Another collection of short stories exploring human emotion, this time set across America. Having previously published ‘The Old Men Who Row Boats and Other Stories’, a collection of short stories set across Spain and Portugal, David Joseph has created a new collection of 19 tales focused this time across America. ‘I Didn’t Know What to Say, So I Just Said Thanks’ is an insightful collection that explores human relationships as the characters young and old navigate dreams, expectations and disappointments. ‘Fishing’ gets the reader off to a powerful and impactful start, with a relatable naivety and contrariness of youth in the young narrator that is suddenly flipped and tainted with loss and regret. For me, this short story was the one that stood out the most. Each story offers a different perspective and scenario to reflect upon, from a Mexican American working as part of the Border Patrol to a yearning for youthful excitement in later life. Each story takes place in a world that feels complete, put together succinctly but feeling no less than whole in the snapshot we are shown. This is another keenly observed and transportive collection of stories that will inspire thought in every reader.
I Didn’t Know What to Say, so I Just Said Thanks Synopsis
In this collection of stories, David Joseph examines human relationships through the manner in which the characters learn to cope with expectations, dreams, and disappointment. He depicts interactions with subtlety, as characters seek redemption and relief in an effort to find gratitude. Similar to his first book of fiction, The Old Men Who Row Boats and Other Stories, David Joseph displays an ability to draw insights from small moments. The result is a powerful new collection of short fiction. I Didn’t Know What To Say, So I Just Said Thanks captures the awkward silences and empty spaces where time is suspended, and we are forced to consider the complexities of what lies ahead.
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