Some Trick: Thirteen Stories

Some Trick: Thirteen Stories showcases Helen DeWitt's distinctive approach to fiction through thirteen independent narratives. The collection, published in 2018, examines the intersection of art, commerce, and intellectual pursuit. The stories feature characters including artists, writers, mathematicians, and entrepreneurs who navigate complex professional and creative challenges. Each narrative presents individuals attempting to maintain their vision and integrity while confronting market forces, institutional pressures, and interpersonal dynamics. DeWitt fills these stories with technical elements from fields like statistics, linguistics, and classical music, integrating specialized knowledge into the narrative fabric. The writing style shifts between stories, employing different structural approaches and narrative techniques. The collection explores themes of genius and mediocrity, the tensions between creative ambition and practical constraints, and the often-frustrating relationship between innovation and convention in contemporary culture.

Readers describe the stories as intellectually challenging, with complex narratives about mathematics, linguistics, and the arts. The collection maintains a 3.8/5 rating on Goodreads and 4.2/5 on Amazon across 200+ total reviews. Readers appreciate: - DeWitt's precise, technical writing style - The fresh take on artistic and academic pursuits - The dry humor throughout - The unique narrative structures Common criticisms: - Stories can be difficult to follow - Heavy use of specialized terminology - Characters can feel distant or cold - Some plots feel unresolved Several reviewers note the stories require multiple readings to grasp fully. One Goodreads reviewer writes: "Like solving a math problem - frustrating until it clicks, then deeply satisfying." Others mention feeling excluded from parts of the text due to unfamiliarity with certain academic concepts. Amazon reviewers frequently note the book is "not for casual reading" but rewards careful attention.

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🔸 DeWitt wrote her acclaimed first novel "The Last Samurai" while living in a London council flat, supporting herself and her son through various odd jobs including working as a waitress and bicycle courier. 🔸 The author is proficient in multiple languages including Ancient Greek, Latin, French, German, and Italian, which directly influences the multilingual elements in her storytelling. 🔸 Prior to becoming a writer, DeWitt studied classics and literature at Oxford University and pursued a doctorate in Classical Languages, giving her work its characteristic intellectual depth. 🔸 The collection took over a decade to complete, with some stories being written as early as 2003, reflecting DeWitt's meticulous approach to crafting narratives. 🔸 The book's mathematical themes draw from DeWitt's personal fascination with numbers and logic systems, which she developed during her childhood when her father, a professor, taught her advanced mathematics.