Short Story Month - Retro Review - The Genius of Hunger by Diane Goodman

I wrote the following review of Diane Goodman's debut story collection, The Genius of Hunger, back on August 8, 2003 and distributed it to the EWN.  The collection was one of many published by Carnegie Mellon University and edited by Sharon Dilworth that were just fantastic collections.  It was great that she (Sharon) had carved out this niche back then and it's great to know she's still going strong these days at Autumn House!

It is difficult to believe that The Genius of Hunger is Diane Goodman's first collection of short stories; there must be five to ten uncollected stories out
there that aren't nearly as tightly written, character driven, and emotional.

Goodman's writing captures her characters within a few short sentences.  She allows the reader into the minds of her protagonists, who are all women by the way. They are woman looking for something, and in many cases, the rather gender specific idea that food can be a substitute for this something is employed.  In no case however is it obvious and stilted.  Goodman utilizes food and desire for such as a parallel story in many of the efforts here, but never beats her readers over the head with this analogy.

The first story, "Joan," covers the story of a middle-aged woman shopping at an upscale grocery store.  She's the type of doesn't like turning left, pays attention to what those behind her are saying via her rear-view mirror, and constantly apologizes when others are at fault.  She believes that her appearance leaps out at others, she no longer fits in her clothing for one. 

She is having great difficulties with her teenage son who has gone beyond the standard disagreeing with everything she suggests and wants for him to actively stating that he hates her.  In a move that the reader fully expects, Joan gets flustered in the store after running into the svelte mother of one of her son's better friends.  She ends up getting in the way of a young man in one of the very tight aisles and knocks over a column of rice cakes.  While cleaning up the mess, after apologizing to all of the customers within earshot, she feels a burning sensation in her back. Stooped over and needing to use the restroom, Joan wants nothing but to get to the cashier and slither out of the store.  Instead she has her cart bumped by the young man and she falls to the floor, unable to get back up.

What she finally does, blinded by pain, and humiliation, is speak with an authoritative voice to the young man who has led, albeit slightly indirectly, to her situation.  After trying to fight it briefly, he succumbs to her situation and tries to aid the situation talking to Joan, serving her wine and going with her in the ambulance.

This story is certainly representative of Goodman's efforts. Joan is clearly not an emotionally fulfilled woman and Goodman spells out clearly why this is the case.  The story involves Joan's interactions with other women, as well as being in the rather mundane setting of buying groceries for dinner.  Her every action is understandable and is so because of Goodman's abilities as a writer.  Find this one and look forward to her next work.