I enjoy reading short story collections for the obvious reason that it’s easy to fit into a busy schedule. If I can pick up a book for ten minutes and get an entire story experience, I call that a reading success. At a deeper level, I’ve always envied talented short story writers, for I think their ability to fully develop characters in such a low word count is nothing short of amazing. In Kevin Moffett’s new collection Further Interpretations of Real-Life Events, he creates undeniably interesting, and sometimes bizarre, characters over the course of nine short stories.
As it is often the case with short fiction, the emphasis truly is on character development rather than action or plot. Each story could be described as odd little vignettes of strange, and often sad, lives. Several of the pieces seemed to begin at the middle of a story in progress, and the final words came before much significant resolution. What we’re left with are snapshots, in a sense. Here is this character, at this time, with these particular struggles. There is no neat, tied-up-in-a-bow ending for any of the pieces, really. In a way, I found this perhaps a bit frustrating at times, or at least disquieting.
But, I can also appreciate the level of talent it takes for an author to make me care enough about a character in 20 short pages that I’m left wondering what happens next. That component really distinguished these short pieces of fiction from longer narratives, for the characters jumped from the pages almost immediately. Moffett should be commended, as well, for his use of language in playful and surprising ways. The writing kept me on my toes, often surprised at a turn of phrase or curious about the origination of the author’s ideas.
My favorite story of the bunch is titled “English Made Easy,” and it features a young mother whose husband has recently died, suddenly and shockingly. She floats along this story, still in a quiet grief-stricken haze, and the entire piece evokes so much emotion, even as she is fairly undemonstrative throughout. As she walks through her neighborhood one evening, alone while a sitter is home with her infant son, she considers the lives all around her.
Lena pauses at each house on her way down the street. Some houses are drowsy. Some are unconditionally awake. Some are asleep. A sleeping house keeps a light going in a side window, like the dreaming part of its brain. It holds its secrets until morning… Houses at night are open books. she need only stand in a front yard for a minute to know what they are about. There are stories of love and marriage and severance, there are coming-of-age stories. Most are predictable, lackluster. Some foretell endings so forlorn– derelict sprinkler head, yawning garage door– that Lena has to hurry past to the next house and the next.”
I recommend you check out Kevin Moffett’s Further Interpretations of Real-Life Events if you’re in the mood for some reading that will leave you wondering a little, and thinking a lot about unique and interesting characters.
Dawn’s reading addiction often has to take a back seat to work and family life, which makes short stories a perfect fit. Her blogging habit is similarly indulged over at my thoughts exactly.
Amy says
That sounds absolutely wonderful!
Dawn says
I’m always interested in hearing what other folks think of books, so if you end up reading it, I’d love to hear your opinion!
ibeeeg says
I will take you up in your rcommendation. In just the last several months, I have discoverd how nice it is to read a book of essays or short stories. There is a time and place for these type of books. This one sounds like one that will fit a reading mood for me. Onto my to-read list it goes for a future read.
Dawn says
Excellent, so happy to hear it!