Critics of short story collections might say there is always a chance of getting a mixed bag, or short stories you might hate interspersed with those you might love. I have always seen that to be a positive when exploring the genre, as it is an opportunity to discover new authors/works you might not have otherwise encountered, a literary hide-and-seek.
"The Newlyweds' Window" is no different. There are stories which are almost certainly going to make people turn away from the collection ("Gasping for Air" and "Border Control" come to mind) while others are worth a second or even third read ("The Newlyweds' Window" and "Mareba's Tavern"). Overall, it should be understood that the point of the anthology is not to pick out literary masterpieces for the world to see, but showcase authors who might not otherwise have a chance to be visible due to the marginalization of African literature.
And to find the absolute gems within that group, I will certainly read all the other rough diamonds.
"The Newlyweds' Window" is no different. There are stories which are almost certainly going to make people turn away from the collection ("Gasping for Air" and "Border Control" come to mind) while others are worth a second or even third read ("The Newlyweds' Window" and "Mareba's Tavern"). Overall, it should be understood that the point of the anthology is not to pick out literary masterpieces for the world to see, but showcase authors who might not otherwise have a chance to be visible due to the marginalization of African literature.
And to find the absolute gems within that group, I will certainly read all the other rough diamonds.