Smithereens

by Susan Taylor Chehak

The arrival of Frankie Crane, a girl with a past beyond her years, in the slow, small town of Linwood, Iowa, transforms sixteen-year-old May Caldwell's life, leading to sexual awakening, family ruin, and murder. Tour.

Genres: Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Susan Taylor Chehak is a graduate of the University of Iowa Writers Workshop and the author of several novels, including The Great Disappointment, Smithereens, The Story of Annie D., and Harmony. Her short stories have appeared in Folio, Coe Review, Guernica Magazine, and The Adirondack Review, among other places.

Susan is also the driving force behind Foreverland Press, an e-book publisher devoted to bringing back the backlists of fine writers who might have otherwise been overlooked. Other of her online projects include, What Happened To Paula, a collaborative web-based investigation into the as yet unsolved murder of a former schoolmate; The Truth About Paula O., a blogged memoir of Susan's ongoing 12-year investigation into the Paula Oberbroeckling murder case; and The Foreverland Chronicles, where she has been working with Kathryn Dow to create a detailed narrative record of Foreverland and its denizens.

Susan has taught fiction writing in the low residency MFA program at Antioch University, Los Angeles, the UCLA Extension Writers' Program, the University of Southern California, and the Summer Writing Festival at the University of Iowa. She grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, lives occasionally in Toronto, and at present calls Colorado her home.

Reviews

[Allison Renner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frankie Crane takes a small town by storm when she travels from Kentucky to Iowa to visit her "foster" family. Mrs. Caldwell sent donations to Frankie for seventeen years, so to who else would Frankie turn when she had nowhere to go? May Caldwell's life is forever changed when her "foster" sister shows up to stay for a summer. Drama ensues, and the premise was interesting and had potential, but was very slow to develop. Then, in half a breath, things escalated and the book was over. This was an instance of too much foreshadowing, hinting at the drama and darkness that had happened before the story started, and then when it was time for the big reveal, things fell flat. The writing style seemed to change at the end of the book as well, and it was a little difficult to follow the idea from the start of a sentence to the end. Kind of confusing, overall. I'm still not completely sure about what happened in the book, and in what order.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago and it's stayed in my mind ever since. Excellent storytelling.

[Lisa Loving · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark and steamy, suspenseful, but wordy.

I enjoyed this story of a young girl’s coming of age into a darkly sinister world that lurks just beneath the sleepy middle class, Midwestern, mid century life she’s living. It’s clear that the author is talented, but this would have been more striking with a minimalist approach. Some observations are made, and made again, reworded and reworked, and played with until you just skip ahead a few passages.

Still, highly recommended.

[Abby Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would not call this a thriller. It's more of a coming of age story with some crime mixed in. Beautifully written, Chehak is a master of detail and master of the dream sequence of events. I loved the lyricism, and felt deeply connected to the main character, a lonely teenage girl, who becomes emotionally attached to a young woman in her twenties. Heartfelt. All of it.

[Taylor-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just absolutely love the way this book is written. The story is phenomenal on its own but the writing style alone is amazing. I hope to write like this someday.

[Jeff Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not that good - a synopsis is irrelevant. DNF at 48pp.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book.

Sixteen year old girl tells story of an 18 year old "foster sister" who comes to stay with her family. Unravels the story of her life, insights into the "sister". Tragic life, really. Uncle ?kills girlfriend?, shoots himself but survives, retarded. Girl and uncle's friend have a sexual encouter. . . statutory rape if not out-right non-consensual. "Sister" murders boyfriend, tries to hide by burning the body in girl's family's store's furnance, gas leak, store burns, uncle's friend inside. "Sister" runs away, girl goes on.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't quite what I expected. I enjoyed it overall, but it was hard to get into. The pacing was rather slow at the beginning, and by the time the action began the book was over somewhat abruptly.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evocative prose, interesting story, great writing. No spoilers from me, I really liked this book.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It was reasonably well written, but should have not sold itself as a thriller. I found the utter lack of tension rather frustrating.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: two unlikely friends and a dark tale of seduction and murder in Iowa. May and Frances seduce an older man; it ends in murder.