Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson is a remarkable collection of loosely connected short stories featuring a cast of interesting characters (enchanted and otherwise) combining elements of speculative fiction, surrealism, mystery, fantasy and folklore, humor, drama and much more. These stories revolve around themes ranging from dystopian, evolution and conservation of our planet and its resources, the human condition and life choices , accountability and consequences, family and motherhood, among others.

The collection begins with a story of an apocalyptic event that selectively affects humans and other living species (Void). A vicar’s daughter’s questions about and fairy tale about lost fairy queens and princesses might lead to some surprising revelations (Spellbound). A deceased woman reflects over her life , marriage and her previous assumptions of the afterlife much more while trying to recall how she met her end in Blithe Spirit. A middle-aged divorcee lamenting over missed chances and the growing distance with her adult children as she struggles to find a sense of purpose finds herself in an unexpected situation in Shine, Pamela! Shine! . The fate of a young girl’s toys hangs in the balance as the owner’s family experiences much upheaval in their lives in Existential: Marginalization. In Puppies and Rainbows, we meet a Hollywood movie star whose new romance with a high-profile individual might not be the solution to all her problems. An advertising professional’s divine responsibilities prove to be much more stressful than her day job in Gene-sis. More than one story revolves around Frank (Dogs in Jeopardy, The Indiscreet Charm: of the Bourgeoisie, Classic Quest 17 - Crime and Punishment) , a television producer, as he navigates his early struggles, career highs, his love life and some encounters with some very interesting characters, to say the least. Several threads from other stories intersect in the final story , What-If.

Witty and humorous, fantastical and chilling yet wise and thought-provoking, author Kate Atkinson’s sharp writing and masterful storytelling render this an immensely enjoyable read.
Given the nature of the overlap in the stories and the recurring characters whose arcs are stretched over more than one story, I am not rating each of the stories separately as I usually do. However, I will mention that my favorites in the collection were The Void, Spellbound, Classic Quest 17 - Crime and Punishment and What-If.

Finally, I love that cover!

Many thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A rudderless man nearing middle age wonders about other lives he may have lived based on his choices. A science minded teen girl reads the story of a queen desperate for a child. A young woman is murdered and her ghost tries to understand what happened to her. An American actress filming in England goes too far in a secret relationship.

All the stories are very well written and the characters jump off the page. The stories are sometimes loosely, sometimes tightly interwoven and I was doing a lot searches on my Kindle to see if a person popped up in another story.

I think I really liked this? I'm not entirely sure though, as I was a bit confused through a lot of this (though I think that is, in part, due to me listening to the audiobook version). All of the short stories held my interest, though I found myself forgetting how all the different characters had shown up previously or in different worlds.

My favorite was the very first story - I need an entire book or television series about this. Terrifying, intriguing, and a bit of a mystery, I found myself disappointed when it switched to the next story.

Overall, confusing but worth a shot!

In a number of her novels, Kate Atkinson explores the idea of alternate possibilities, playing with “what if” scenarios for various characters. Showing she doesn’t need a full novel to explore the heady concept, Atkinson returns to that theme in Normal Rules Don’t Apply, a collection of eleven loosely linked short stories.

The first, “The Void”, is a masterclass in chilling mundanity as out in the countryside an old man and his equally old dog find their daily walk shockingly interrupted by a horrific site. Meanwhile, his granddaughter, shopping in a small grocery store, is witness to the first occurrence of what will come to be known as “The Void” a seeming “blink” of the universe that kills off most life caught outside (think a Thanos-snap). Even this extraordinary event though is tethered to the day-to-day as the Void arrives in a regular, repeating pattern (a set amount of time that begins at a set time which moves forward five minutes day to day) so that people set their clocks and move about their day “normally.” This was one of my favorite stories in the collection, and while the Void does rear its head in other tales as well, I wish it had been a stronger, more consistent connection throughout.

Another highlight is “Blithe Spirit”, where a young secretary with some regrets wanders the streets in a semi-corporeal form (a fantastic passage shows her morphing from bodily form to soil to a building), unable to recall how she died until she witnesses her own autopsy (things do get better).

In “Spellbound” we meet the wonderfully voiced Florence, teen daughter of a town vicar who may just be lacking in the necessary faith and a mother who wrote a book entitled The Traditional Fairy Tale in the Context of a Subversive Female Hegemony. The story moves back and forth between the sharp-edged Florence (“I am the F-word”) and a Grimm’s-like fairy-tale until eventually the two worlds blur and blend.

This happens throughout a number of stories, with realism and fantasy intermixing, often with a single “regular folks” character moving throughout their mundane world until it is interrupted by the fantastic, as we see in the three stories above, but also in others where a horse at the track exhorts a gambler to bet on him or a recently retired, 15-year-divorced woman filling her life with online dating (not very well), book clubs, Pilates, and aquarobics who finds herself having an unexpected transformation.

Unfortunately, beyond the first three I detailed above and another toward the end that somewhat ties events together via an advertising executive who is also a god, one who has the chance to reset the world so it “works better,” the other stories weren’t as effective. The retiree story, “Shine Pamela! Shine!” ended strongly but the early part felt overly familiar. I had that same feeling about “Existential Marginalization,” which is basically Toy Story told from the perspective of Sid’s toys (lampshaded via one of the toy characters noting “Toy Story it ain’t). Several of the stories focus on the character of Franklin (first name Faustus) who is wandering aimlessly through life until becoming engaged to Connie. His luck changes from the first story (he’s the one the horse convinces to bet) to his last appearance, though I won’t say how so as to avoid spoilers. The stories are amiable enough, but that was about it. My least favorite involves a young American actress with a pill problem who, while working on a period soap opera gets involved with the prince of England. Not only did I find it the weakest story in the collection, but it was the only one that didn’t seem to fit at all, feeling more than a little shoehorned in.

But if only about a third of the stories really landed for me, they’re all written smoothly and fluidly, filled with sharp-eyed details and (mostly) strong dialogue. I also appreciated the meta aspect of the collection, as it’s easy to see how one can read these stories as having as much to do with the act of writing/storytelling as they do with the characters and plots at their core. Perhaps to highlight that reading, Atkinson gives us a slew of references to outside works via allusions to Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, the aforementioned Grimm brothers, Jane Austen, and many, many more. The metafiction aspect helped redeem the collection as a whole, even if some of the individual stories disappointed. A mixed bag, therefore, as collections often are. That said, four excellent ones and no bad ones (well, maybe one) isn’t a bad mix.

A strange but intriguing collection of very loosely connected short stories, each of which has some kind of fantasy/sci fi type element, whether big or small.

There are some recurring characters and themes, but the stories also are very much stabs-alones. (The last two stories I think tried to tie the book together a little more, but not 100% successfully in my opinion).

This book is definitely a vibe, and it’s not Kate Atkinson’s usual vibe either. Yes, her most famous book Life After Life involves a character who keeps being reborn to start her life over, but it’s still realistic other than that, and so are the other books of hers I have read, which are usually either mysteries or historical fiction. This, on the other hand, felt more like something that would have been written by Margaret Atwood or Kelly Link. Probably not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it!

I really did enjoy this book. This author is a go to for me. This is a collection of short stories and how they are interconnected was so well done. Just magical. 4.5 Stars

Ever have an author where one or more of their books you can remember the exact place you where when you hit a plot point or major reveal? The first book I ever read of Kate Atkinson’s did that for me, and I can still remember the early morning dawn, an owl hooting, and the sounds of a city waking up as I was being rent apart (and dealing with jet lag) by a turn of events in one of her novels. I of course went down a rabbit hole of reading everything she’d ever written, and now typically keep an eye out for any new releases.

Normal Rules Don’t Apply is a departure from the norm in that it’s several short stories that at first glance you take on the surface of each story but underlying each story is a web that connects them. It might be harder to see where some of the stories are connected whereas others are more obvious. I don’t know that everyone always appreciates how difficult writing short stories actually is, and I found that Atkinson did a really great job at capturing the reader in just a few short pages of each story. There were different genres as well, areas we haven’t necessarily seen Atkinson explore before which I enjoyed. Some stories did not resonate with me as much as others, but others were gripping and left me wanting more, where I wanted the full fleshed out 300 page novel. Overall, I really enjoyed this collection and recommend it.

Please be advised I received an advance readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Atkinson is one of my favorite writers. Her range is enormous. Her wordsmithing and characterizations wonderful. Unfortunately this isn’t quite on a par with previous of her novels. I’m glad anyway for chance to have read

Unfortunately, the best thing about this book is the cover.

• The Void- 4/5
• Dogs in Jeopardy- 2.5/5
• Blithe Spirit- 3/5
• Spellbound- 2.5/5
• The Indiscreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie- 2/5
• Shine, Pamela! Shine!- 2/5
• Existential Marginalization- 2/5
• Classic Quest 17-- Crime and Punishment- 2/5
• Puppies and Rainbows- 2/5
• Gene-sis- 2/5
• What If?- 2/5

Normal Rules Don’t Apply is a very apt title for Kate Atkinson’s new short story collection. She is well known for her ability to keep complex plots with multiple characters moving and alive in wonderful fictions. Here she does the same over the span of eleven stories, some obviously connected, some much less obviously so. She delves into the worlds of science fiction, folklore, fairy tales, and modern news headlines to create an unusual world.

I love reading Atkinson, watching her juggling the many parts of her created world, the world I don’t understand, and then slowly picking up the pieces she leaves for me to find. This collection was more challenging than her novels because the stories exist in different genres with varying characters but, in the end, I think that has made it just that much more enjoyable and satisfying. I will read whatever Atkinson writes. This time it is something improbable, quite different, smart, and ultimately fun.

Recommended for those who would like to read short stories with wit and flair and a definite difference.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The review is my own.

Okay I loved Normal Rules Don't Apply and found the stories to be written well and woven loosely together wonderfully! I was blown away by this collection.

Most days in a typical "normal" life are made up of small bites of actions/interactions that connect loosely to form the meat of our daily lives. Kate Atkinson has taken that everyday and skewed it 90 degrees to give us NORMAL RULES DON'T APPLY. Yes, the stories touch each other as in the circle of life but no, they are anything but normal. I enjoyed all eleven, as in all reading, I enjoyed some more than others, but as a Kate Atkinson fan, these certainly deliver a little more polish to her already shiny stars.

This is my first novel by Kate Atkinson, and after I've seen a peek into her mind, I'm impressed, confused, and a bit frightened! This is a most bizarre, creative, and unusual collection of short stories with loose and solid ties interconnecting them all.

We start out with an apocalyptic story called 'The Void', about a force taking people's lives at the same time every day. This story pops up again in several more instances. We meet Franklin, a producer on a reality show, called 'Green Acres', and his engagement to Connie, involvement with Skylar, and eventual meeting of Aoife which ties up the last story very nicely. Many of these stories are so well done. The first story could easily be a full length movie.
My absolute favorite story is 'Spellbound', which is a story within a story. A fairytale (that Florence's mother may or may not have written) within a present day family where we first meet Aoife. Without giving anything away, this is the best story of the 11 for me. It's so imaginative, and introduces some of the prior characters quite nicely, with a surprising ending that was brilliant. Many of the stories involve parallel universes that collide, intersect, or have nothing to do with each other. In fact some of the stories are a bit out of place and I wondered where they fit into the overall narrative of the others.
Normal rules definitely do not apply here, but if you are up for a unique set of surreal tales, this is the book for you!

The variety of genres within this collection makes for a fun reading experience, and the recurring character and themes create cohesiveness. While this is a departure from what I usually expect from Atkinson's novels, I enjoyed the collection and each story on its own. Would recommend!

A very different offering from Atkinson but fans of the way she uses language will relish these 11 loosely connected stories. They range from sci-fi to fantasy to reality to fable. While each is able to stand on its own, they are more properly appreciated when you come upon a familiar character, most likely Franklin. It's not what I expected but I very much enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. While I usually recommend reading story collections one story at a time over a period of days, this is one I consumed in a gulp.

Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson is a highly recommended collection of eleven interconnected short stories.

The title of the volume tells you what to expect from the contents. Although the stories are interconnected in regards to some recurring characters and themes, the stories themselves take place in non-linear parallel worlds where expected rules don't apply and sudden and puzzling endings can leave readers wanting more. Franklin Fletcher is a character who appears in several stories and encounters a whirlwind of different experiences.

As with any collection of short stories some will resonate with readers more than others. The stories I loved, I really, absolutely enjoyed. The few that fell flat, honestly failed for me. The rest were very good, not as exceptional as expected, but certainly above average.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, X, and Amazon.

Wow. I’m kinda of blown away. Interconnected (loosely) short stories written masterfully with wit and heart and a beauty in describing the meat of the characters. I read the first story - gasped - and then went upstairs and read it again - this time aloud - to my husband. Atkinson plays with genres - enjoy the ride. This is fantastic . Go read it.

“Normal Rules Don’t Apply” by Kate Atkinson-(5 Stars!) (PubDate-THIS WEEK) is an amazing book, masquerading as a collection of short stories. These interconnected stories are all rocks in the same stream, and at the conclusion I found that I wanted to go back and read them all again with the new knowledge I gained in the first reading. This is a must-read and in a world where there is nothing new under the sun, and every story is a version of a story that has come before…THIS story feels brand new.

Positives: Every single character, every story, and each “oh, WOW, that’s how it ended?!” ending was compelling and could stand alone as it’s own novel. The cleverness of interconnecting them all only compounds the fascination and engagement. The characters in particular, are points I keep coming back to as I’m going about my day, thinking about each stories’ reality and the unique voice and situation depicted in each one. Atkins excels at grounding the reader, quickly, in each new tale.

Wish List: I wish I wasn’t done! I wish I could have a coffee with Kitty. I wish I could sit down with Kate Atkinson and ask her if there are worlds outside of each individual world she created in this collection that she might revisit in future work. I wish I could write like her.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity afforded me to have an early read by netgalley and Doubleday Books. The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book. #butidigress #butidigressbookclub #NormalRulesDontApply #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #kateatkinsonauthor #kateatkinsonbooks #doubledaybooks @doubledaybooks

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Publishing Review 9/09/2023

This collection of linked stories is a nice introduction to Kate Atkinson's more experimental side, as the normal rules--about time, about death, about multiverses--really don't apply. A lot of the stories are melancholy; some are funny; some are both. While I didn't love it the way I love some of her books, I enjoyed it, and I think book clubs might really get into it.

Kate Atkinson's new story collection is a vibrantly entertaining read. She's clearly among the most clever and most versatile writers of fiction in our language today.
The stories range from whimsical to magical, enlisting tropes from folklore and fable, fantasy, and (believe it!) from hard science and soft theology. Dogs, horses, dolls, and stuffed animals talk, a woman ad exec literally creates physical worlds (well within the seven-day protocol), and a lascivious trio of sisters lures the TV producer fiance of one of them into a deadly frame-up for murder most foul. And, oh yes, occasionally the world comes to an end.
These short fictions are jeux d'esprit all, witty and often they are laugh out loud funny.
As my schedule clears I'll look to crafting and publishing a longer take on this remarkable book, and inserting it here.