VAMOOSE by Kathy Anderson: A Review
There’s something unexpectedly intimate about these
stories, which carry the weight of memory. Yet, it is an intimacy that lacks
the uncomfortable air of a confessional; instead, they are relatable, making
you sigh with the knowledge that you have been seen, that you have been
immortalized within these pages. And that is the allure of Anderson’s writing.
The superb stories in this collection range from the
introspective to the hilarious. These are stories of controlled chaos, leaving the
reader to wonder who is in fact controlling the chaos, while also making it
clear that Anderson is a master in control of the short story.
The comedy is subtle and never ending: a pair of sisters
named Tuesday and Wednesday; an aged stilt walker clip clopping down Broad
Street; one woman musing about the horrible fad of women waxing off their pubic
hair.
These stories do what life is supposed to—expose us to
different perspectives. For me this was most true reading “My Woman.” As a
“Goldstar” gay man, I’ve always seen little difference in women tending to see
them as a monolithic she. Then, I read:
…Big old clitorises like ledges
to climb on and off. Teeny tiny clitorises that are so sensitive you have to
flick them gently and the woman takes off like a rocket. The breasts are a
whole universe unto themselves. Large and lolling all over the place or so
small you have to feel around to find them in the dark—and the nipples! Huge
hairy, dark purple ones…little pink ones…
My favorite story in the collection is “Welcome New
Lesbians,”—a delightful confusion of lesbians, book clubs, feminism, biting
dogs and a discarded disoriented husband.
Equally effective is Anderson’s raw understanding of grief,
of death.
Charlie didn’t die, and he
didn’t die, and he didn’t die, and he didn’t die, and he didn’t die, and then
he did.
Dying was the slowest process in
the world. It seemed every stinking cell had its own turnoff switch and every
rattling breath was designed to trigger yet another.
One of the most effective and profound stories in the
collection is both the title story and the final story in the collection. It is,
in fact, a masterpiece of a short story, structurally perfect, Anderson handles
the unexpected tonal shifts with finesse and grace.
Once again, Anderson proves herself a master of the short
story at the top of her game. This is a collection not to be missed.
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