The Pegnitz Junction
Characterized by an almost sparseness of detail and an elegance of style,The Pegnitz Junctioncomprises a novella and five short stories that evoke a vivid picture of post-World War II Europe. Mavis Gallant's writing is precise and pointed, yet opens doors to larger questions of identity and freedom in a world devastated by war. In the multi-voiced narrative of the title piece, a young woman on a train is conscious of the thoughts and feelings of her fellow passengers. Nearly all the "interference" she receives from those around her concerns moments in their lives they cannot move beyond: old grudges, wounds that won't heal. "Decide what the rest of your life is to be. Whatever you are now, you might be forever..." she silently advises a man returning to the scene of a childhood memory. Mavis Gallant beautifully illustrates the idea that sometimes, in a passing glance, we can tell everything about a person's life and, at the same time she explores the paralysis that such a vision can leave us with. In her stories, she explores the ways in which people deal with pain and betrayal: the concentration camp victim in "Old Friends," the compromises of marriage in "Alien Flower." She suggests, with subtlety and gentle acceptance, that in order to live we must also endure a thousand small deaths. Mavis Gallant's portrait of these moments is both moving and full of respect.-- For great reviews of books for girls, check outLet's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. --From500 Great Books by Women; review by Sonja Larsen