The Rose City: Stories by David Ebershoff


The Rose City: Stories
Title : The Rose City: Stories
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0142000817
ISBN-10 : 9780142000816
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 192
Publication : First published May 7, 2001
Awards : Ferro-Grumley Award Gay Fiction (2002)

Written with understanding and familiarity, these seven stories present characters who are coming into their own as they discover and rediscover themselves. In "Chuck Paa," a young man in flight from his mother seeks and finds employment in an upscale world, which can never quite become his own. The title story, "The Rose City," tells how a shared lost love brings together two friends who reunite to reflect on their past, their present, and what lies ahead. With the same insight and daring of The Danish Girl, The Rose City secures David Ebershoff's reputation as a writer of rare talent and sensitivity.

The Rose City: Stories Reviews

  • Nick Duretta

    The stories, written in the late 90s, all feature gay men (or boys) trying to come to terms with their sexuality in a time when closet doors still could not be fully opened, even in the relatively urban expanse of Pasadena, the 'Rose City' of the title that is also a unifying element. It is strange that stories barely fifteen years old can seem dated; it's a testament to how far society's acceptance of gays (at least in the U.S.) have come. Yet the confusion, bewilderment and angst experienced by these characters is probably still there, if only in a mutated version.

  • Bikki

    I appreciated the story telling within each short story even when I didn't relate or even like that story. The world continues to evolve, but finding yourself is never easy and reading these stories gave me some small glimpse of what it might be like for someone different than me...even if they are fiction. So this book did what I look for in many things I read...it made me think.

  • Victoria

    I couldn't get along with this book. I'm not a huge fan of short-story collections anyway. I think it is very difficult to create a set of short stories that are sufficiently different whilst linking them together and I really don't think Ebershoff succeeded. The stories in themselves were fine (if a little dull) and the characters in themselves were fine but it seemed to me that the character was much the same in each story, merely transported in time and place. None of the characters captured my attention - another problem when you are only introduced to a snapshot of them. The writing itself was good though. All in all, a disappointing read, although I'm sure that it has more to do with my issue with short-stories than Ebershoff's abilities.

  • John

    David Ebershoff cements his reputation as one of the most exciting writers of my generation in this elegant collection of short stories dealing with relationships from the perspective of a gay lifestyle. He writes with much grace and understanding, offering sympathetic portrayals of gay characters ranging in age from ten to forty eight. It's one of the best recent collection of short stories I've read, rising close in stature to Rick Moody's "Demonology". Having enjoyed both "The Danish Girl" and now, "The Rose City", I eagerly await reading Ebershoff's next novel.

    (Reposted from my 2002 Amazon review)

  • Lyman

    A must-read for short story lovers, especially if you are interested in some gay themes

  • Steig

    A great gift from a great friend. Not usually a 'short story fan', but a very relatable selection for me.

  • pjr8888

    melancholy stories, moving towards hopeless...

  • J. Parra

    A rich panorama full of nuanced observations about gay life and coming of age. The story "Regime", in particular, hit me like a ton of bricks.

  • Stephen Soucy

    The Dress! Love this short story.