Vintage Ford

by Richard Ford

Book Overview

Vintage Readers are a perfect introduction to some of the great modern writers presented in attractive, accessible paperback editions. "One of the country's best writers. . . . No one looks harder at... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400033926
• ISBN13: 9781400033928
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Tempting even though I own it all

Richard Ford is my favorite writer of fiction today. Whatever else you can say about his books and stories, he tries to be honest about life, observant, gentle, respectful, and is able to show the hard realities of life, and doesn't dote too much on the sweet, the easy, or the sentimental. His books tend to be more like memories of life lived by a friend, rather than stories. He never attempts to be catchy, self aggrandizing, or entertaining, apart from telling the truths he can find in stories and novels. I have read everything here including his great memoir of his mom. It is tempting to buy this book again just because I like it so much. I really loved Ford's Rock Springs so much that I have two copies so I don't have to take the autographed copy out of the house. This book is an excellent introduction to Ford. Of course once you read him, you are going to need to buy everything else he has ever written. I recommend first reading Rock Springs, one of the great collections of short fiction in the English language, and Wildlife, a novella that Ford tolm me was really the culmination of what Rock Springs talked about. After that read The Sports Writer and Independence Day, two great novels about the same character. I have been reading Ford seriously since 1985, especially in the late 1980s and early 1990s when I was writing fiction. One thing that hits me is how rereadable he is. Even as I type these worls, I am thinking of when I can get home, pull down one of my copies of Rock Springs and pack it for the trip I am going on this weekend, if I can wait that long to read it!

Best of the Vintage Readers!

I admit, of all 12 Vintage Readers, this is the one I was most adamant about--for no other reason than I'd tried reading Ford a few years ago (Independence Day...didn't care for it at all). However, this collection is a mix of small masterpieces!"The Womanizer" might possibly be the best novella/short story I've ever read. All the pieces contain a certain amount of nervous tension with the narrator/main character to the others in their lives. The Womanizer capitalizes on this tension best and I'm convinced now that Ford is a master at creating it. It's that kind of nervousness that we get when in awkward situations and aren't sure how to boldly handle it. Remarkable.If any piece was dry, it would have to be the selection from Independence Day. For some reason, it just doesn't sit well with me. But, that segment was only 10 pages, so, no biggie.Check this book out if, for no other reason, for The Womanizer. It's 70 pages--so makes up a good 1/3 of the book.Remarkable!

Ford

I've never even heard of this guy. I was at the bookstore and I started reading this edition for no reason. Immediately, he became one of my top five favorite writers. Each story I completed, I was just that more amazed. Amazed with his work and the fact I had never heard of him. I feel it's very sensitive, down-to-earth work. He is an ace at describing the outer scene while also gouging out the the inside. And it is so gouged out, that you can't help but find pieces of your own despair and failings there. Maybe the stories will mirror some similar experiences in your life. I've read writers who could do this. It's hard to find those who can do it so well. This book has introduced me to a lesser-known writer (to me at least) who is greatly capable of this craft.