I was tipped off to Benjamin Percy’s work by a great article in Poets & Writers magazine that highlighted this young short story writer’s poignant grasp on contemporary masculinity and war. When the collection arrived, I was so not disappointed.
These short stories, especially the title story, literally pull you in to the high desert of central Oregon and drop you off, to feel, process, and face the emotional upheaval of our time, usually through the rich inner life of a young male character.
The effect is devastating, as in the title story where the young man trades blows with his best friend every day after school in the backyard—clearly an attempt to physicalize some of their mutual pain over having dads in Iraq indefinitely. He hits refresh over and over on his computer, praying for an email from his pops letting him know that he is, indeed, alive. The terrain is as unusual and vivid as the emotions that seem to echo it through out every carefully chosen word in this story. I felt like that kid was sitting on my couch and I knew I wouldn’t be able to hug him because he was already too invested in not letting on how fucking hard life is.
Other stories explore domestic violence, rape, thwarted love, miscarriages, familial relationships etc. Basically there isn’t a hot button issue concerning masculinity and violence that this volume doesn’t touch, although always in an artful, complex way.
I can’t frickin’ wait to see what this guy writes next.
Up next: Choice by Karen Bender and then Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit.
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"Refresh Refresh" was also included in the Best American Short Stories 2007 Volume. I found it to be pretty fascinating and very well written. One of the stories best qualities (to me) was how little judgement or explanation there was. It was dark and undeniably sad, but it was matter-of-fact. The boys don't engage in soul searching to explain why they are trading blows every day in the backyard. Instead the reader has to do that kind of soul searching and I, for one, was startled at how intimate the conclusions I came to felt.
I'd love to read more of Percy's work, too.
Benjamin Percy taught at my school (I had friends who had him as a prof and I only heard good things!)...So I guess I have to read this book now. Can't wait!
I gotta read this now.. it sounds incredible.
I can't freaking wait to read this!
i read this but i'm confused about the theme or moral of the story. i understand that its basically about how the 2 kids become men in no time but what is the theme? They try so hard to become like their fathers and end up being their fathers but if anyone knows some type of them it would be very much appreciated