Book · 1986 · Fiction, short stories (single author)
Transactions in a foreign currency
Why people recommend it
Transactions in a foreign currency is the debut short story collection by Deborah Eisenberg, showcasing her sharp wit and remarkable command of narrative voice. On The Book Review podcast, in an episode titled What We're Reading This Summer, Jumana Katib discussed diving into the author's work after ransacking through available options, noting with amusement that Eisenberg actually began her creative life as a playwright before transitioning into writing fiction. Katib found the stories to be thoroughly hysterical and engaging, praising the unique comedic and dramatic sensibilities present in these early tales. Similarly, in an episode titled An Inside View of Putin, contributor Raman Alam mentioned that he had also been reading this exact same collection of stories during the exact same timeframe. Both speakers highlighted the significance of this book as the initial literary stepping stone for Eisenberg, whose later writing career would garner widespread critical acclaim. Through their discussions, both Katib and Alam brought renewed attention to this brilliant volume of short stories, offering listeners a compelling glimpse into the formative phase of a celebrated contemporary fiction writer who brilliantly captures the awkwardness, complexities, and unexpected humor inherent in human relationships and cultural dislocations across various settings.
Who recommended it
- Jumana Katib Discussed
- Raman Alam Discussed
Jumana Katib — 1 mention
“so I ransacked them so I read deborah eisenberg's first Story collection i didn't know she started out as a playwright before she started writing fiction but this was hysterical it's called transactions in a foreign currency”
Raman Alam — 1 mention
“and at the same time was reading a book of stories called transactions in a foreign currency which is Deborah eisenberg's first collection”