Started this last summer, finished it this spring. I liked this a lot—stories of people whose lives veered off, either largely or in small ways, from the course they thought they were on. Which is simplifying things in an effort to sum up, but I think it's a good frame. Brinkley writes beautifully, and I'm not always sure I buy his dialogue, it's part and parcel of that elegant prose so I'm fine with that. Less of the fierce energy of his first collection, A Lucky Man, but a good set of stories that make you think about life and trajectories and expectations, and care about even the most poorly behaved of his characters (there are a few). ( )

Title: Witness Stories
Author: Jamel Brinkley
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Witness Stories" by Jamel Brinkley

My Sentiments:

These were quite a collection of various stories taking place in New York City of different ten challenges from 'mental illness, tragic, dementia, old age, gentrification, failed family relationships, family conflicts, dead-end jobs, failed romances, and poverty,' all with different perspectives.

This author gave the reader some brilliant stories; each collection of short stories will give one a lot to think of long after this literary read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar Straus & Giroux for the ARC for the read. ( )