Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte

 

This is an anthology of linked stories, each of which outlines the life of someone who has not been able to make a connection in the world with a love interest.  The stories are connected; a strange date in one man's story tells her story in another; there are stories by a brother and then later his sister.  It is a bleak book in which rejection is the norm and pleasure and love rarities to be chased but never quite obtained.  

If this is the reality of dating in today's environment, I can only say that I'm glad not to be in the dating scene.  Everyone seems to be playing games and there is name calling and identification of others as not fitting ideals.  I'm not sure who I would recommend this book for; there are very graphic descriptions of demeaning acts and just an overall feeling of hopelessness.  There is merit in seeing the daily lives of those who feel excluded from normal relationships of friendship or love but I'm not sure reading this would make that person feel any better.  It is, however, a wake-up call to those of us lucky enough to have someone.