Short stories can be a bit of a non-event and instantly forgettable. These very much aren't, and some are quite superb.
Set in the Jewish world...whether E European immigrants to US; a Jewish family in Lisbon revealing their heritage; poor Polish peasants; or magical tales from Yiddish folklore. There's a hilarious account of a deranged fan stalking the author; and inspirational tales of religiously inclined peasants who succeed despite all the odds; a rich man leading a double life; and a poor teacher who hooks up with a witch..

Utterly brilliant writing. ( )

This is a collection of short stories, each of which is based on some experience of passionate love in the life of a man. Female characters in all of the stories are undeveloped; serving principally as objects in the life of the inevitably male protagonist rather than as characters in their own right. This is simply Singer's treatment of his material. Most of the stories touch upon the Jewish experience, particularly during and immediately after World War II and, in particular, the experiences and circumstances of those Polish Jews who emigrated to the United States. Nevertheless, these stories deal intensely with the male/female experience in Singer's understated, economical style. ( )

Isaac Bashevis Singer is a master craftsman of story telling. These short stories are mostly excellent, and he manages to tell his tales in a way quite like no other author I've read. Very evocative and memorable. ( )