Title: True
Stories
Author: Helen
Garner
Publisher:
Text Publishing
Publish
date: 1996
ISBN: 978-1-921351-84-6
______________________________________________________________________
A mixed bag, in quality and relevance.
Garner probably knew this when she put it together, as the first story, ‘The
Art of the Dumb Question’, draws you into its quiet intrigue in a typically
Garnerish manner. The next few stories likewise pack a punch emotionally or by
half-shock-tactics, half honesty. Things start dwindling with ‘My Child In The
World’ and it’s a varied lot after that.
One wonders, why does the writer end up
visiting and inspecting crematoria and morgues? Perhaps there’s a legitimate
reporting reason behind it. Interesting as a one-time read that these pieces
are, they sit as uncomfortably on the page as the author depicts herself in
their physical space. Is their raison d'être similar to ‘Leonard Cohen’s taken a day job they say / For bizarre inspiration and
hourly pay’?
Worth the read. Three Moose Hoofs Up.
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