A Registry of My Passage upon the Earth: Stories

Spectacular. Second book by Daniel Mason I've read, and I think he's just become the 'I'll try anything he's written' kind of author for me.

This book also contributed to my ever-refining formula for

personal satisfaction when reading a short story collection: most stories not over 20 pages, all by one author, who is a great writer, loose themes picked up in stories throughout, but no need to contort them to connect them all directly.

Considering the somewhat episodic feel of North Woods, loving a short story collection by this author makes a lot of sense. Similarly, the shift in format, storytelling style, between each tale is again used to great effect.

I noticed a number of the early stories seem to pit two individuals against each other, there's bit of the 'survival of the fittest' discussion, as a catalyst to exploring man's insecurities, rather than creepy eugenics rhetoric. Nature, an exploration and appreciation for the natural world, is by far the largest commonality between stories, even if they're very different tales. There's a sprinkling of collections/collectors among the tales as well. I believe they might all also contain real historical figures, a couple have excerpts from these figures' writings prefacing the stories.

Another point in Daniel Mason's favour, I really can't remember the last time I was swept so effortlessly into historical fiction narratives (with just the one whisper of the fantastical) outside his writing (okay, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a strong contender).

Excuse me while I go root around in his backlist for more treasures. ☺️

⚠️mental health concerns