GOING AWAY SHOES and FERRIS BEACH: REVIEWS

REVIEWING

Jill

McCorkle's

Books

GOING AWAY SHOES

Jill McCorkle has made me a convert. I often see short stories but haven't read them for years. I am writing myself but never considered writing a short story. Oh, but I could write like McCorkle who has presented us with 11 gifts--11 stories that are all wonderful. She has been called "the guardian angel of American short fiction" and this book is proof enough for me. All the stores are somewhat connected in that they do describe families whose dreams and expectations are just not being met in one way or another.

The title short story "Going Away Shoes" tells the tale of the eldest daughter left to care for her aging mother. A story many of us have, are, or will face some day. Debby Tyler, the daughter, has even given up her career to take care of her dying mother. Debby is described painfully as she spends her days literally changing her mom's Depends while trying to allow her mother to keep some sense of dignity. Debby's mother has moments of clarity when Debby wishes they could make up in some way as theirs has not been a sweet connection for many years.


The title shoes happen to be the shoes the mother wore for her "going away" outfit after her wedding. That is one reason the story is given its title. The other reason is more symbolic in that Debby wishes she was in shoes that could be taking her away. Debby had a falling out with her mother when she didn't approve of the boy she loved and he was lost to her. It is hard not to tell you all about what happens in this story but I will tell you one more thing and then you can read this story and find out what happens. The shoes mentioned are also the shoes the mother has asked to be buried in and lest you think Jill McCorkle is a "happily ever after always tie it up with a bow writer"...think again!

And so with these 11 stories, a common theme of people making the wrong decisions is evident. Wrong choices and desires that aren't being met go from the shoe story all the way to the end with "Me and Big Foot" and no, the stories are not all about feet! In the last story all hopes are misplaced as a woman finds a note on a windshield of a truck belonging to some stranger that has been abandoned in her driveway for the winter. What hopes are hung on that note and truck and how much is real and how much isn't make for a perfect ending to a perfect 11 stories. It is no wonder with the release of this treasure that Algonquin saw fit to re-release the next book I will review of Jill McCorkle's, FERRIS BEACH. They knew that after reading GOING AWAY SHOES new fans of this wonderful author would want more and so here it is!

FERRIS BEACH

When FERRIS BEACH was first released it was described as a coming-of-age novel and words like "enchanting, touching, funny, tragic, sensitive, evocative, moving" were all bestowed on this amazing book. FERRIS BEACH is a story that takes place in a small town in the south in the 1970's when things were changing. Kate Burns is the only child of Fred and Cleva Burns. She is a sensitive and timid, but still has dreams and aspirations. She is always thinking about Ferris Beach as that is where her cousin, Angela, who Kate thinks is gorgeous, lives what Kate believes to be an exciting, charmed life.

When the new, modern house across the street from the historic and OLD house where the Burns live is sold, another family from Ferris Beach moves in. Misty Rhodes and her family are so different from Kate's, that it is like night and day. They are as exciting as the Burns are dull. Kate takes up being friends with this exciting newcomer, Misty, and they become best friends quickly. Misty and her mother have a relationship that Kate can only dream of. They become like one that summer, and Kate is overjoyed with having this new and daring relationship. All is well until the Fourth of July when their lives are changed forever.

The characters in the story are so well developed that you feel that you know them. McCorkle is able to play to the reader's emotions and grab their attention as the story moves along and the reader gets more deeply, personally involved. FERRIS BEACH is a perfect read for everyone. The ending will not disappoint you and you will come away from this book having learned about Kate and all that is part of her life...and will quite possibly become part of yours.

DON'T FORGET THAT
THANKS TO COURTNEY AND THE
GOOD PEOPLE AT ALGONQUIN BOOKS,
I HAVE THREE SETS OF THESE
FABULOUS BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY

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