--- product_id: 1279765 title: "Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club" price: "19832CFA" currency: XOF in_stock: true reviews_count: 7 url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1279765-everything-begins-and-ends-at-the-kentucky-club store_origin: SN region: Senegal --- # Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club **Price:** 19832CFA **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club - **How much does it cost?** 19832CFA with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1279765-everything-begins-and-ends-at-the-kentucky-club) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club: 9781935955320: Saenz, Benjamin Alire: Books Review: Powerful, moving stories you'll be sad to see end... - This was an absolutely fantastic (if too short) story collection which captivated me from the very first sentence, moved me, and made me want more from every story. I can easily see why this collection received both the 2013 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction as well as the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction (although not every story is gay-themed). The Kentucky Club in Juárez, Mexico, just over the U.S. border, is a touchstone in every story. Much like the characters in Saenz's stories, the Kentucky Club caters to both young and old, straight and gay, rich and poor, Mexican and American, and serves as everything from a special rendezvous spot to a pickup joint to a place of distant and pleasant memory. Overall, the stories in this collection aren't quite happy ones, but they pack a powerful punch, and they're stuck in my head now that I'm finished with them. From the opening story, He Has Gone to Be with the Women, which chronicles the highs and lows of love, to the closing story, The Hurting Game, in which the main character struggles between falling in love and protecting himself from getting hurt, I was mesmerized by Saenz's use of language, the beauty of his narrative, and the memorable characters. Any one of these stories could be a novel on its own, because I so wanted to know what happened to the characters after the stories ended. With only seven stories, it's difficult to pick favorites. There were stories that moved me a little more than others, but at the end of each, I wondered whether Saenz could top himself. And he often did. If you're a fan of short stories or just magnificent, emotionally rich writing, definitely pick up Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club. You'll be glad you did, but like me, you'll probably be sad when you're done. Review: A must read - Amazing. This was a book of seven short stories. It was such an entertaining read that I probably could have read the whole book in a day or two. But each story was so powerful, after each one I just put the book down and thought about it for a while. I read the book over seven days, a story each night. This book hasn't received many rave reviews, so after each amazing chapter, I found myself contemplating why that was. I decided that perhaps the book was too melodramatic or not subtle enough for some, and indeed, after I finished, I sought out some reviews and that does appear to be the complaint. What can I say? I'm not a big fan of subtle. Life isn't subtle. Just before Kentucky Club, I read the critics' short-story favorite "Tenth of December" by George Saunders. I gave it four stars. It had some great stories, but a couple of clunkers. "Kentucky Club" had seven great stories, and I dare say all seven hit me in the gut more than "Tenth." Great stuff. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #570,541 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #126 in LGBTQ+ Coming of Age Fiction (Books) #551 in Hispanic American Literature & Fiction #3,866 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (225) | | Dimensions | 6 x 1 x 9 inches | | Edition | Standard Edition | | ISBN-10 | 1935955322 | | ISBN-13 | 978-1935955320 | | Item Weight | 12.5 ounces | | Language | English | | Print length | 180 pages | | Publication date | October 30, 2012 | | Publisher | Cinco Puntos Press | ## Images ![Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71cRauGBskL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Powerful, moving stories you'll be sad to see end... *by L***R on June 6, 2013* This was an absolutely fantastic (if too short) story collection which captivated me from the very first sentence, moved me, and made me want more from every story. I can easily see why this collection received both the 2013 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction as well as the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction (although not every story is gay-themed). The Kentucky Club in Juárez, Mexico, just over the U.S. border, is a touchstone in every story. Much like the characters in Saenz's stories, the Kentucky Club caters to both young and old, straight and gay, rich and poor, Mexican and American, and serves as everything from a special rendezvous spot to a pickup joint to a place of distant and pleasant memory. Overall, the stories in this collection aren't quite happy ones, but they pack a powerful punch, and they're stuck in my head now that I'm finished with them. From the opening story, He Has Gone to Be with the Women, which chronicles the highs and lows of love, to the closing story, The Hurting Game, in which the main character struggles between falling in love and protecting himself from getting hurt, I was mesmerized by Saenz's use of language, the beauty of his narrative, and the memorable characters. Any one of these stories could be a novel on its own, because I so wanted to know what happened to the characters after the stories ended. With only seven stories, it's difficult to pick favorites. There were stories that moved me a little more than others, but at the end of each, I wondered whether Saenz could top himself. And he often did. If you're a fan of short stories or just magnificent, emotionally rich writing, definitely pick up Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club. You'll be glad you did, but like me, you'll probably be sad when you're done. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A must read *by J***R on February 7, 2013* Amazing. This was a book of seven short stories. It was such an entertaining read that I probably could have read the whole book in a day or two. But each story was so powerful, after each one I just put the book down and thought about it for a while. I read the book over seven days, a story each night. This book hasn't received many rave reviews, so after each amazing chapter, I found myself contemplating why that was. I decided that perhaps the book was too melodramatic or not subtle enough for some, and indeed, after I finished, I sought out some reviews and that does appear to be the complaint. What can I say? I'm not a big fan of subtle. Life isn't subtle. Just before Kentucky Club, I read the critics' short-story favorite "Tenth of December" by George Saunders. I gave it four stars. It had some great stories, but a couple of clunkers. "Kentucky Club" had seven great stories, and I dare say all seven hit me in the gut more than "Tenth." Great stuff. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not what I expected. *by O***M on May 26, 2013* I heard about this book on NPR and thought I'd buy it. I did get some insight into what it is like to live on the border. I enjoyed getting to see how those of Mexican descent view themselves and other Mexicans. The author states many times how much he loves words, and it shows. Very fine writer.As I stated, the book wasn't what I expected, but sometimes that is OK. Each short story is good, but I think the next time I read this, I'll only read one of the stories. I think the book, like my intake of liquor, is more enjoyable a little at a time. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1279765-everything-begins-and-ends-at-the-kentucky-club](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1279765-everything-begins-and-ends-at-the-kentucky-club) --- *Product available on Desertcart Senegal* *Store origin: SN* *Last updated: 2026-05-31*