it's this obvious that these stories reflect the author's own experiences, it becomes less like a work of art & more like a regurgitation of her own daily life & experiences. also, & this observation doesn't just limit itself to this author, i cannot understand why academics choose to write mainly about aspects of academia. wouldn't a writer want to write as broad a message as possible, with characters from different walks of life? that you're a writer who is enamored of the english language is obvious in the fluidity and choosing of your words. but to actually create characters that are also writers who delight in the english language? why would an english teacher write about being an english teacher story after story? might as well had written a memoir. not that it isn't interesting for a story or two. but if i wanted to read a novel, i'd have gotten one. that said, while i'm proud to have this book in my library, this gets 3 stars, with a hope that i can read more of ms. ostlund's work as it progresses in the future.

Ostlund is a masterful writer and these stories and their characters are unforgettable. Her grasp of humanity and the infinite ways people exist and react to one another is nothing short of brilliant. If you appreciate superior writing do not miss this wonderful collection.

There are few short story collections that have impressed and moved me as much as Lori Ostlund's did. "The Bigness of the World" is a gem. Each and every story in this collection is a fully realized, stunning piece on its own, and together they create a masterful and rich mosaic. I have been recommending this book to everyone.

Beautiful stories. Ostlund lures you in with humor, but keeps you reading with her big heart. The book won the Flannery O'Connor Award and it's easy to see why.

The stories are moving even though many of them are about sad and lonely people. The writing is very good.

but, I decided to give this award winner a try. I think my main objection to short stories is that not much can happen in a 20 page story. I found these stories to be far to repetitive. Most are two femail educators in some exotic location dealing with various situations. Too much of the same thing for me.

I love this book.

Fab quality