I have read four of these stories, all very well written, although one ended too abruptly for my taste. But the winner for me was "Town and Country." I groaned when I saw it was about Alzheimer's, but it was such a great take on it. And the voice of both the father and son are so strong. I hope Town and Country Motel exists somewhere because I know a few folks who would fit in there perfectly. "Mr. Voice" was also a delight--the good stepfather isn't often found in literature.
I very much liked the novel BEAUTIFUL RUINS by Walter from a few years back too.
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As Alz and its cousins hit home for me as for many, I might just look into this. Thanks for the pointer!
It is really hard to write about Alzheimer's, Patti. I've read a few things that just didn't...work. But this sounds very good. Glad you thought it worked.
I like Walter's writing too, ever since CITIZEN VINCE and OVER TUMBLED GRAVES. I haven't read his short stories, but I put it on hold.
I read and enjoyed the Eric Ambler collection, WAITING FOR ORDERS. The subtitle is relevant: "Memories and Other Fictions." He talks about under what circumstances he wrote the stories and where and how he was living at various times in his life, all of which is interesting too. The Dr. Czissar stories are quite fun in their way, though very similar to each other.
Dan Chaon's early collection, FITTING ENDS, is quite depressing in parts. The stories are all (so far) set in Nebraska, where is is from, and it was his first book. In "Going Out," Scott is 21 and an alcoholic, living at home with his alcoholic father and going to AA meetings together. His father was an abusive drunk when Scott was growing up, but he is very different now. Scott himself is pretty depressed, with no real interests in life. (His mother is long gone from the picture.) In "Spirit Voices," Robert, the narrator, is 27 and living with his wife, two year old and a newborn in Nebraska, where he runs the motel he inherited from his father. There is his sister, Joan, who always seems to be around. His wife's brother, Kent, is working for him since his wife ran off and left him with a two year old. Again, the narrator seems awfully depressed to me. The one story I disliked intensely was "Chinchilla," which has a woman narrator and which I found exceedingly creepy.
It is hard to find a story/novel/movie/tv show that isn't sad and depressing, isn't it? Most writers tend to be dark people, especially short story writers.
One of the stories that I really liked in the Elizabeth McCracken's THE SOUVENIR MUSEUM was about Alzheimer's and a father / son relationship. And not depressing at all to me even though both my parents died with Alzheimer's (or dementia).
I have heard so much good about BEAUTIFUL RUINS that I bought a copy a few years ago but still haven't read it.
Another downer Chaon story with a depressed-seeming protagonist: "Transformations." Todd is about to graduate high school, and as in that other story has no ambition. His older brother Corky, who was the star of his high school (he is four years older), has moved to New York, where he came out and does a cabaret drag act. Now he has come home for Todd's graduation, and the latter fears what he will do. Will he show up in drag and embarrass him? Again, the story is brought down by its depressed protagonist. One can't help but wonder if all these sad young men were how Chaon sees himself at that age.
Yay, I didn't find the Alzheimers story that depressing except for the fact that the son had to retell his father every day that he was gay. He never remembered that.
Maybe he is still a depressed guy. Generally it doesn't go away.
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