If the River Was Whiskey

T. Coraghessan Boyle, Boyle. Penguin Books, $12.95 (240pp) ISBN 978-0-14-011950-3

In 16 short stories, the author filters a diverse cast of characters through his witty, relentless narrative voice. Notwithstanding a few throwaway tales, ``the pleasure of pure storytelling makes Boyle's new collection of fiction a joy to read,'' opined PW . (May)

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