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A review by jessicarc88
This Close by Jessica Francis Kane
3.0
I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
This collection of short stories showcases simple, every day experiences. It is not extravagant or complex, but beautiful in its simplicity and understanding of the every day.
My personal favorite story is about a first time mother dealing with the grief of losing her child. Through the grieving process she believes that somehow her toddler was cursed by a woman she had encountered in a CVS pharmacy, and spends many afternoons in the same store as a result. Not knowing if she and her husband will be able to overcome the grief and support each other, they finally come together again in the store. It is a touching, honest and lovely moment when the mother comes to terms with the fact that they lost their daughter through the fault of no one.
Contrasting this story of grief is a story over the pettiness and jealousy between neighbors. When a new family moves into the house next door, Pat becomes upset over the positive changes that are happening next door. Trying to one-up her neighbor, Pat allows a man to garden in her yard in exchange for some of the vegetables produced. The man befriends the neighbor instead, who views him as a human being and not some form of a hired hand. Pat becomes jealous of the closeness between the two and eventually tries to show the man that her neighbor is selfish and irresponsible because she waters her yard during a drought.
Overall a likeable collection of the hidden stories inside all of us.
This collection of short stories showcases simple, every day experiences. It is not extravagant or complex, but beautiful in its simplicity and understanding of the every day.
My personal favorite story is about a first time mother dealing with the grief of losing her child. Through the grieving process she believes that somehow her toddler was cursed by a woman she had encountered in a CVS pharmacy, and spends many afternoons in the same store as a result. Not knowing if she and her husband will be able to overcome the grief and support each other, they finally come together again in the store. It is a touching, honest and lovely moment when the mother comes to terms with the fact that they lost their daughter through the fault of no one.
Contrasting this story of grief is a story over the pettiness and jealousy between neighbors. When a new family moves into the house next door, Pat becomes upset over the positive changes that are happening next door. Trying to one-up her neighbor, Pat allows a man to garden in her yard in exchange for some of the vegetables produced. The man befriends the neighbor instead, who views him as a human being and not some form of a hired hand. Pat becomes jealous of the closeness between the two and eventually tries to show the man that her neighbor is selfish and irresponsible because she waters her yard during a drought.
Overall a likeable collection of the hidden stories inside all of us.