Short stories are a tricky business. They feel a bit like work sometimes because if you let your mind wander or blink, you’re likely to miss something. They are novels in very small condensed packages and often require careful reading and rereading. But I most appreciate it when an author can hook me into the story almost immediately, there’s no time to waste. And I love stories that are funny and wise–just show me a slice of life and make me smile.
This week was a good short story week for me. I had little time for reading so something brief squeezed in between activities was just right.
This is the first time I’ve read Elizabeth McCracken and won’t be the last. The first two stories were delightful and I absolutely loved them (The Irish Wedding and Proof). Both were full of wisdom, acerbic wit, and humanity and I was hooked in right away.
The other stories were good too, but didn’t have quite as much humour as the first two, except for Robinson Crusoe at the Waterpark. Still the stories are all insightful studies of mysterious and emotionally complex family bonds told through ordinary recognisable moments. Two characters, Jack and Sadie, appear in half of the stories. As I’ve found before with short stories, in any given collection there are always some that land better than others.
I do really like McCracken’s writing. In my mind this was a good discovery of an author I want to read more of–her short story collections appear to be more highly rated than her novels. Incidentally, McCracken also studied at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, a reliable mark of a good author. Also, novelist Ann Patchett edits her work and is the only person to read her manuscripts as she is writing.
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