bjr2022's review
5.0
Big Picture: stories by Percival Everett
This is my fourteenth Percival Everett tome, and as usual, it’s a creation unlike all the rest of Everett’s books even though it incorporates some of his common themes: the loner; the black cowboy who travels alone; the black painter who strives to remain true to himself; love of fly fishing, color, and a host of other things.
When I read the first short story, “Cerulean,” I was left puzzled. And then something interesting happened. And a different something happened after the second story—both were physical reactions to material that passes from the page into you, almost bypassing the intellect. And because of this, I’ve decided to review each story by largely keeping the content’s secret and instead saying what happened immediately on finishing it.
__________
“Cerulean” left me mystified. The writing of what appeared to be a slightly spooky domestic drama was clear but I had no idea what this story was trying to say. I closed the book, suddenly overcome with a kind of peaceful exhaustion. I closed my eyes and this peace took over—as if I were the blue sky. Cerulean blue. I think this was the point—merging with blue of “All That Is,” and because of that, having to fake being anything else.
“Turned Out” is a very short, layered rodeo story packed with such subtle tension that it’s hard to breathe. But it ends with a release. Power is used to control oneself in a trapped situation, and when freedom comes, it makes you go oooofff and resume easiness.
“Wolf at the Door” had more intellectual resonance for me than physical: We are all wolves-at-the-door beings; our animal nature is always there. And when we kill an animal, we kill ourselves. Some of us know this and are devastated by knowing. Others ignore it.
“Dicotyles Tajacu”
This dicotyles tajacu pig plays a part in this story which is a continuation of “Cerulean,” only this time there is no release. There's just a sad feeling of being trapped, helplessly stuck in our heads as we kill off animals who are at the mercy of our screwed up heads. Sad story.
“Pissing on Snakes” made me laugh. Not a big “ha-ha” funny laugh, but a resigned one about the trials of negotiating life.
“Wash” left me feeling kind of empty and awash—washed out—so maybe that’s its point. Not satisfying, but it is what it is: sometimes you just “don’t know nothing” and are incapable of hearing anything.
“Throwing Earth” is a magnificent slice of life with a pithy rancher whose actions come from a place the mind can never touch. It’s a sad story, but an honest one. So I feel kind of like the rancher—accepting and nonverbal about it.
“Squeeze” is a Western race story. Race is never not there. It’s exhausting and it’s a squeeze on life. I feel squeezed. And not in a good way.
“Big Picture” is the big picture and it left me heaving and moaning, “Oh man.” It is so hard to be human. Even harder to be true and honest. And even harder to be a black man who is true and honest, let alone trusting. This story was the final (third) act of the character in the stories “Cerulean” and “Dicotyles Tajacu.” It gives the whole book structure.
____________
This book of short stories will frustrate readers who want clear stories, but for those who have read other Percival Everett books and are comfortable with indefinable resonance and visceral reactions, enjoy!
A Note from the Morning After Reading
The book was next to my keys, awaiting return to the library, when it hit me: In this tiny (154 pages) book of stories, Percival Everett really writes everything there is to say about the struggle to both be true to yourself—discerning what is true, and at the same time interact with and connect to others who may not see or understand your truth or even care about truth. How do you interact with a culture that is essentially a fun-house mirror?
Percival Everett has a voice that introspective people whose main concern is truth may recognize as their own.
This is my fourteenth Percival Everett tome, and as usual, it’s a creation unlike all the rest of Everett’s books even though it incorporates some of his common themes: the loner; the black cowboy who travels alone; the black painter who strives to remain true to himself; love of fly fishing, color, and a host of other things.
When I read the first short story, “Cerulean,” I was left puzzled. And then something interesting happened. And a different something happened after the second story—both were physical reactions to material that passes from the page into you, almost bypassing the intellect. And because of this, I’ve decided to review each story by largely keeping the content’s secret and instead saying what happened immediately on finishing it.
__________
“Cerulean” left me mystified. The writing of what appeared to be a slightly spooky domestic drama was clear but I had no idea what this story was trying to say. I closed the book, suddenly overcome with a kind of peaceful exhaustion. I closed my eyes and this peace took over—as if I were the blue sky. Cerulean blue. I think this was the point—merging with blue of “All That Is,” and because of that, having to fake being anything else.
“Turned Out” is a very short, layered rodeo story packed with such subtle tension that it’s hard to breathe. But it ends with a release. Power is used to control oneself in a trapped situation, and when freedom comes, it makes you go oooofff and resume easiness.
“Wolf at the Door” had more intellectual resonance for me than physical: We are all wolves-at-the-door beings; our animal nature is always there. And when we kill an animal, we kill ourselves. Some of us know this and are devastated by knowing. Others ignore it.
“Dicotyles Tajacu”
This dicotyles tajacu pig plays a part in this story which is a continuation of “Cerulean,” only this time there is no release. There's just a sad feeling of being trapped, helplessly stuck in our heads as we kill off animals who are at the mercy of our screwed up heads. Sad story.“Pissing on Snakes” made me laugh. Not a big “ha-ha” funny laugh, but a resigned one about the trials of negotiating life.
“Wash” left me feeling kind of empty and awash—washed out—so maybe that’s its point. Not satisfying, but it is what it is: sometimes you just “don’t know nothing” and are incapable of hearing anything.
“Throwing Earth” is a magnificent slice of life with a pithy rancher whose actions come from a place the mind can never touch. It’s a sad story, but an honest one. So I feel kind of like the rancher—accepting and nonverbal about it.
“Squeeze” is a Western race story. Race is never not there. It’s exhausting and it’s a squeeze on life. I feel squeezed. And not in a good way.
“Big Picture” is the big picture and it left me heaving and moaning, “Oh man.” It is so hard to be human. Even harder to be true and honest. And even harder to be a black man who is true and honest, let alone trusting. This story was the final (third) act of the character in the stories “Cerulean” and “Dicotyles Tajacu.” It gives the whole book structure.
____________
This book of short stories will frustrate readers who want clear stories, but for those who have read other Percival Everett books and are comfortable with indefinable resonance and visceral reactions, enjoy!
A Note from the Morning After Reading
The book was next to my keys, awaiting return to the library, when it hit me: In this tiny (154 pages) book of stories, Percival Everett really writes everything there is to say about the struggle to both be true to yourself—discerning what is true, and at the same time interact with and connect to others who may not see or understand your truth or even care about truth. How do you interact with a culture that is essentially a fun-house mirror?
Percival Everett has a voice that introspective people whose main concern is truth may recognize as their own.
More...