Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Profile Books (2009), Paperback, 208 pages
Description
Ox-Tales is a set of four compelling and collectible books, each themed on one of the elements. 'Fire' features stories by Mark Haddon, Geoff Dyer, Victoria Hislop, Sebastian Faulks, John le Carré, Xiaoulu Guo, William Sutcliffe, Ali Smith, Lionel Shriver and Jeanette Winterson, and a poem by Vikram Seth.The idea behind Ox-Tales is to raise money for Oxfam and along the way to highlight the charity's work in project areas: agriculture in Earth, water projects in Water, conflict aid in Fire, and climate change in Air.The four books will play a central role in the first ever Oxfam Bookfest, a new annual event launching in July 2009. Created in partnership with Hay Festival, the program includes more than 300 events across the UK.
User reviews
LibraryThing member tigerbuns
I didn't like this part of the Ox-tales series as much as the others I've read. There were a couple of really good stories in there, notably "Into the world" by Xiaolu Go, "Last" by Ali Smith (I really liked that one) and "Dog Days" by Jeanette Winterson. The piece by John le Carré about "The King
What bugged me about this collection was that there were three excerpts from novels (in progress or just not published) which couldn't really pass as stand-alones. There were novel excerpts in the other Ox-tales volumes, but they still felt as if you were getting a story, albeit a very open-ended one - but then many short stories are open-ended. With this volume, it just felt like a preview, the kind you get at the end of novels to get you interested in the author's *next* novel. I was a bit disappointed by that. The stories didn't seem to be tied together very well by the "Fire" motto either (or maybe I just missed it because I was grumbling about the excerpt thing).
I don't regret reading the collection, but I wasn't as satisfied as with the other volumes.
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who never spoke" was also well worth reading.What bugged me about this collection was that there were three excerpts from novels (in progress or just not published) which couldn't really pass as stand-alones. There were novel excerpts in the other Ox-tales volumes, but they still felt as if you were getting a story, albeit a very open-ended one - but then many short stories are open-ended. With this volume, it just felt like a preview, the kind you get at the end of novels to get you interested in the author's *next* novel. I was a bit disappointed by that. The stories didn't seem to be tied together very well by the "Fire" motto either (or maybe I just missed it because I was grumbling about the excerpt thing).
I don't regret reading the collection, but I wasn't as satisfied as with the other volumes.
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LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
**** (4) stars to Vikram Seth and Mark Haddon. I liked the poem Fire by Vikram Seth so much I am learning it by heart and I loved the long short story by Mark Haddon - don't read about it - just read it with no preconceptions.
I had to look up the prawn jumbalaya in Vikram seth's poem and I shall
The others get a variety between ** (2) and *** (3).
I had to look up the prawn jumbalaya in Vikram seth's poem and I shall
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have it for tea tomorrow. My only grumble is that once again Mark Haddon's biography makes no mention of his delightful 'Agent Z' books.The others get a variety between ** (2) and *** (3).
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LibraryThing member jkdavies
Loads of good stories in here - ones I particularly enjoyed are:
- Mark Haddon's The Island, a haunting Greek myth inspired tale of abandonment; I was surprised as I hadn't enjoyed The Curious Incident... much. This story was immersive, despite the distance from daily life.
- John Le Carré's [bThe
- Lionel Shriver's Long Time, No See; an exploration of charisma and self perception when two old college friends meet up years later.
- Mark Haddon's The Island, a haunting Greek myth inspired tale of abandonment; I was surprised as I hadn't enjoyed The Curious Incident... much. This story was immersive, despite the distance from daily life.
- John Le Carré's [bThe
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King who never spoke, a deceptively simple parable about words and peace.- Lionel Shriver's Long Time, No See; an exploration of charisma and self perception when two old college friends meet up years later.
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LibraryThing member PDCRead
Another good set of short stories for the Oxfam collection. The Fire set are highlighting the work that they do in conflict zones.
The John le Carré story is very good, as i would expect by him, and Aflame in Athens by Victoria Hislop has a good plot for such a short story. Sandcastles: A
The John le Carré story is very good, as i would expect by him, and Aflame in Athens by Victoria Hislop has a good plot for such a short story. Sandcastles: A
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Negotiation by William Sutcliffe is chilling. I like the Sebastian Faulks story too; I must read more by him. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
**** (4) stars to Vikram Seth and Mark Haddon. I liked the poem Fire by Vikram Seth so much I am learning it by heart and I loved the long short story by Mark Haddon - don't read about it - just read it with no preconceptions.
I had to look up the prawn jumbalaya in Vikram seth's poem and I shall
The others get a variety between ** (2) and *** (3).
I had to look up the prawn jumbalaya in Vikram seth's poem and I shall
Show More
have it for tea tomorrow. My only grumble is that once again Mark Haddon's biography makes no mention of his delightful 'Agent Z' books.The others get a variety between ** (2) and *** (3).
Show Less
LibraryThing member secondhandrose
I really enjoy these Oxfam collections of short stories, book extracts and poetry. Particularly enjoyed the Lionel Shriver piece.
Language
Physical description
208 p.; 6.86 inches
ISBN
1846682592 / 9781846682599
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