The Magic Barrel: Stories (FSG Classics) by Bernard Malamud
The Magic Barrel: Stories is Bernard Malamud’s collection of short fiction, presented in the FSG Classics edition with an introduction by Jhumpa Lahiri. Its stories range from New York to Italy and explore immigrant experience through characters including a struggling painter, rabbis, shoemakers and matchmakers.
At a glance
- Short-story collection by Bernard Malamud, first published in 1959 according to the listing.
- Stories are set in New York and Italy and are described as engaging with immigrant experience.
- This edition includes an introduction by Jhumpa Lahiri.
- The listing describes a style combining urban realism, Yiddish idiom and literary inventiveness.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The short-story format offers varied narratives, with customer feedback specifically noting stories that feel complete within a few pages.
- The collection brings together stories about a range of characters and settings rather than following one continuous plot.
- Kindle edition details list screen-reader support and enabled enhanced typesetting.
Technical specifications
12 specifications| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
|---|---|
| Publication date | July 7, 2003 |
| Edition | Reprint |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 236 pages |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1466805514 |
| File size | 2.6 MB |
|---|---|
| Screen reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Page Flip | Enabled |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers looking for literary short fiction focused on character and immigrant experience.
- Readers interested in Bernard Malamud, Jewish American literature or stories set in New York and Italy.
- Kindle readers who value screen-reader support or Word Wise.
Less suited to
- Readers specifically seeking a novel or a single continuous storyline.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
64% 64% - 4 stars
20% 20% - 3 stars
10% 10% - 2 stars
2% 2% - 1 star
4% 4%
Customer feedback highlights the stories as well-written and entertaining, with appreciation for the characterization and the ability to deliver complete stories in a few pages. Some feedback also values the Jewish perspective. This suits readers drawn to concise, character-focused fiction, though the aggregate rating distribution includes a notable middle range as well as mostly high ratings, so reactions are not uniform.
Positive themes
- Customers describe the stories as well-written and entertaining.
- Feedback appreciates the character development and concise storytelling.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of book is The Magic Barrel?
It is a collection of short stories by Bernard Malamud, not a novel. The listing describes stories set in New York and Italy.
Does this edition include an introduction?
Yes. The listing says it includes an introduction by Jhumpa Lahiri.
What Kindle reading features are listed?
The Kindle details list screen-reader support, enhanced typesetting, Word Wise and Page Flip as enabled. X-Ray is listed as not enabled.
Alternative options
The Fixer: A Novel (FSG Classics)
$11.99
The Complete Stories (FSG Classics)
$15.08
The Stories of Bernard Malamud
$2.99
Print List Price: $19.99
$10.99
Digital List Price: $17.99
$2.99
Hood (The King Raven Trilogy Book 1)
$8.79
The Assistant: A Novel (FSG Classics)
$9.99
A Meal in Winter: A Novel of World War II
$1.99
The Penguin Book of Italian Short Stories (Penguin Classics Hardcover)
$12.99
The Maples Stories (Everyman's Library Pocket Classics Series)
$12.99
Six Degrees of Separation: A Play
$8.99
The Magic of Shirley Jackson
$14.99
