The first person and other stories / Ali Smith

Originally published: London : Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Books Ltd., 2008.

True short story -- The child -- Present -- The third person -- Fidelio and Bess -- The history of history -- No exit -- The second person -- I know something you don't know -- Writ -- Astute fiery luxurious -- The first person.

In these energetic, exhilarating stories, Ali Smith portrays a world of everyday dislocation, where people nevertheless find connection, mystery, and love. In Astute Fiery Luxurious, a misdelivered package throws the life of a couple into disarray. A boy's unexplained illness in I Know Something You Don't Know drives his mother to seek guidance from homeopathic healers, with inconclusive results. In The Child, an unnervingly mature young boy voices offensive humor that genteel society would rather not acknowledge. And a confident older woman meets her awkward fourteen-year-old self in Writ but can't figure out how to guide her or even whether she should. As Smith explores the subtle links between what we know and what we feel, she creates an exuberant, masterly collection that is packed full of ideas, humor, nuance, and compassion. Ali Smith and the short story are made for each other.