Tenth of December

by George Saunders
Tenth of December cover
Good Books rating 4.19
Short Story Collections
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  • ID: 67
  • Added: 2025-08-30
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9781408894811
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Published: 2017-11-02
  • Formats: 33
  • Reviews: 4

Tenth of December is a prize-winning collection of short stories by George Saunders, known for his wry humor and disturbing yet captivating narratives. The stories delve into the lives of characters grappling with unusual and often horrifying situations, from drug trials to internal monologues hidden behind smiles. Saunders' writing illuminates human experience with astonishing charm and intensity, offering a unique perspective on contemporary society. This collection has been praised for its dark visions of the future and its haunting reflections on the past, all while grounding itself in the unsettling present. It has won the 2014 Folio Prize and was shortlisted for the National Book Award in 2013, cementing Saunders' reputation as a master of the short story form.

Reviews
Pixelated Geek · 2016-09-01
thoughtful 4.00

The collection explores life’s randomness, cruelty, and the small-mindedness people develop through hardship, yet it also offers hope through human resilience and moments of kindness. Saunders presents a bleak but honest worldview tempered by uplifting truths about human nature.

The reviewer highlights how Saunders’ stories reveal the harsh realities of life—the randomness of suffering, the chemical basis of emotions, and the frequent absence of justice or reward for effort. Despite this, the narratives are not without hope; the same forces that make life difficult also allow for kindness, bravery, and connection. This duality is most evident in the strongest stories of the collection, including the title story, which the reviewer finds especially poignant and uplifting. Saunders’ work is appreciated for its honest, unflinching examination of human experience combined with an undercurrent of optimism.

Quick quotes

    life is random and cruel, emotions are based on chemicals and hormones

    the drudgery of everyday life turns people small-minded and awful

    What makes all of this terrible is the same thing that gives any hope: because people still

Sydney Review of Books · 2013-11-11
powerful 4.75

The reviewer praises Saunders' astoundingly tuned voice and the emotional depth of his characters. They find the collection to be a powerful exploration of human struggles.

This reviewer is particularly impressed by Saunders' distinctive voice, which they describe as astoundingly tuned. They highlight the emotional depth of the characters, who are often struggling and under-educated, making their stories all the more compelling. The reviewer finds the collection to be a powerful exploration of human struggles, with each story offering a unique perspective on the human condition. They appreciate Saunders' ability to create characters that are both relatable and deeply flawed, making the stories resonate on a personal level.

Quick quotes

    Saunders has what Thomas Pynchon calls 'an astoundingly tuned voice'.

    His characters, for the most part struggling, under-educated people who ...

    The collection is a powerful exploration of human struggles.

Goodreads · 2013-02-28
insightful 4.50

Saunders’ stories delve deeply into themes of imagination, memory, loss, morality, and the human condition, portraying complex characters facing profound challenges. His writing insightfully explores what it means to be good and human in contemporary life.

The review praises Saunders for his brilliant and profound writing that tackles big questions about class, sex, love, loss, despair, and war through unforgettable characters. The stories challenge readers to consider morality and humanity’s fault lines, making the collection not only emotionally moving but intellectually stimulating. The title story is noted for its meditation on imagination and loss, providing a powerful centerpiece to the collection. Overall, Saunders is recognized for his ability to capture the core of contemporary human experience with both depth and empathy.

Quick quotes

    a stunning meditation on imagination, memory, and loss

    writing brilliantly and profoundly about class, sex, love, loss, work, despair, and war

    these stories take on the big questions and explore the fault lines of our own morality

The New York Times · 2013-02-01
dark 3.50

Tenth of December is noted for its dark exploration of class and power, offering a compelling and unsettling read. The stories are praised for their depth and insight.

The reviewer from The New York Times emphasizes the dark and unsettling nature of the stories in Tenth of December, particularly in their exploration of class and power dynamics. They find the collection to be compelling and thought-provoking, highlighting Saunders' ability to delve into complex themes with insight and depth. The book is seen as a significant contribution to contemporary literature, challenging readers with its bold and often disturbing narratives.

Quick quotes

    And 'Tenth of December' is very dark indeed, particularly in its consideration of class and power.

    It's been seven years since Saunders's last collection, and this one is a significant contribution to contemporary literature.

    The stories are compelling and thought-provoking, highlighting Saunders' ability to delve into complex themes.

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