Product Description

A long-awaited collection of stories from the author of Stop-time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1054172 in Books
• Published on: 1986-11-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From Library Journal
The eight stories in this collection present characters caught up in situations from which they seem incapable of extricating themselves: unhappy marriages, unsatisfying careers, unresolved conflicts between parents and children. In some of the stories, the protagonists are able to achieve a greater sense of self through drawing closer to those dearest to them; in other stories they remain alienated from those around them. The impact of the stories is heightened by the sequence chosen, as when in ``The Mysterious Case of R'' the psychiatrist's observations about his writer patient offer insight into a character in the story ``Roses.'' ``Midair'' and ``The Sense of Meeting,'' the opening and closing stories, are particularly effective. Recommended. Michael J. Esposito, formerly with Special Libraries Assn., New York
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Conroy Soars
"Midair" is a masterful collection of stories by the long-time director of the prestigeous Iowa Writers' Workshop (teaching home also of the wonderful Pulitzer-winner Marilynne Robinson). Anyone who appreciates the short-story form will not be disappointed in this collection. Conroy was at the top of his craft when he rendered these stories, but he always remained honest and direct, humble to the point of being self-effacing. Like his riveting childhood memoir, "Stop-time", "Midair" will always remain a favorite. As the great jazz bassist Charlie Mingus once remarked, about Conroy's piano playing, "...you swing!" "Midair" swings!

just another book
wellyou can ask me why 2 stars - I did not like it. Actually the second story called "Celestial Event" is quite touching but other than that everything is very ordinary. I could not find any reason to remember any of the stories.
Short stories may have twist in the end or they keep an open end and once you read it then for days you can think about the possible endings to bring it to an end and that is the fun. here either that open end or the twist is absent so why do I need to read it? I do not want to read abook to be dragged into my old prosaic life. I want to escape by reading and this book does not show me that route to escape.