If you’re familiar with the work of Raphael Bob-Waksberg, it’s probably the critically acclaimed show Bojack Horseman, an animated comedy-drama about a has-been sitcom actor who struggles with depression and alcoholism. Oh, and the actor is a horse. The most important thing to know about Bob-Waksberg is that there is no one better at combining sheer ridiculousness with tragic observations about the human experience, and if that sounds like your kind of thing, you will love this short story collection. The highlight for me was ‘Rufus’, a story told entirely through the perspective of a dog, which is as funny as it is sweet. Most of the other stories focus on romantic love and relationships, and even the ones with insane premises — like a band of superheroes who can only save the world when they’re wasted — manage to be poetic and beautiful without being phony and insincere. MG

Published by Vintage