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jessferg's review
4.0
Over the past couple of years I've been trying to revisit the books that I've read piecemeal and go through them cover to cover. It's not always necessary - there aren't always themes that I've missed - but Whiskey, Etc. does such a great job of "categorizing" the stories that it was definitely worth complying with the "real" beginning and end.
The down side is that it's hard to take this all in at once. Flash fiction, by design, is so intense, sometimes all you need is one or two stories to take you through the day and that's as true here as anywhere.
Almost every character in these stories seems to be detached not only from their world, but from themselves - it creates such a strange mix of melancholy and frustration. The characters who aren't fully submerged in their needs are definitely circling the drain - all of their "solutions" seem so obvious and yet every time it's just beyond reach.
I can't say exactly why but I was reminded of Sarah Orne Jewett's writing. Perhaps it's the contrasts between the desire to be cosmopolitan while feeling utterly provincial, or the way the characters all seem bound by circumstances that are actually in their own control. The settings, while incredibly varied, also call Jewett to mind simply for the sense of place that Flick is able to establish in, sometimes, less than two full pages.
I have used this book on a number of occasions to stop the incessant whining of those who tell me they "don't have time to read" and it's always an eye-opening experience for them. Overall, it's a wonderful collection of stories for fans of short stories and those who need to broaden their horizons.
The down side is that it's hard to take this all in at once. Flash fiction, by design, is so intense, sometimes all you need is one or two stories to take you through the day and that's as true here as anywhere.
Almost every character in these stories seems to be detached not only from their world, but from themselves - it creates such a strange mix of melancholy and frustration. The characters who aren't fully submerged in their needs are definitely circling the drain - all of their "solutions" seem so obvious and yet every time it's just beyond reach.
I can't say exactly why but I was reminded of Sarah Orne Jewett's writing. Perhaps it's the contrasts between the desire to be cosmopolitan while feeling utterly provincial, or the way the characters all seem bound by circumstances that are actually in their own control. The settings, while incredibly varied, also call Jewett to mind simply for the sense of place that Flick is able to establish in, sometimes, less than two full pages.
I have used this book on a number of occasions to stop the incessant whining of those who tell me they "don't have time to read" and it's always an eye-opening experience for them. Overall, it's a wonderful collection of stories for fans of short stories and those who need to broaden their horizons.
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