Eleven stories. . .all heading in wild directions. Every one made me laugh out loud at some point.

There's death, fairy tales, dogs (with medieval names! the minute I get a dog I will name them one of those - but don't hold your breath), sentences and endings that give an abrupt reader wedgie, foxes, violets, a man I'd like to meet named Franklin, queens and kingdoms, scriptures, trolleys, multiple references to Green Acres**, reincarnation (next life: cat!) - sidebar: there are 23 instances of "cat", "dogs in fairy tales (normal rules don't apply,"), soooo many eggs (15 and there may be others implied), one carpe diem, an avid list maker (an admirable choice if one is pulling random stereotypes), instances of sewing and quilt verbs - as is evident, all directions are present.

Bottomline, for me this read was a palate cleanser that had me chuckling. Funny, twisty tales.

**If anyone can help me, all the references to Green Acres have me baffled. Surely we aren't talking about the US Green Acres show? There was a book in 1941 written by Doreen Wallace named Green Acres (hard to find her books. . . there were many. . . ?)

*A sincere thank you to Kate Atkinson, Doubleday books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #NormalRulesDontApply #NetGalley

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Always love Kate Atkinson. There were a few of these stories that didn't grip me immediately, but most of them did.

I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!
I lost my kindle and couldn't redownload it. Sorry!

A really unique short story collection. The first one has stuck with me the most - I keep randomly thinking about it! I'm excited to read more Kate Atkinson.

what a cool spin on interconnected short sotries, like wow, some of them had my scratching my head but looking at the full picture and how conventions were played with i really liked it

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Normal Rules Don't Apply" is a testament to Kate Atkinson's prowess in weaving the extraordinary into the tapestry of the mundane. This collection of stories, each a microcosm of Atkinson's expansive imagination, invites readers into a world where the end is just another beginning.

The opening story, "The Void," sets the tone with an apocalyptic event that is as precise as it is unpredictable. Atkinson's narrative dexterity shines as she balances the metaphysical with the everyday, crafting a tale that is both a commentary on the fragility of existence and a celebration of the human spirit's resilience.

Throughout the collection, Atkinson plays with the concept of interconnectedness. Characters and themes recur, creating a rich tapestry that blurs the lines between stories. This technique not only showcases Atkinson's skill in character development but also her deep understanding of the human condition.

Franklin, the central character, is a particularly compelling figure. His journey from aimlessness to self-discovery mirrors the reader's own exploration of the book. As Franklin grapples with the notion of fate versus free will, so too does the reader, prompted by Atkinson's clever storytelling.

Atkinson's use of magical realism is both whimsical and grounded, lending a sense of wonder to the collection. From talking horses to fairytale queens, the fantastical elements are integrated seamlessly, highlighting the author's gift for storytelling.

In "Normal Rules Don't Apply," Atkinson has created a world that is both familiar and fantastical, a place where the rules of reality are bent but never broken. It is a collection that celebrates the power of stories and the storytellers who craft them, reminding us that in the hands of a master like Atkinson, fiction can indeed do whatever it fancies.

As is usually the case with short stories, I liked some more than others. These are loosely connected, though some are stand-alone, or at least I missed the connection. I liked that one character recurs throughout and then there's kind of a twist at the end, and I liked the intersection between the real world and a fairy tale world.

Thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This is another solid book by the author of Life After Life. I don't typically enjoy short stories but this collection of stories kept my attention throughout with well drawn characters and story lines. I'll definitely read more by Kate Atkinson in the future!

Kate Atkinson is such a fascinating writer, everything she touches turns into what you'd never expect. "Normal Rules Don't Apply" in this book of short stories, which are loosely connected and exploit a variety of genres. It's baffling and exciting as well, but no matter what kind of madness is going on the characters are believable, which is weird in itself. Kate Atkinson continues to astonish.

Kate Atkinson is a phenomenally talented writer who (in my book) can pretty much do no wrong. I love how she can craft gorgeous literary works like Life After Life and also create page-turning mysteries like the Jackson Brodie series. These short stories read like she was having a great time writing and flexing her storytelling muscles, and they were a pleasure to read. My favorite one was Spellbound, a clever fairytale that the collection’s title is taken from.

NORMAL RULES DON'T APPLY by Kate Atkinson is a collection of connected short stories, full of magical realism. We start with "The Void," introducing a mysterious phenomenon, which is brought to closure in "Gene-Sis," the penultimate story.

Atkinson's treatment is adept, as she sells this magical realism as ordinary and believable, quite intriguing in its execution. This is a title I could see myself revisiting to enjoy again and analyze the connecting threads.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

Normal Rules was a great story collection, re-interpreting fairy tales. I loved the writing and it was a quick read.

Weirdly wonderful collection of interrelated short stories by the incomparable Kate Atkinson. Atkinson lets her imagination and creativity run riot here.

Well done! (Ting!)

Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for an ARC of this novel.

An excellent collection by Kate Atkinson. I only wish the stories were more interconnected. I think the first story was the strongest. Excellent cover art.

great book and loved the mystery through out the book. I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures. I enjoyed this book and this author and will check them out again add them to my reading pile.

I like story collections where the stories are interconnected. It seems like a special technique, and I enjoyed these stories overall. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free copy for review!!

I am a member of the ALA Carnegie Medal Committee. This title was suggested for the 2024 Award but it did not make the Longlist. See the complete longlist <a href="https://www.ala.org/rusa/awards/carnegie-medals/2024-winners"> here.

I am a superfan of Atkinson and this title did not disappoint. Instead of a weighty tome, this collection of connected stories just fit the bill for my current reading mood. It was a delight in the very best way...

NORMAL RULES DON'T APPLY is a delightfully strange collection of short stories taking place in an a parallel world where, as the title suggests, normal rules don't apply - the world is swept by mysterious culls, animals talk, and all other manner of strange things are underfoot. The stories are loosely connected by characters of the same name (who may or may not be the same characters).

I think the best way to read this collection is by embracing the surrealism and absurdity and going where the author takes you - the patterns of the world(s) are only gradually revealed through the stories, and efforts to impose a structure on the world are often thwarted. Favorites in this collection included VOID, an introduction to a new series of apocalyptic events that sweep the world, and SPELLBOUND, a fairy tale in a parallel universe that leads to a strange conclusion.

Thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.