Nine To Noon Book review: Brawler by Lauren Groff
Mar 26, 2026
Stella Chrysostomou, bookseller and reviewer at VOLUME Books in Nelson, gives a lively take on Lauren Groff's short story collection Brawler. She praises Groff's short story craft. She contrasts Brawler's inward focus with Groff's Florida. She highlights themes of relationships, trauma, subtle violence, and recurring water imagery.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Groff's Mastery Of The Short Story
- Lauren Groff excels at short stories, showing a precision of craft distinct from her novels.
- Stella Chrysostomou highlights Groff's aptitude for compact, intense narratives that make short story form feel 'immaculate'.
Stories Center On Internal Trauma Not Setting
- Brawler focuses inward on human relationships, trauma, and violence across generations rather than on vivid physical settings.
- The opening story 'The Wind' uses a Hansel-and-Gretel mood and a shocking ending to show intergenerational retelling.
The Wind Delivers A Shocking Generational Tale
- The first story, 'The Wind', follows children sneaking away from home and is told later to a daughter, producing a striking, beautiful, and shocking ending.
- Stella recounts its 1950s setting and the emotional punch that leaves the reader breathless.
