"It Will Come Back to You" | Reviewed by William Winkler

American author Sigrid Nunez is best known for her novels, one of which (“The Friend”) won the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction. She also writes short fiction, some of which has been published in such periodicals as The New Yorker and The Paris Review.

Nunez’s most recent book, “It Will Come Back To You,” is a collection of 13 stories, largely contemporary, although at least one is from early in her career.

Many of the stories are set in Nunez’s home, New York City, although the city does not define the characters or the story.

Each story has a slant unique to the collection.

The Plan describes the story of a man who fantasizes about killing others until the opportunity to do so presents itself.

It’s All Good tells of a brother and sister who hire a Brad Pitt impersonator for their institutionalized mother’s birthday.

It Will Come Back to You, the title story, explores memory’s relationship to reality, and the importance of being able to discern the difference between the two of short stories is an ideal book to carry along when opportunities to read might be brief, such as in a waiting room. Each story reads quickly, but each story also fits the definition of an effective short piece; skillful character development, introduction of conflict, and a resolution which the reader may or may not find satisfying.

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