The Proper Words for Sin
This collection of short fiction featuring variety in literary elements and techniques shows off the writing chops of Pennsylvania author Fincke. In the 11 stories, Fincke depicts the reactions of small-town folk to historical events. His characters are distinctive, with interesting quirks, and his plots, in conveying different crises of daily living, shed light on the human condition. His range extends to voice and person and is especially strong in the portrayal of boys on the verge of puberty or in their teens. Set in 1957, “Weepers” is told from the point of view of a 12-year-old boy who is experimenting with a neighbor’s booze and his own budding sexuality. In “The Proper Words for Sex,” a milkman describes his son’s friendship with the girl across the street, who is the object of the narrator’s sexual obsession. A proofreader at the community newspaper looks on ruefully while his mother deals with her arrest for threatening the police with poisonous snakes. This artful collection is sure to appeal to fans of the form. --Ellen Loughran