I received this copy through Bookmooch.com as a replacement for my bookray that is stalled with Bibliocrates. See this JE for prior reviews of this book.

Here is my review from the stalled ray:

I don’t read a lot of short stories but this collection by Boyle was really great. His stories are some of the best I think I have ever read, comparable to Ray Bradbury and O. Henry. Many were almost Hitchcockian in atmosphere and theme such as “King Bee” about a very disturbed young man obsessed with bees and “Sinking House” about an elderly woman who turns on all the water in her house after her husband dies. Others were very comical such as “Modern Love” about a germ-obsessed woman who insists on making love using full-body condoms! Even though these stories were first published in 1989, they didn’t really feel dated. I have really enjoyed several of Boyle’s novels and I have to say that his short stories are just as marvelous. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Stories in this compilation:

Sorry Fugu
Modern Love
Hard Sell
Peace of Mind
Sinking House
The Human Fly
The Hat
Me Cago en la Leche (Robert Jordan in Nicaragua)
The Little Chill
King Bee
Thawing Out
The Devil and Irv Cherniske
The Miracle at Ballinspittle
Zapatos
The Ape Lady in Retirement
If the River Was Whisky

Bookray

This is a replacement for my bookray which is stalled with Bibliocrates. See this JE for prior entries. Bookray will remain open until last person has the book. Please PM if you would like to join.

Remaining participants:

. kizmiaz from Portugal (EU preferred)
. katrinat from The UK (EU preferred - international if needed)<-----Asked to be skipped
. tempestsans from Georgia, USA (US preferred, international if needed)<-----Asked to be skipped

Note: Order is subject to change based on shipping preferences and others joining the bookray.

How the bookray works:
* Someone will PM you for your address, PM them back and provide your address
* When you receive the book, please make a journal entry letting everyone know that you received it
* Put the book at the top of your TBR pile (under other rings/rays that arrived first)
* Read the book (take your time and enjoy the book, don't feel rushed to finish it but try to pass it on within a couple of months - others are waiting!)
* When the end is in sight, check the book's journal and PM the next person to get their address
* Finish the book, make another journal entry and let everyone know what you thought of the book
* Send the book to the next person on the list (please use the cheapest shipping method available), make release notes (Controlled Release) or journal entry to let everyone know that it's in the mail
* END OF THE RAY, The last person on the ray could try and continue the ray or just give/mail the book to someone else who might like to read it, perhaps a RABCK.

Please feel free to PM me at any time with questions

On its way to Portugal to continue this bookray. Enjoy!

Just got it, thanks perryfran! I'll get to it soon.

This was a fast and riveting read. As usual Boyle delivers great quality writting with ease and humor.
I love Boyle's writting and most of his novels but have always had a bit of a thing about his short stories, they felt too short most of the times, not this collection though. There were several stories that blew me away and others that I didn't much go for but still enjoyed the writting.
The stories that I liked the most were: Sorry Fugu, Modern Love, Hard Sell, Peace of Mind,The Human Fly, The Hat, The Little Chill and The Devil and Irv Cherniske.
A great short story collection that will leave wondering how does he do it?
I'll be sending it along when I get an address. Katrinat asked to be skipped.

relaesed thru ElHurricane's BBox

I just got it! Thanks, k!