Ah yes, the very early days. Not that I believe I write reviews that are worthy of being read nowadays, but I do like to think that they're done better than those from back in 2000, like this one is from. That first year of writing, nearly everything was done on enthusiasm, and there was scant critical thought being applied. That said, I still think this is an excellent book.
Originally emailed to EWN members in mid-2000
Who Do You Love by Jean Thompson
320 pages from Houghton Mifflin published in 1999
It is appalling that a writer of Jean Thompson's talent needs to have her book nominated for the National Book Award before a store like Borders will carry more than one copy of her work. It is appalling as well, that said store will only carry copies of the work that was nominated, not her other two short story collections or two novels. I read her original collection of short stories, The Gasoline Wars, about ten years ago and was extremely impressed. I wasn't even aware of the three published works in between that and this newest collection.
Who Do You Love is a fantastic collection of stories dealing with sad individuals, at
difficult times in their lives, reacting to various stages of their latest love interests. The collection takes us through various landscapes, from the northwest rainy Oregon all the way to the grubby southeast states. The individuals vary from young to old; the only constants being the state of sadness, and the fact that the reader cares about them.
It is Thompson's use of language that is most impressive. There are times where she goes above and beyond what you would expect in her character dialogues or descriptions. There is a specific point that you find yourself believing most writers would have stopped, but she goes on and does so successfully. Only a confident writer would go this far. As an observer, she obviously has a tremendous ear. You find yourself re-reading full sections of her work just in appreciation of her art. She is by no means a minimalist, but she does not waste a word. The stories have an intelligence to them and while melancholy in nature, there is a stunning use of wit as well.
Search out her work and put it on your shelf next to the work by Huddle and Bell and others who have mastered this craft.
5 stars
Thanks for posting this, Dan. Jean's work is among the best in the country. And it's wonderful to be reminded of this good book and your discovery of it. Well done.
Posted by: Alyson | May 17, 2010 at 08:42 AM