“Holidays on Ice” by David Sedaris

This was an amusing collection of short stories and essays. The fiction was surprisingly dark (my kind of story).

“A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles

A beautiful book. It’s amazing how well the count took charge of his destiny. Under permanent house arrest in Hotel Metropol, and yet he lived a full, meaningful and joyful life.

“The Corn Maiden and other Nightmares” by Joyce Carol Oates

Apart from the Corn Maiden, which I had already read, the other stories in this collection were not satisfying.  They were a bit too abstract for my taste. Some of them were very definitely unpleasant.

“Once Upon a Curse”

This is the last time I’m downloading a free book of short stories by unknown authors. Fantasy by would-be, wish-fulfillment writers.