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What Gets Into Us
In this collection of short stories by Moira Crone, a curious child discovers that some believe “the gods who made this world didn't make it right, and they are terribly sorry about it.” A nine-year-old girl is the only one who realizes that her mother's mental illness has put the family's survival at stake. A shy African American woman confronts evil directly in a terrifying act of love. A teenage orphan replaces a wayward son in a privileged but unhappy family. A young carpenter decides that if his baby is going to be born right, he will have to commit a crime and build the world anew.
Fayton, North Carolina, is a rural town in which everyone knows everyone else's business. Crone explores this fictional landscape and its inhabitants from many angles. The stories follow the lives of men and women who grew up together in Fayton. Full of memorable characters from several generations, this story cycle evolves into a chronicle of a region and its characters. Through it, Crone meditates on the mix of history and spirit that shapes souls and creates community.
From the perspectives of its various protagonists―white and black, male and female, young and old―we watch as Fayton comes to deal with the charged issues of race, feminism, southern traditions, and the unforeseen changes wrought by economics and technology. What Gets Into Us is a powerful story cycle that resonates as deeply as a classic novel.
Fayton, North Carolina, is a rural town in which everyone knows everyone else's business. Crone explores this fictional landscape and its inhabitants from many angles. The stories follow the lives of men and women who grew up together in Fayton. Full of memorable characters from several generations, this story cycle evolves into a chronicle of a region and its characters. Through it, Crone meditates on the mix of history and spirit that shapes souls and creates community.
From the perspectives of its various protagonists―white and black, male and female, young and old―we watch as Fayton comes to deal with the charged issues of race, feminism, southern traditions, and the unforeseen changes wrought by economics and technology. What Gets Into Us is a powerful story cycle that resonates as deeply as a classic novel.
- GenresShort Stories
190 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 6, 2023
I read The Ice Garden by this author a few weeks ago and was so impressed I had my library request this through ILL. The first story, The Ice Garden, was the novella that preceded the novel, and was shorter of course, but just as powerful. The following stories follow the other members of the community of Fayton from the 60's into the year 2000.
With the same flawless prose, again Crone takes us into the heart of a small town in NC, and probes into the comfort and ease of knowing everything about everyone, along with the harm that can be done by those same conditions. Some very revealing chapters by Pauline and Sidney, the black women who work in white employers homes and raise and protect their children. We get children's viewpoints, who know more than people think they do about some things, but not enough to protect themselves when the need arises.
I was able to learn more about Claire McKenzie, 9 years old in The Ice Garden, and what the future held for her. All in all, a very satisfying continuation of the characters and the town that I loved so much in the previous book.
With the same flawless prose, again Crone takes us into the heart of a small town in NC, and probes into the comfort and ease of knowing everything about everyone, along with the harm that can be done by those same conditions. Some very revealing chapters by Pauline and Sidney, the black women who work in white employers homes and raise and protect their children. We get children's viewpoints, who know more than people think they do about some things, but not enough to protect themselves when the need arises.
I was able to learn more about Claire McKenzie, 9 years old in The Ice Garden, and what the future held for her. All in all, a very satisfying continuation of the characters and the town that I loved so much in the previous book.
September 10, 2015
Though this was written before The Ice Garden, it was interesting to read it afterward. Through the linked stories, one character's story leading to another's, the time period advancing with each, I was able to revisit Claire, see what the future holds for her, find out more about her neighbors Lily, Cheryl Ann and the Cobbs, as well as the white families' 'domestics', Sidney and Pauline. Claire is not the only one with a horrible family secret; and though many secrets are not really such to the other residents of the fictional Fayton, North Carolina, some never come to light.
As in The Ice Garden, relationships between fathers and daughters, and mothers and daughters (and in a couple of instances here, parents and sons) are nonexistent, uneasy, or even downright harmful. Communication is fraught, even when there is (unexpressed) love. The changes to the town, arguably the main character of the collection, taking us from 1959 to 2000, when most now live on its outskirts, are rendered lightly and effectively through Crone's reliable, lyrical prose.
As in The Ice Garden, relationships between fathers and daughters, and mothers and daughters (and in a couple of instances here, parents and sons) are nonexistent, uneasy, or even downright harmful. Communication is fraught, even when there is (unexpressed) love. The changes to the town, arguably the main character of the collection, taking us from 1959 to 2000, when most now live on its outskirts, are rendered lightly and effectively through Crone's reliable, lyrical prose.
December 11, 2022
Powerful and poignant. Each chapter feeds into the other with such grace and deliberate thought by the author. I do not want to add much to this review for a simple reason: this book doesn’t need much other than the three words I started this review.
May 31, 2012
The cover story is a frightening, psychologically true depiction of what can only be described as a child's worse nightmare-- mommy is not only not a safe harbor, but someone to fear. Home is not where we find the ones who make us more alive, who give us life. There is a sense of foreboding and the sadness that pervades the commonplace. Crone's language is direct and her character depictions. Unlike some "Southern" writers, Crone is also a master of plot, and each of these short stories feel like a complete miniaturization of a very real and unique situation without any cloying preciousness. I highly recommend reading anything by Crone, but "What Gets Into Us" is not a bad start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2010
I first heard Moira's work out loud, she was reading from "The Ice Garden." I fell in love.
Beautiful language and a variety of voices. It's based in North Carolin and i couldn't escape the thought that she's writing about places I know with different names. Perhaps that was part of it's charm for me too.
Beautiful language and a variety of voices. It's based in North Carolin and i couldn't escape the thought that she's writing about places I know with different names. Perhaps that was part of it's charm for me too.
Want to read
September 16, 2007I need to read this. She's a pretty awesome lady.
May 11, 2008
Very good.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews