The reviews on this book have been all over the place. Now after reading it I understand why. This is typical Doctorow which mean, if you read it, you are taking part in Doctorow's experiments in writing and thoughts.

A couple of the stories I had read previously. Several were very directly connected to his novels. One appears to be the basis for The City of God novel. Some are absolute great. Others are alright and a couple take you into Doctorow's mind and, my term, experimental writing. There is no question that he is one of the best writers of the 20th Century and he can paint a master piece with words, sentence structure and verbal manipulation of the senses. After reading this set it down and had to think about what I had read. Some of the stories were so very good if hurt when they were over. Others painted an emotional picture of what life can bring us, give to us and how it is all so fleeting. Others are about the difficult road to finding ones self going from the high to the lows and finally to knowing who ones self is.

As frustrated as I find Doctorow to read sometimes especially in a collection of short stories I cannot help but to recommend this as one that needs to be read as it does give a truly feeling of what E.L. Doctorow is capable of as an author. His writing is always more than solid. His stories will always make you think (even give you a headache). There is always thought put into every word and every word is important. When he is fully on as an author it is a humbling experience to be able to enjoy knowing you are reading a master at work. ( )

The man who once said Ragtime was a good movie for about 10 minutes, and then it continued, also wrote these 15 stories—including Wakefield, a Bryan Cranston film—by the author of Ragtime, The March, The Book of Daniel, Welcome to Hard Times with Henry Fonda, Daniel, Timothy Hutton, and Billy Bathgate, Dustin Hoffman. His most notable adaptations were for Ragtime. This collection of little stories caught by a brilliant mind will encourage you to read the original books that were the inspiration for the movies. ( )

New Rochelle’s own master storyteller elicits the bravery and self-delusion of people seeking the American dream; the geniuses, mystics, and charlatans who offer people false hope, or an actual glimpse of greatness.

Two of the very first "grown-up" novels I read as a young man were RAGTIME and THE BOOK OF DANIEL, and the former remains one of my favorite novels. It's no exaggeration to say that E. L. Doctorow had an enormous impact on my reading (and thinking) life. A new novel from Doctorow was always an event, even if some were disappointments (especially in recent years).

I came to his short fiction later in life, and only slowly came to appreciate his work in that medium. His stories weren't entirely successful for me, and I will always believe that novels were his strong suit. But from time to time a Doctorow story would smack me in the face and demand my appreciation. Some of his best stories continue to resonate with me. That's why I was so pleased to see this new collection of 15 stories, which he personally selected and revised before his death last year.

SWEET LAND STORIES was Doctorow's best collection for me -- a dark take on the American dream, reminiscent of Ray Carver. So I was glad to see it well represented here, especially with "Jolene: A Life" (a bitter masterpiece) and the very funny "Baby Wilson."

On the whole, it's a fine collection that spans his entire career and, as we continue to mourn his loss, it's a volume that allows us to pay tribute to his prodigious imagination and skill. The stories are honest and powerful, and his sly wit is always present. It was a pleasure to read them all: the old favorites and those I encountered for the first time; those that sang to me and those that fell a bit flat.

I found myself wishing there had been an introductory essay: something that walked us through his career and provided some context to the collection. I suppose the stories will have to speak for themselves, and that's not such a bad thing. It's fine work.

(Thanks to Random House for an advance e-galley. Receiving a free copy did not affect the content of my review.) ( )