Until We Have Faces: Stories

by Michael Nye

"The hope of love burns at the center of this remarkable collection.” —Melissa Pritchard, award-winning author of A Solemn Pleasure

In a style reminiscent of John Cheever and Alice Munro, Michael Nye's second collection of stories, Until We Have Faces, contends with transfixing marital and familial estrangement, ways of trespass, the intractable mysteries and frights of modern life, the uncertainty of knowledge and truth, the gulfs between people and the technology we use, the frailty of our economic lives. Yet hope remains amongst these struggles. 

With his consummate skill, penetrating wit, and unfailing emotional generosity on full display in this fine new collection, award-winning storyteller Michael Nye brings together nine indelible short stories to provide an intimate look into the flawed nature of humanity, the universal questions of modern life, and the unending persistence of love amidst it all.

Genres: Short Stories

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2020

About the author

Michael Nye is the author of three books: the short-story collection STRATEGIES AGAINST EXTINCTION, the novel ALL THE CASTLES BURNED, and his forthcoming collection UNTIL WE HAVE FACES (Turner Publishing, 2020).

He attended the Ohio State University, where he graduated with a B.A. in English, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he earned his M.F.A. in creative writing.

His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in American Literary Review, Boulevard, Cincinnati Review, Crab Orchard Review, Epoch, Kenyon Review, New South, Sou’wester, and South Dakota Review, among many others. His work has been a finalist for the Katherine Anne Porter Prize in fiction and nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

He lives with his family in Columbus, Ohio, and is the editor-in-chief of Story.

Reviews

[Emily Mirengoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely, haunting collection of stories. Nye's portrayals are precise, nuanced, and empathetic--he treats his characters with the love and tenderness that you wish they'd receive from the world. There are common themes--loneliness, sports, technology--but each story is distinctive; they won't all blur together in my mind after a week. In fact, several will stick with me for a while, especially the first two, which are exceptionally insightful, propulsive, and humane. (Fun fact: sports play a big role in both, and I actively dislike sports, and still loved these stories, so.)

[Elizabeth Scheltens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memorable characters, vivid scenes, and ideas that stay with you long after the each story ends. What more could you ask for?

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see what other readers have liked. These stories are distinctive and varied in setting and events. But in the end I was struck with the sameness nevertheless. The back cover has a blurb which says this collection "reminds readers than love can overcome all," which seems diametrically opposed to what happens in almost all the stories. Most of the relationships fail, though in the last story (which bears the same title as the book), Ryan and Ali seem to find a way that theirs can limp along further.

This a set of depictions of male failure. Five of the nine stories center on men who have been laid off, and two others ("You, Only Better" and "The Good Shepherd" focus on men who are working but miserable. I guess I don't get a lot of pleasure from so many stories of people who are sad and/or struggling.

There is one set of similarities between the stories which I did find interesting and food for thought. We live in a US society where women and people of color too often do not get a fair shake. In this collection of stories, two people of color (a Black guy, Quentin, in the first one, and Ali, Chinese-American in the last) are the characters whose strength sustains the white male with whom they have a close relationship. While so many men are laid off, their female partners keep getting promoted. And in "You, Only Better," Amanda creates the company and works as the photographer while Colin is in charge of make-up for the photo subjects.

There are constant parallels drawn (on the book cover, in the Goodreads summary and in some reader comments) to the work of John Cheever. I have not read him in a long time, but I just don't remember Cheever's stories this way. The eight story, "Reunion," is homage to Cheever, and it is utterly different from the rest of the stories in the collection. And that story did seem Cheever-esque to me.

I agree that there is some originality in this group of stories, but I'm afraid they simply did not work for me as well as they did for other readers.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who are we behind the masks that are our faces we present to the world? Michael Nye's story collection Until We Have Faces peers behind the public self to the private in nine stories that takes on the pain of living, but trying to smile, or grimace, through. The opening story, "The Time We Lost Our Way," concerns two friends, one white and one black, their mutual love of basketball, and the divergent paths it takes them. What separates them is not their skills (they both turn pro), but how they react to the pressures placed upon them. In "Who Are You Wearing?," a part time gig promoting Halloween costumes by wearing large character costumes is the turning point in one man's relationship with his girlfriend, who insists he wears the characters' head during sex, literally turning him into someone else. In "Beauty in the Age of Chaos and Savagery" an ex-Football player who gets debilitating headaches desperately tries to get disability coverage from the NFL, who keep on denying him, confronts the limitations of his life when he befriends a neighborhood girl who has a killer throwing arm. And in the last, title story, a man with anger issues confronts the limitations of his anger with the help of his girlfriend, who is still grieving from the death of her older brother. Connecting all the stories is a sense of disconnect, from the world, from each other, from themselves, and how that's not how they can present themselves. Who are we without our presentable faces? Maybe our truer self.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are incredibly satisfying. Nye approaches his characters with care and a clear eye and heart. You'll find a variety of perspectives in this collection--the characters vary in age, occupation, gender, and ethnicity, and they're all believable, which is impressive. I think my favorite story was The Good Shepherd—creepy Cook got under my skin, and I can see Tim Blake Nelson playing Pruitt in the cinematic version.

[Kathy Brown]

I don't do stars. Recommended for fans of literary fiction, sports stories, and well-honed characters. Most of the stories take place among young adults dealing with their family-of-origin baggage, the economic upheavals of the 21st century, and relationships. There are stories about friendship, not just romance, which is cool. One story is science fiction, IMO, and it was my favorite (no surprise there), but readers who avoid depictions of animal cruelty should skip "The Good Shepherd."

[KYLE MILLER · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to this collection of short stories for reviewers comparison's of the writing to John Cheever and Alice Munro. Admittedly, a very high bar, as Cheever and Munro are among the best short story writers in the English language. And, no... Nye is no Cheever or Munro. Still, solid writing, some interesting characters, and some good stories.

[withlovelaura · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is an objectively good book, actually very impactful

unfortunately I couldn’t connect with the stories for the most part, except for a few. I think the content is geared to a slightly older western audience. I am neither older nor western, so I can’t really say much.

i really like the cover though

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid collection of stories focused on the human experience, with a nod to what so much of the country thinks of as flyover states. Heartfelt, at times hard hitting, and always with a certain eloquence - Nye's words deliver time and again with this one.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like les mis if they just told you the tragic backstory and not the happy endings but less french and by extension less cool.

Idk why this was written but I'm glad it was cause I did enjoy reading it.

[NCgran · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the entire book, however I did not care for the stories. They seemed to be about seriously damaged people and I could find nothing redeeming about them. In particular, "The Good Shepherd" is one of the most frightening stories I have ever read, gave me nightmares.

[Anna Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thrift store find and I thoroughly enjoyed it despite its recurring sports references and themes (something I don’t care much about). Nye tries a few things here, but his best works in this collection are his slice of life stories.

3.5 stars, rounded up

[Mariann Iruegas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutamente todos los personajes de este libro necesitan terapia

[chloe cartwright · Rating 3 out of 5]

first story GRIPPED me! shed a tear fr… something about the friendship and basketball, i need a movie about them! the rest of the stories :/ (i liked the last one)

[Rachel Swearingen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until We Have Faces startles and sustains with its varied settings, its portraits of former athletes and soldiers, of regular people trying to rebuild their lives or simply find their way home. I love this collection. Michael Nye delivers each story with the grace and aplomb of one well versed in the dark wonders of the human heart.

[Lee Levin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written over the last eight years, Michael Nye's new short story collection is even more befitting of today's world. With impressive range and exquisitely drawn characters, Until We Have Faces is a triumph for a writer who continues to make his mark.