Thompson-Spires’ debut short story collection is darkly humourous
and thought provoking. Some of the characters appear in multiple stories and
there’s a good sense of cohesion and neat circularity. The opening story jolts
you into the seriousness of the content with an innocent black man being shot
by police. We then move on to petty office politics, the pitfalls of social media
obsession, and competitive parents point scoring against each other. The
subjects of the stories have wide appeal and relatability but the normality of
the lives depicted make the painful truths that much more stark.
For the younger characters especially there’s a certain amount of
conflict regarding their identity. They find themselves in predominantly white
environments and some become conflicted, keeping different aspects of their
lives separate, adjusting the way they speak or do their hair depending on who
they’re spending time with. The book gives us an insight into the challenges
facing black people in America today and the ways in which they navigate this.
Relationships are examined in almost all of the stories. We see a
mother and daughter falling out over disagreements on YouTube content and the
false perfect family image they show to the world. There’s teens struggling to
find true connection in a world that never switches off and mothers struggling
to look after their children, worn down by the tragedies they witness every
day. This is a thoughtful collection that’s full of cutting observations on the
modern world. The stories are engaging and sometimes shocking, with a host of
characters that capture the imagination. A brilliant read.
No comments:
Post a Comment