Things that Fall from the Sky

I was drawn to this collection by "The Ceiling", a story in which a relationship crumbles as an invisible ceiling slowly descends onto a town and squishes everyone. Very Twilight Zone... or Simpsons movie... or Under the Dome. But a weighty story nonetheless.A few other stories in this collection are just as phenomenal. The title story, "Things That Fall from the Sky," is about memories, our perceptions, and unexpected friendships. "Space" is a story about loss and illuminating what is lost through stories.Many of these stories are stories about stories. Some of the more gimmicky ones, like "The Passenger" (a story in which people life their entire lives on an airplane -- where is it going, where has it been? -- as an allegory for life on this planet), wear thin, but they're all interesting to think about, if a bit heavy on details at times.This is a solid collection, and the stories within are incredibly varied. Included is everything from a modern take on Rumpelstiltskin, to a strange story with a twist right out of "The Village" (but better), and all sorts of literary fiction in between.

I always check Amazon for my textbooks before deciding who to purchase them through. Amazon offered this book at half of the competitors price and as an ebook. I opted for the ebook which was so convenient as it meant less weight to pack around all quarter. The book itself explores may philosophical concepts, so if you're looking to read short stories that encourage in depth thought processing and perception analysis then you'd probably enjoy this book.

Though not as mesmerizing as "The View From the Seventh Layer," this earlier work contains both more mainstream stories and some that hint at the real genius Brockmeier has become. With many authors, I have a hard time suspending my disbelief, but these stories are so beautifully written I'm completely absorbed from the opening lines straight on through to the last line; I find myself in a mild panic when I realize I'm approaching the last page of any of his stories.

My favorite collection of short stories. I don't usually enjoy short stories but I loved several other Kevin Brockmeier books so I gave this one a shot. Amazing! A Day in the Life of Half of Runtpelstiltskin is a must read. Haunting, funny, lovely and heartbreaking, it is a work of art. A masterpiece that I read over and over again.

Great product

I bought this book after reading good reviews and reading another Brockmeier book, The Truth about Celia. It is a collection of off-beat stories but for me, most of them are only fair. Many seem pointless. I enjoyed The Truth about Celia much more.

Adored this book.

Kevin has written some of the best stories of magical realism here in Things That Fall From the Sky. My two favorites within, "The Ceiling" and "Apples" are extraordinary tales of young love, desperation, and hope. Kevin Brockmeier knows what he is doing when he sits at the keyboard, crafting tales that can make a man feel.