The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr
The exquisitely crafted stories in Anthony Doerr’s acclaimed debut collection take readers from the African coast to the pine forests of Montana to the damp moors of Lapland, charting a vast physical and emotional landscape. Doerr explores the human condition in all its varieties-metamorphosis, grief, fractured relationships, and slowly mending hearts-and conjures nature in both its beautiful abundance and crushing power. Some of his characters contend with tremendous hardship; some discover unique gifts; all are united by their ultimate deference to the mysteries of the universe outside themselves.
When I read All the Light We Cannot See, the writing quickly captivated me, wound its way into my heart, and didn’t let me go. Though I have yet to reread it, it remains one of my favorite novels and one I recommend over and over. You can read my original review here.
I was at the bookstore when my eyes fell on this beautiful cover. Only after I picked it up did I realize it was a book by Anthony Doerr.
I’ve been reading very slowly lately, hardly finishing anything. Just a season of life I guess.
So a collection of short stories seemed like a good idea. Like I might actually be able to finish one of them.
And finish one of them I did. I finished all the stories in The Shell Collector. And they each were as exquisitely lovely as All the Light We Cannot See. Each one a masterpiece of words and images and feeling. Each one a tantalizing mix of raw human stories and the incalculable beauty of the natural world. Breathtaking.
Though each story is unique in its own way, my very favorite story was the last one, “Mkondo”. Just a beautiful, moving story and the perfect choice to close such a fantastic short story collection. Other stories that stood out to me were “The Shell Collector” and “The Hunter’s Wife”.
If you’re looking for a new collection of short stories to enjoy, this is it!
