Child of a Metal God

I was so-so on "Lincoln's Dreams," though I adored the ending so much that I made Cass read it, and after he read it, he came up to me and made an unhappy noise that's since become relationship-speak for "I've just read or seen or experienced something that really impressed and moved me, but that's still left me feeling authentically miserable and in need of comfort." It's a little surprising how often this comes up. We're not dumb-romantic-comedy-watchin' people, though, so I guess we gravitate to that kind of film.

"To Say Nothing" did almost nothing for me, though I suspect in part that it's because I hadn't read "Three Men In A Boat" beforehand. But "Firewatch" contains "All My Darling Daughters," which is one of the most stunning and horrifying short stories I've ever read, and sticks with me to this day. Still, I think "Impossible Things" contains some of her best short work, including "Last Of The Winnebagos."

So… I dunno. I feel like you haven't experienced some of her best stuff. But at the same time, I can certainly understand people not being into her no matter what of hers they've read, for all sorts of reasons related to the particular kind of heavy-hearted emotions and screwball-comedy dialogue she specializes in.