Selected Stories

Selected Stories compiles 23 works of short fiction from Andre Dubus's career, showcasing his chronicles of life in Massachusetts mill towns and beyond. The collection spans multiple decades of Dubus's work, presenting stories previously published in his collections Separate Flights, Adultery, Finding a Girl in America, and The Times Are Never So Bad. The narratives focus on moments of moral crisis, family relationships, and the complexities of marriage and desire. Dubus writes about soldiers, priests, bartenders, athletes, and teachers as they navigate faith, violence, love, and loss in their daily lives. The stories range in length from brief character studies to longer, more complex tales that follow characters through transformative experiences. Many take place in working-class New England settings, though some venture to other locales including Louisiana and Colorado. These stories explore the tension between physical and spiritual existence, examining how ordinary people cope with extraordinary circumstances and ethical dilemmas. Dubus's work centers on themes of Catholic faith, masculinity, moral responsibility, and the bonds between parents and children.

Readers commend Dubus's ability to portray complex emotional landscapes and write with precision about working-class New England life. Many note his focus on moral choices and human frailty, with several comparing his style to Raymond Carver. Readers appreciate: - Raw, honest depictions of relationships and family dynamics - Character depth and psychological insight - Clear, straightforward prose - Authenticity in portraying military veterans and Catholics Common criticisms: - Stories can be slow-moving - Heavy focus on infidelity and marriage troubles becomes repetitive - Some find the male perspectives limiting - Violence in certain stories feels gratuitous Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (90+ reviews) Notable reader comment: "Dubus writes about ordinary people facing moral crises with such precision and humanity that you feel you know these characters intimately." - Goodreads reviewer "His stories require patience but reward close reading." - Amazon reviewer

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver Carver's stark minimalism illuminates the quiet struggles of working-class characters facing love, loss, and moments of connection.

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien These interconnected stories blend truth and memory while examining the psychological weight soldiers carry during and after war.

Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx The collection depicts raw, unvarnished portraits of rural life and the hard choices made by characters living on society's margins.

Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson Johnson's linked stories follow a drug-addicted narrator through moments of darkness and redemption in the American heartland.

Cathedral by Raymond Carver The stories explore broken marriages, alcoholism, and unexpected moments of grace in the lives of blue-collar Americans.

🔖 Andre Dubus wrote most of his celebrated works after losing both legs in a 1986 roadside accident when he stopped to help stranded motorists 🔖 The collection includes "Killings," which was adapted into the Academy Award-nominated film "In the Bedroom" (2001) starring Sissy Spacek 🔖 Dubus was deeply influenced by Ernest Hemingway's sparse style and often focused on working-class Catholic characters in Massachusetts mill towns 🔖 Before becoming a writer, Dubus served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps and later taught creative writing at Bradford College 🔖 The author's son, Andre Dubus III, also became a successful writer and wrote the bestselling memoir "Townie" about their complex father-son relationship