I generally don't pick up a collection of short stories, however decided to read this collection after becoming entirely immersed in 'All the Light we Cannot See'.
Anthony Doerr's style of writing is just so utterly beautiful it's quite transcendental transporting the reader from the coast of Kenya to the Montana winter, from Liberia in West Africa to Oregon, from Tanzania to Ohio. Of the 8 stories, these were my three favourites.
My reason for giving the collection only four stars was that I felt the stories were so complex that I would like to see them turned into novels.
However that being said these short stories will not disappoint, particularly if you enjoyed 'All the Light We Cannot See' as much as I did.

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Shell Collector, the: Stories Hardcover – 25 December 2001
by
DOERR
(Author)
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A debut collection of evocative short fiction explores the complex mysteries of the human condition--grief, transformation, fractured relationships, and mending hearts--in a volume that includes the title story, "The Hunter's Wife," and "For a Long Time This Was Griselda's Story," about two Idaho sisters struggling to come to terms with their diverse paths in life. 12,500 first printing.
- Print length219 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSimon & Schuster
- Publication date25 December 2001
- Dimensions15.24 x 2.16 x 22.23 cm
- ISBN-100743212746
- ISBN-13978-0743212748
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Product details
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster (25 December 2001)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 219 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0743212746
- ISBN-13 : 978-0743212748
- Dimensions : 15.24 x 2.16 x 22.23 cm
- Customer Reviews:
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Anthony Doerr has won numerous prizes for his fiction, including the Pulitzer Prize and the Carnegie Medal. His novel, 'All the Light We Cannot See,' was a #1 New York Times Bestseller and his new novel, 'Cloud Cuckoo Land,' published in September of 2021, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Learn more at www.anthonydoerr.com.
Customer reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
889 global ratings
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TOP 10 REVIEWER
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2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 18 May 2017
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Anthony Doerr's writing is so visual; you can actually see it, but you can also smell it, hear it, feel it. Each of these stories paints a different picture of human life, love and frailities. The characters are so alive, and the narrow worlds they inhabit are vividly portrayed. I don't usually read short stories, but since I love Doerr's writing, I bought this collection - and I wasn't disappointed. It's a feast. Enjoy.
Reviewed in Australia on 9 December 2015
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Ive never been a great fan of short stories. I usually feel I've been given a range of appetisers when what I really want is a substantial meal that will satisfy me. However, the series of stories in The Shell Collector was totally satisfying and I was happy to have a break after each one and fully digest what I had just read. They all fulfilled my criteria for beautifully written and absorbing tales.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 1 June 2017
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I enjoyed the story of a poor family in Ireland during the potato famine and looking forward to continuing the story in book 2.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 29 August 2016
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I have read all of Anthony Doerr's books, and this one just didn't appeal to me like his other books did.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 11 April 2015
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Doerr has collected. Some wonderful short stories here, the range is great.
Reviewed in Australia on 31 July 2016
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Doerr writes gracefully, creating layer upon layer of imagery to draw you into a detailed world.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in Australia on 17 November 2015
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Something different but rewarding
Top reviews from other countries

Neal Garratt
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delightful book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 November 2018Verified Purchase
What a delightful book- it’s so well written that in parts it’s like reading poetry- each story takes you into a different world and completely immerses you. I loved every page and didn’t want to finish each story. There is an art to writing a short story and this book paints each story beautifully. I can not recommend highly enough.
5 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars
I need a relationship with the characters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 December 2015Verified Purchase
I read this collection of short stories after becoming entirely immersed in All the Light we Cannot See and, although I recognise that you cannot become as involved with the characters in a short story, I was a little disappointed in the the characters in the short stories in The Shell Collector. I loved the plots and the ideas behind them, but I do like to have a relationship with characters. What I did love about these stories was the language and Doerr's power of descriptive detail. I found The Caretaker quite disturbing, while my favourite stories were The Hunter's Wife and Mkondo.
12 people found this helpful
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Baf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2021Verified Purchase
I came to this after reading 2 of this author's other books. This is his first book - short stories. I think it's brilliant! All the stories "spoke" to me, even those quite diverse. This author is someone who understands the human condition in some depth. I am now reading ALL of his books!
One person found this helpful
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rafa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2020Verified Purchase
Gloriously written - a wonderful read - I highly recommend this book. Anthony Doerr is a master!

Leitir
5.0 out of 5 stars
Some great short stories in this collection
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 March 2021Verified Purchase
I read this as a recommendation from a book club that I’m in. One or two of the stories didn’t land with me at all. But overall the collection is very strong.