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    The New Order: Stories
    The New Order: Stories
    The New Order: Stories
    Audiobook7 hours

    The New Order: Stories

    Written by Karen E. Bender

    Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The National Book Award finalist for Refund returns with a new collection of stories that boldly examines the changes in American culture over the last two years through the increasing presence of violence, bigotry, sexual harassment, and the emotional costs of living under constant threat.

    In the title story, the competition between two middle school cellists is affected by a shooting at their school, and it is only years later that they realize how the intrusion of violence affected the course of their lives. In "This Is Who You Are," a young girl walks the line between Hebrew school and her regular school, realizing that both are filled with unexpected moments of insight and violence. In "Three Interviews," an aging reporter must contend with her dwindling sense of self and resources, beleaguered by unemployment, which sets her on a path to three increasingly unhinged job interviews. In "Mrs. America," a candidate for local office must confront a host of forces that threaten to undermine her campaign and expose her own role in the dissonance between what America is and what it should be.

    The New Order explores contemporary themes and ideas, shining a spotlight on the dark corners of our nature, our instincts, and our country.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    Release dateNov 6, 2018
    ISBN9781684416615
    The New Order: Stories

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    Reviews for The New Order

    4/5

    17 ratings4 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I lovehate short story collections, because once you really get invested in one, it comes to a close quicker than you would like. A really good short story collection for me has to have stories that leave you wanting more yet also leave you a little sad after the final sentence. The stories in this collection were a mix of bittersweet nostalgia, ruminations on one’s faith and daily life, and a dystopian arc that I’m still not fully over and wish would become a novel, because I crave more of the story and characters. Each story had a unique ending, and you could tell that the author took time with her characters and cared about each one
    • 5/5
      I love the way Bender leads you calmly down a well-worn path with a flashlight, shines a light on the small, simple everyday then grabs your wrist while she takes you for a unexpected twist. Her stunning and subtle prose makes you curious; every story somehow slowly and thoughtfully blooms before you as though you have uncovered a gem as it first catches the light.
    • 5/5
      Ms. Bender's prose immediately pulled me in. Her words are as comfortable as a soft, cozy sweater but it is a false sense of security for what is to be revealed about human nature in her short story collection. The stories take place as far back as the 1970's and one even implies it takes place in the not too distant future. It seems what was, is and always will be.Read this book and contemplate just what humans have done to each other over the past 50 years. It's thoroughly depressing. Each story implies characteristics which are uncomfortable to discuss. For instance, is it truly possible some humans exhibit pent up - senseless anger? Could it be Bender is saying we thrive when we hurt each other? Do we flaunt our righteousness only to be hypocrites at heart? Do we lack empathy?It seems in the past half century, Bender is considering the world in which we live as one of distrust and fear of our species. We are lonely, we are struggling, we suffer from inner turmoil both imagined and real. We suffer loss, we lack empathy, good grief we are a mess! The final story in this collection, "The Cell Phones", offers a bit of enlightenment and hope. It may all begin by just listening to the distress felt by our fellow humans.An awesome collection of stories. Highly recommend!
    • 5/5
      "I wanted a nation in which our leaders never lied and were elected to office because of their love for and adherence to the truth. I wanted a nation where, if people got sick, they would be cared for, swiftly, tenderly, and the only concern would be that they would get well. I wanted a nation that did not conjure suspicion about entire groups of people...I wanted a nation where a person could go to school or shopping or wherever and never worry about whether it was smarter to dive under a chair or run"  “The world was still hot and despairing and full of pain, and I wasn’t a giant at all, but I wasn’t dust, either. I was trying to be a hopeful resident of the world. I stood with my fellow congregants in the room, feeling their presence beside me. We were all paying attention now, our minds unfastened. We looked to the new year...”Wow, another great surprise. This story collection, from last year, eerily reflects our current state of affairs, taking hard looks at the senseless violence, relentless fear, bigotry and sexual harassment that have been choking our society, with a cold, unflagging fury. Many collections have hit or miss stories, I think this is what most readers expect and while every story here, may not hit for the fences, it is remarkably consistent. I also have to give a shout-out to “ The Department of Happiness and Reimbursement”, which just might be my favorite story that I have read this year. It blew me away.