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12: Best Canadian Stories
John Metcalf knows writing is hard work. At the same time, he’s always seen it as play, something like building castles in the sand. Readers, he is convinced, must be prepared to play with writers. They must pull up their trousers and get down on their hands and knees if they want to understand the castles writers are building in the sand. Are you confused by Douglas Glover? Then play with him. Baffled by Keath Fraser? Relax and listen. Enjoy the obliquities of Lynn Coady. Live in the torrents of words as they pour over you. The story is constantly changing and readers have to change as well.
Contributors: Caroline Adderson, Adrian Michael Kelly, Marjorie Celona, Nancy Jo Cullen, Douglas Glover, Shaena Lambert, Lynn Coady, Nadine McInnis, Steven Heighton, Keath Fraser
Contributors: Caroline Adderson, Adrian Michael Kelly, Marjorie Celona, Nancy Jo Cullen, Douglas Glover, Shaena Lambert, Lynn Coady, Nadine McInnis, Steven Heighton, Keath Fraser
167 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 25, 2022
Ten well written short stories dealing with broken families, broken relationships, poverty. Insightful certainly but too depressing for me. Good writing is not limited to grim reality. Empathy and humour are permitted.
August 16, 2013
Amazing & beautiful & haunting ...
This is a fairly even collection, which one rarely finds. There were a couple of stories I didn't like as much, but for the most part, these stories emotionally abducted me & took me for a roller coaster ride of dysfunctional families & mixed up, non-communicative relationships.
The lush though stark Canadian landscape provides a perfect backdrop for these stories, often echoing the characters' feelings in near-perfect pathetic fallacy. For example, in Celona's 'Family Stories', the cold & confusing & just plain fucked up family history that Nora, the main character, is faced with, is reinforced by the howling winds & cool damp of James Bay, Victoria.
Kudos to editor John Metcalf for putting together this wonderful collection -- can't wait to see what will be in the 43rd volume.
This is a fairly even collection, which one rarely finds. There were a couple of stories I didn't like as much, but for the most part, these stories emotionally abducted me & took me for a roller coaster ride of dysfunctional families & mixed up, non-communicative relationships.
The lush though stark Canadian landscape provides a perfect backdrop for these stories, often echoing the characters' feelings in near-perfect pathetic fallacy. For example, in Celona's 'Family Stories', the cold & confusing & just plain fucked up family history that Nora, the main character, is faced with, is reinforced by the howling winds & cool damp of James Bay, Victoria.
Kudos to editor John Metcalf for putting together this wonderful collection -- can't wait to see what will be in the 43rd volume.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews