<p>So it's a collection of somewhat interwoven stories (<a href="https://www.reluctantm.com/review-of-we-eat-our-own-by-kea-wilson/">MFA before MFA was even an MFA!</a>) about the underside of Odessa, the petty crooks, the not-so-petty crooks, their hangers-on, their not-so-hangers-on. But reading it, I couldn't help thinking I'd missed something, like I'd literally forgotten to read an introduction or something because while everything felt familiar, something was just a teensiest bit off. Maybe the translation didn't work for me? Maybe I need more background in that specific time-and-place of Ukrainian/Russian history. It was good and I knew it was good, but I had to keep reminding myself as we went along.</p>

<p>I did appreciate the dark humour, even if I was missing something all the while.</p>

<p><A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/18660442/book/158057556">Odessa Stories</a> by Isaac Babel went on sale November 15, 2016.</p>

<p><small>I received a copy free from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> in exchange for an honest review.</small></p>