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desterman 's review for:
Permafrost
by SJ Norman
Permafrost consists of seven short stories, each of which explore the concept of haunting or being haunted. This is examined from a range of positions, with nods to the gothic and romantic genres. The stories are told from different narrative perspectives and voices, from a variety of different locations, including Australia, Japan, and Europe. The stories are all dark, but not without humour, with many preoccupied with the power of place and those who lay claim place even after they have physically gone from it, so often a core feature of the gothic and horror genres. The writing is sharp, enticing, and exact. Norman has an incredibly ability to use sensory imagery to bring place and the experiences within that place to life for the reader. The direction of the narratives is always unpredictable, conveying a wide range of themes within the confines of “haunting” including family, love, travel, identity, power, and grief.
My favourite from this collection is the simple 'Secondhand' about a character’s account of the interesting items and people they encounter working in a secondhand bookshop. The story was perfectly paced and the twist at the end a little masterstroke paying homage to so many great ghost stories. I also enjoyed 'Unspeakable' about a tourist’s trip to Auschwitz after hours in winter time. This offered a disturbing yet thoughtful mediation on history and the importance of bearing witness. The final story, the lengthy 'Playback', contains threads of all the stories, uniting them in one gorgeous reflection on both haunting and being haunted. The aural imagery in this piece was particularly moving.
An engrossing read from cover to cover!
My favourite from this collection is the simple 'Secondhand' about a character’s account of the interesting items and people they encounter working in a secondhand bookshop. The story was perfectly paced and the twist at the end a little masterstroke paying homage to so many great ghost stories. I also enjoyed 'Unspeakable' about a tourist’s trip to Auschwitz after hours in winter time. This offered a disturbing yet thoughtful mediation on history and the importance of bearing witness. The final story, the lengthy 'Playback', contains threads of all the stories, uniting them in one gorgeous reflection on both haunting and being haunted. The aural imagery in this piece was particularly moving.
An engrossing read from cover to cover!