The Magic Barrel
Bernard Malamud · 1914–1986 · United States
Why it matters
Thirteen stories of struggling immigrants, shabby matchmakers, and quietly miraculous grace, mostly set among New York's Jewish poor. Malamud's National Book Award-winning collection distilled his spare, parable-like style into its purest form.
At a glance
short story collectionpsychological novel
Difficulty 5/10medium pace214 pagesSpare, parable-like prose stays plain even as its moral stakes run deep.
Where to go next
Bernard Malamud · 1957The AssistantLvl 5Slow burn
Bernard Malamud · 1966The FixerLvl 6Medium pace
Isaac Bashevis Singer · 1960The Magician of LublinLvl 5Medium pace
Philip Roth · 1969Portnoy's ComplaintLvl 5Fast paced
Norman Mailer · 1948The Naked and the DeadLvl 6Fast paced
Saul Bellow · 1964HerzogLvl 7Slow burn