📖 Overview
The Bus Driver Who Wanted to Be God & Other Stories is a collection of flash fiction and short stories by Israeli author Etgar Keret. The book contains 30 brief tales, most only a few pages long, that take place in contemporary Israel and feature ordinary people in situations that turn surreal or unexpected.
The stories range from a bus driver's strict adherence to his schedule, to a talking fish who grants wishes, to a factory that produces magic tricks. Characters include frustrated lovers, soldiers, children, and others going about their daily lives when reality shifts or breaks down in subtle or dramatic ways.
The pieces move between realism, absurdism, and dark comedy - often blending elements of all three within a single narrative. Many stories begin with mundane scenarios that transform into something else entirely by their conclusion.
The collection explores themes of control versus chaos, the search for meaning in modern life, and how people cope with circumstances beyond their understanding. Through his distinctive minimalist style, Keret examines human nature and relationships while blurring the line between the ordinary and extraordinary.
👀 Reviews
Readers describe these short stories as surreal, darkly humorous glimpses into modern Israeli life. The title story and "Kneller's Happy Campers" receive frequent mentions as standout pieces.
Readers appreciate:
- Compact, punchy writing style
- Blend of humor and melancholy
- Imaginative premises
- Cultural insights into Israeli society
Common criticisms:
- Stories can feel too abrupt or unfinished
- Some metaphors come across as heavy-handed
- Uneven quality across the collection
Rating averages:
Goodreads: 4.0/5 (6,800+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (90+ ratings)
Notable reader comments:
"Each story hits like a shot of espresso" - Goodreads reviewer
"Some stories land perfectly while others feel like incomplete thoughts" - Amazon reviewer
"The absurdist elements work better in some stories than others" - LibraryThing review
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Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman These ultra-short stories present different versions of the afterlife, from a place where everyone exists as multiple versions of themselves to one where gods discover they are gods of smaller gods.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Through connected vignettes, this book presents snapshots of life in a Latino neighborhood through stories of neighbors, family, and coming-of-age experiences.
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace This collection mixes experimental formats with conventional narratives to explore human relationships and modern masculinity through interconnected stories and mock interviews.
The World to Come by Jim Shepard These stories span different times and places while focusing on characters facing impossible situations, from a woman climbing a mountain in 1920s Russia to a boy who builds a flying machine in 19th century Australia.
🤔 Interesting facts
🚌 Etgar Keret wrote many of these stories while serving in the Israeli army, using writing as a way to process his experiences and cope with military life.
✍️ The collection was translated from Hebrew by multiple translators, including the author's wife Shira Geffen, creating subtle variations in tone across different stories.
🎬 "Kneller's Happy Campers," one of the stories in this collection, was adapted into the cult film "Wristcutters: A Love Story" (2006) starring Patrick Fugit and Shannyn Sossamon.
🏆 The book's unique blend of magical realism and dark humor established Keret as one of Israel's most internationally acclaimed contemporary writers, leading to his work being translated into over 45 languages.
📚 The title story, about a punctual bus driver who must choose between kindness and rules, was inspired by Keret's real-life observations of Jerusalem bus drivers and their interactions with passengers.