This Close: Stories
In the 12 stories collected here, Kane once again reminds readers of her ability to observe life’s finer details while keeping a sharp eye on the big picture. In Lucky Boy, a newcomer to New York City develops an unusual relationship with his dry cleaner while learning to navigate life in the Big Apple. Two neighbors in American Lawn share a garden plot while competing for the attentions of a local farmer. A mother and her young son ponder their respective pasts and futures while selling their possessions at a garage sale in First Sale. Lesson places this same duo behind the wheel of a moving car several years later, providing a snapshot of their changing relationship. Readers of Kane’s well-received debut novel, The Report (2010), will recognize her steady hand and welcome another opportunity to experience her carefully crafted work. Intriguing, delicate, graceful, and deeply moving, this is a collection to be read and pondered over. It will draw readers into worlds both foreign and familiar while turning the everyday into something extraordinary. --Carol Gladstein