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A CIRCLE AROUND HER
Jonathan Strong
Zoland Books
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The central protagonist in this ensemble character
driven story is Mary Lanaghan. In the end though, it is the "Circle"
of characters around her which holds the readers interest. The back
of the book would have you believe that Mary, who has spent the last
10 years, post divorce, living in a cabin in the woods of a small
town, is just emerging into the world of dating and socializing. However,
the narrative itself shows us a different world. Mary has kept a best
girlfriend from her old neighborhood, made friends with the gay couple
who owns the town diner and has one discarded boyfriend to her name
when we find her. She also has four children, two boys-two girls,
who have been roaming in and out of her life since they all left home
over the past few years.
The modern problems of the gay couple, her children,
and an overweight set of siblings that are fixtures in the town, are
far more interesting that the musings of the middle aged Mary. One
daughter is studying psych and is wondering about her, and everyone's,
leanings toward bi-sexuality. One of the gay men, who is HIV positive,
has a crush on one of Mary's son's who in turn is having commitment
phobia with women, and on and on. Mary on the other hand is wondering
whether or not to continue a relationship with a man she has great
sex with, and enjoys, but who is an embarrassment because his house
is too perfect and well equipped. Yawn.
Another story line that never really fully develops
is the threat of development around the lake where everyone lives.
There is some action here but for the most part it is slow and a side
bar at best. The owner of the majority of the land around Mary does
intend to sell off some of it, and some of his internal dialogue as
he ponders the changing world is very good. And some side characters
do have the field across from their house surveyed and dug up.
Confused plot line aside. This is a marvelous read.
The characters are interesting, the writing self-possessed and well
paced. This is a story about change. The back cover would have you
believe it is only about the change that middle aged women go through,
but in the end even the youngest of the characters is always reflecting
on the road their life is taking and the possibilities ahead. Like
a pleasant walk through the woods, everything is interesting, but
nothing is shocking or harmful. Still, like a good walk through the
wood, I was immensely glad that I took the time to read this book.
Carlye Archibeque
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EATING NAKED
Stephen Dobyns
Henry Holt & Company
Sixteen quirky stories by
prolific man of letters Stephen Dobyns. I say man of letters advisedly,
for Mr. Dobyns has many novels, several volumes of poetry and a collection
of essays to his credit. EATING NAKED is his first collection of short
fiction. Nicely paced fictions with psychological insights into credible
characters thrown into incredible situations, but don't look for formal
innovation here. These are 19th century-type short stories couched
in late 20th century American idiom with beginning, middle and end,
and a moral too. The stories abound with Kierkergaardian irony of
irreconcilable opposition of subjective expectation and objective
circumstance to sometimes humorous effect, sometimes to tragic effect.
Mr. Dobyns is skillful at capturing, illuminating and revealing moments
in the dreary or sordid lives of ordinary Middle America citizens.
Even comic stories are characterized by controlled pathos without
sentimentality. Since our author is also a poet, prose here is enlivened
with several telling metaphors. See for yourself.
Richard Modiano
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