A review by otterno11
Not Normal, Illinois: Peculiar Fictions from the Flyover by Michael Martone
2.0
This collection of "peculiar fictions from the Flyover" really showcases an interesting variety of short fiction, poetry, and even a few creative non-fiction pieces from writers from the various states that make up the American Midwest (whatever that is!). While most have at least an intriguing idea or style behind them, the sheer number of stories presented (33) tends to make the collection a bit too dense to easily get into, unfortunately. This is particularly the case in the stories that dragged a little themselves, due to some slightly overwrought pretension or other. It is cool to see so many different takes on what makes the Midwest "different", though.
Themes of dark humor, melancholy, nostalgia, and even magical realism all show up in these tales from the plains, farms, woods, and cities of the Middle West. The majority of the stories seemed to hail from the states of Illinois, Ohio, and, in particular, Indiana, and reflects the feelings of these states more than those further north or west. Some really captured the ethos of the region, I feel, while others seemed less connected to the theme, I felt. The enjoyability of the stories was not always reflected by either of these elements, though.
My favorites were the pieces of Louise Erdrich (Fuck with Kayla and You Die) and George Saunders (The Red Bow), of course, but The River Dead of Minneapolis Scavenged by Teenagers by Mark Ehling, July Snow by Scott Russell Sanders, and Natural Citizens by Deb Olin Unferth were also very interesting.
Themes of dark humor, melancholy, nostalgia, and even magical realism all show up in these tales from the plains, farms, woods, and cities of the Middle West. The majority of the stories seemed to hail from the states of Illinois, Ohio, and, in particular, Indiana, and reflects the feelings of these states more than those further north or west. Some really captured the ethos of the region, I feel, while others seemed less connected to the theme, I felt. The enjoyability of the stories was not always reflected by either of these elements, though.
My favorites were the pieces of Louise Erdrich (Fuck with Kayla and You Die) and George Saunders (The Red Bow), of course, but The River Dead of Minneapolis Scavenged by Teenagers by Mark Ehling, July Snow by Scott Russell Sanders, and Natural Citizens by Deb Olin Unferth were also very interesting.