Reviews
"Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Munoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Munoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Munoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight, "Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Muñoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Muñoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Muñoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight, "Muñoz's prose is shining and hypnotic, and suffused with care and tenderness. This is one of the best short story collections to come around in recent years." --Michael Schaub, NPR.org, Best Books of 2022 "Gay, straight, American-born or American-dreaming, the characters in this collection exist on the verge of oblivion, but the book out-Steinbecks Steinbeck in its manifestation of the human in places we too rarely dare look." -- Oprah Daily "Nuanced, thoughtful, often moving stories." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "...Muñoz delivers breathtaking views into his characters' hardscrabble world, and evokes the heat of their yearning. This packs a hell of a punch." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Muñoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "Manuel Muñoz's third story collection solidifies his position as a master of the short story. The Consequences offers insights not just into relationships in families, neighborhoods, and communities, but among strangers who meet on a bus and come together to share the struggles of 21st-century immigrant life." --Jane Ciabattari, Lit Hub "Simply put, Muñoz's stories are as observant as they are revealing -- full of nuanced subtext and bracingly honest depictions of vulnerability and hope, love and regret, and everything in between. They deserve all the attention they can get." --Alexis Burling, San Francisco Chronicle "Muñoz brings tenderness and immediacy to these fully realised stories of secrets and concealment, longings, vulnerability, and imperfect escape, creating an expansive and memorable world." --David Hayden, The Guardian "I envy that I didn't write these stories myself. . . . [Manuel Muñoz] really just did his highest work, his genius highest work. And I'm in admiration." --Sandra Cisneros, The Independent "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Muñoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Muñoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight "Manuel Muñoz's stories are melancholy, assured, and unforgettable. Like a porch light at midnight, they strike a circle of stark dreamlike clarity around their characters, even as the darkness gathers in." --Colin Barrett, "Gay, straight, American-born or American-dreaming, the characters in this collection exist on the verge of oblivion, but the book out-Steinbecks Steinbeck in its manifestation of the human in places we too rarely dare look." -- Oprah Daily "I envy that I didn't write these stories myself. . . . [Manuel Muñoz] really just did his highest work, his genius highest work. And I'm in admiration." --Sandra Cisneros, The Independent "...Muñoz delivers breathtaking views into his characters' hardscrabble world, and evokes the heat of their yearning. This packs a hell of a punch." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "Nuanced, thoughtful, often moving stories." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Muñoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "Manuel Muñoz's stories are melancholy, assured, and unforgettable. Like a porch light at midnight, they strike a circle of stark dreamlike clarity around their characters, even as the darkness gathers in." --Colin Barrett "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Muñoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Muñoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight, "Manuel Muñoz's stories are melancholy, assured, and unforgettable. Like a porch light at midnight, they strike a circle of stark dreamlike clarity around their characters, even as the darkness gathers in." --Colin Barrett "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Muñoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Muñoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight "Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Muñoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "I envy that I didn't write these stories myself. . . . [Manuel Muñoz] really just did his highest work, his genius highest work. And I'm in admiration." --Sandra Cisneros, The Independent, "Muñoz's prose is shining and hypnotic, and suffused with care and tenderness. This is one of the best short story collections to come around in recent years." --Michael Schaub, NPR.org, Best Books of 2022 "Gay, straight, American-born or American-dreaming, the characters in this collection exist on the verge of oblivion, but the book out-Steinbecks Steinbeck in its manifestation of the human in places we too rarely dare look." -- Oprah Daily "Manuel Muñoz's third story collection solidifies his position as a master of the short story. The Consequences offers insights not just into relationships in families, neighborhoods, and communities, but among strangers who meet on a bus and come together to share the struggles of 21st-century immigrant life." --Jane Ciabattari, Lit Hub "I envy that I didn't write these stories myself. . . . [Manuel Muñoz] really just did his highest work, his genius highest work. And I'm in admiration." --Sandra Cisneros, The Independent "Simply put, Muñoz's stories are as observant as they are revealing -- full of nuanced subtext and bracingly honest depictions of vulnerability and hope, love and regret, and everything in between. They deserve all the attention they can get." --Alexis Burling, San Francisco Chronicle "...Muñoz delivers breathtaking views into his characters' hardscrabble world, and evokes the heat of their yearning. This packs a hell of a punch." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "Nuanced, thoughtful, often moving stories." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Muñoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "Manuel Muñoz's stories are melancholy, assured, and unforgettable. Like a porch light at midnight, they strike a circle of stark dreamlike clarity around their characters, even as the darkness gathers in." --Colin Barrett "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Muñoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Muñoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight, "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Munoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Munoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight, "Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Muñoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "...Muñoz delivers breathtaking views into his characters' hardscrabble world, and evokes the heat of their yearning. This packs a hell of a punch." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "Manuel Muñoz's stories are melancholy, assured, and unforgettable. Like a porch light at midnight, they strike a circle of stark dreamlike clarity around their characters, even as the darkness gathers in." --Colin Barrett "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Muñoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Muñoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight "I envy that I didn't write these stories myself. . . . [Manuel Muñoz] really just did his highest work, his genius highest work. And I'm in admiration." --Sandra Cisneros, The Independent, "Gay, straight, American-born or American-dreaming, the characters in this collection exist on the verge of oblivion, but the book out-Steinbecks Steinbeck in its manifestation of the human in places we too rarely dare look." -- Oprah Daily "Manuel Muñoz's third story collection solidifies his position as a master of the short story. The Consequences offers insights not just into relationships in families, neighborhoods, and communities, but among strangers who meet on a bus and come together to share the struggles of 21st-century immigrant life." --Jane Ciabattari, Lit Hub "I envy that I didn't write these stories myself. . . . [Manuel Muñoz] really just did his highest work, his genius highest work. And I'm in admiration." --Sandra Cisneros, The Independent "...Muñoz delivers breathtaking views into his characters' hardscrabble world, and evokes the heat of their yearning. This packs a hell of a punch." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "Nuanced, thoughtful, often moving stories." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Muñoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "Manuel Muñoz's stories are melancholy, assured, and unforgettable. Like a porch light at midnight, they strike a circle of stark dreamlike clarity around their characters, even as the darkness gathers in." --Colin Barrett "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Muñoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Muñoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight, "Gay, straight, American-born or American-dreaming, the characters in this collection exist on the verge of oblivion, but the book out-Steinbecks Steinbeck in its manifestation of the human in places we too rarely dare look." -- Oprah Daily "Manuel Muñoz's third story collection solidifies his position as a master of the short story. The Consequences offers insights not just into relationships in families, neighborhoods, and communities, but among strangers who meet on a bus and come together to share the struggles of 21st-century immigrant life." --Jane Ciabattari, Lit Hub "I envy that I didn't write these stories myself. . . . [Manuel Muñoz] really just did his highest work, his genius highest work. And I'm in admiration." --Sandra Cisneros, The Independent "Simply put, Muñoz's stories are as observant as they are revealing -- full of nuanced subtext and bracingly honest depictions of vulnerability and hope, love and regret, and everything in between. They deserve all the attention they can get." --Alexis Burling, San Francisco Chronicle "...Muñoz delivers breathtaking views into his characters' hardscrabble world, and evokes the heat of their yearning. This packs a hell of a punch." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "Nuanced, thoughtful, often moving stories." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Muñoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "Manuel Muñoz's stories are melancholy, assured, and unforgettable. Like a porch light at midnight, they strike a circle of stark dreamlike clarity around their characters, even as the darkness gathers in." --Colin Barrett "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Muñoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Muñoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight, "Haunting, powerful, humble, precise, this collection shook my being. Manuel Muñoz is a great American writer who sees with his heart--as great as Juan Rulfo in writing about the poor. I wish I had written these stories." --Sandra Cisneros "...Muñoz delivers breathtaking views into his characters' hardscrabble world, and evokes the heat of their yearning. This packs a hell of a punch." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "Nuanced, thoughtful, often moving stories." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "Manuel Muñoz's stories are melancholy, assured, and unforgettable. Like a porch light at midnight, they strike a circle of stark dreamlike clarity around their characters, even as the darkness gathers in." --Colin Barrett "These stories are evanescent, unforgettable, taking us deep into California's Central Valley, the homeland Manuel Muñoz has for years given to the world as a place of glimmering mystery, tule fog, and the yearning of his characters for love and absolution. Each story reveals an entire life. Muñoz is one of the best writers working in America." --Susan Straight "I envy that I didn't write these stories myself. . . . [Manuel Muñoz] really just did his highest work, his genius highest work. And I'm in admiration." --Sandra Cisneros, The Independent