Amazing Things Are Happening Here

Another wonderful excursion by Jacob M. Appel into the ordinary and bizarre. I’ve read every one of his books and short story collections and this collection, I think, is the best. Appel has remarkable insight into the human condition and is a master crafter of sentences. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of having breakfast with Appel last spring and it was as delightful as reading his stories.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher as an ARC.

To say that Appel's writing evokes a strong emotional response would be an understatement. In fact, Jacob Appel writes his characters so well, that I still seethe with rage thinking about his most unlikeable characters, like Donald the ex you can't get rid of and the scheming nurse whose name escapes me at this moment. 
In each story, Appel creates a complete world, each different from the next. I'm very impressed with how unique each universe is from the others. I also appreciated how he doesn't devote much time to describing characters' physical appearance in great detail. It's a minor pet peeve of mine when there is a lot of physical description. If it is not absolutely necessary to the plot, then I'd prefer little to no physical descriptions. I like to imagine my own characters' appearances however I see fit.
Though I rated this book 4 stars out of 5 (where 5 is "This is the best book -- I'll never forget this book"), I feel that 3.5 would be more appropriate. Certain parts felt corny and cliche, especially the endings of some of the stories. I also don't like his approach to romantic themes. I almost gave up on this book completely after reading Canvassing. The way Josh interacts with and talks about Vanessa screams stereotypical "man writing about women romantically". You know, the kind of writing that makes you want to simultaneously cringe and dry heave. Luckily, this is a collection of SHORT stories. I would not have been able to take an entire book's worth of Canvassing. If you can make it through Canvassing, I assure you, the stories get better.
My favorite story is The Bigamist's Accomplice. Though it also involves romance, the focus is more on the "married" couple's spouses, who must put the artificial wedding ceremony together. It's sad, yet sweet. I can't imagine what I would do if my life partner wanted to marry someone else and I had to be the one to allow it. It raises questions of giving up pieces of your own happiness for the sake of someone you love; doing the things you SHOULD do over what you want to do. When I put myself in Arlene's place, I feel absolutely crushed at the thought that the person I spent my entire life with is moving on without the mental capacity to even miss me. But at the same time, it's nice how the new wife is "the other Arlene".

*note that the review will appear at the attached link by the end of the week; it's not up yet

This is an interesting collection of short stories (eight stories in all), each one thought provoking in its own way. Some of them seem like deceptively simple, straightforward narratives that provide nothing more than a moment of literary escape ... yet hours or possibly even days after reading them aspects of what I'd read came back to me. Made me think. I like that. 

Rather than give a rundown on all eight stories in the collection I will simply touch on the two that I found to be the most compelling: The Bigamist's Accomplice and Live Shells.

The Bigamist's Accomplice is the poignant story of a wife dealing with her husband's dementia. After thirty-seven years together he barely recognizes her... And when he does it seems those memories are fleeting, he knows her more as a regular visitor at his nursing home than as the woman who's shared his life. 

Live Shells is an introduction to May, "a thrice divorced woman of forty-eight", whose first ex-husband chooses to reenter her life - after a twenty-one  year absence - on the occasion of her first date in months. A larger than life Hemingway-esque character full of blustering machismo he quickly wrecks havoc on everything around him.

The author does an excellent job of capturing the essence of his characters. Keeping each individual story unique and distinct from the other.  It's a bit intense at times but well worth reading. 

I would recommend this book to any reader who enjoys literary fiction, particularly in short form. 

***Thanks to NetGalley, Black Lawrence Press, and author Jacob M. Appel for providing me with a complimentary copy of Amazing Things Are Happening Here in exchange for an honest review.

These eight stories all deal with a pivotal moment in the main character’s life. In most cases, that person is not aware that it even is a pivotal moment. It could just be some event that at the time seems unimportant, but hindsight will indicate that something of significance was happening. In Canvassing, a young man helps an attractive young girl get a presidential candidate on the ballot, with unexpected results. In Embers, a young boy becomes infatuated with his father’s teen-aged patient.  In the Bigamist’s Accomplice, a wife witnesses her husband’s mental powers deteriorate due to dementia as his affection grows for another patient. In the title story, a health worker takes extraordinary measures to hide the whereabouts of a patient that has somehow disappeared from the grounds. 

While all these stories are compelling, the author has a few sly tricks. His settings range from Florida to Rhode Island using places that may or may not intersect with the real location. He also casually drops in a name or person from a previous story, which a reader may wonder about. It’s as if Appel has a stock of actor ready characters to draw upon to feature when needed. I may have to go back and track some down. Recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the opportunity to read another great book from this author.

Amazing Things Are Happening Here was my introduction to the work of Jacob M. Appel.   Having heard of this author but knowing little about him or his writing I thought this book of short stories might be a good place to start.  What I didn't realise is that this guy is an absolute master at the short story having published in excess of 200 of them and he has a string of awards to his name.   So it's little surprise that I immediately fell under his spell and flew through this book in the space of a day. 

Sometimes, but not always, I can be left feeling ripped off at the end of a short story wanting just a bit more than the author has provided.    Not so here.   Naturally there were characters I felt attached to and would have enjoyed more time in their company, but not once did I have that sensation that the story was incomplete.  I can't think of a single story I disliked although my absolute favourite was The Bigamist’s Accomplice.    I don't want to share details of the plot because I hope you'll read it yourself.  I was surprised to realise how moved I was by such a short story.   The author cleverly made me stop and question myself about how I might respond if I ever found myself in this scenario.   How would I feel versus how I think I should feel.    His stories gave me at least one ahha moment, one infused humor (at least I hope it was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek) there was hope and sadness, reminiscence and food for thought.   

Amazing things are happening here may well have been my intro to his work but  I can say with the utmost certainty it will not be the last.   Thanks to Jacob M. Appel, Black Lawrence Press and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What I like about these stories are that although set in different times, they highlight issues of humanity, making decisions and enduring the consequences and these themes remain throughout time. The writing style is very engaging and absorbing. Sometimes it's more about what isn't written, they're thought provoking and tend to raise more questions when you've finished reading, challenging perceptions and beliefs. 

Canvassing
This is a great story about a judge recalling the troubling story of a girl who was murdered during his youth. A massive twist with the last sentence, a wow moment. But then a while afterwards you'll start thinking of lots of questions, all the ifs and buts and the influence of privilege and money. 

Grappling
A story of blind love born out of tragedy, it's a tale about being devoted to one person, despite them being really bad for you. It's set in 20s Florida but still rings true today in the fact that people put up with atrocious behaviour in the name of love, whilst other suitors are ignored. 

Embers
This is a story about a male high school student, Zach, who falls for a girl, Vanessa. He doesn't speak to her at school but gradually gets to know her and they become friends. Initially this seems another story about unrequited love and blind love but this is different, it's deeper because this time there is empathy and compassion so although they do not have a sexual relationship, their bond is strong and arguably is a much better outcome in the situation - although of course it never feels like that. It is a type of love, albeit a different type from the one Zach wanted. 

Helen of Sparta
I must admit, this one left me a bit confused initially. On the face of it, it's a story about a teenage boy and his sister who pick up their drunk mum's friend from the airport.  They take a detour to her old school before returning home when there is a sudden revelation. This is one that you need to think about and it came to me a little while after I finished. 

The Bigamist's Accomplice
A story about Arlene and her husband Benny, who is in a nursing home. He falls in love with another resident, Connie, and the story is about how Connie's husband Jim arranges for Benny and Connie to pretend to be married. It's a story about love, letting go and acceptance.  

Amazing Things are Happening Here
A story about the cover up of the disappearance of a patient from a psychiatric ward, it's a tale about humanity, choices that we make and dealing with the consequences.  

Dyads
A story about a woman, Penny, who takes a professor, Victor, and his daughter, Patagonia, out to see seals but ends up on a rescue mission for a humpback whale, it's calf and male escort. Another story about the choices made and ultimately living with the consequences rather than changing circumstances. 

Live Shells
A story about May, who's first husband, Donald, turns up unexpectedly whilst she's found a new line interest in Tanner, her autistic daughter's special Ed tutor. There's a rather uncomfortable dinner with both men present and an even more terse boat ride to scatter the Ashes of May's deceased mother ending up in a fist fight between the two men. It's another story about choices, sticking by them and deciding - albeit 20 years later - whether they are the right ones.