Maile Meloy

A fantastic collection of short stories. Each of them is to the point, beautifully depicted, and haunting. The themes are somewhat depressing to contemplate -- from adulterous spouses who fail to follow through on their plans to leave (thus the title "Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It") to father's betraying their daughters in unimaginable yet somewhat sympathetically to parents who are largely forsaken by their spoiled children. The majority of the stories are set in Montana with the show more remainder spread around the country and in one case Argentina. Many are set in the 1970s, although the time isn't particularly central. And almost all are about relationships, usually family ones, that start out appearing quite normal but that quickly become apparent are deeply damaged. I'm looking forward to her novels, with some fear that the first one will place more emphasis on the liars than it does the saints. show less

This was a fast read which I was excited to get into--unfortunately, I'm afraid my praise stops there, and I don't see myself picking up another one of Meloy's works.

There are a lot of issues with this novel, although I thought the concept was great. The first big issue is the characters--aside from being privileged and selfish (especially the adults), it's almost as if they've been created with the intention of making them as unlikeable and similar as possible. Aside from having different show more distractions, they talk/sound/think in the same way, which makes reading their perspectives and worries all the more tedious. The children, similarly, all pretty much sound the same, to the extent that I think Meloy would have been better off if she'd just focused on giving us a few perspectives rather than so many, as the sheer number of voices only make it all the more obvious that all of these characters are basically the same person cast in slightly different situations. The children are also, for the most part, pretty unbelievable, although there are moments that shine through as being something only a child would do/think. Unfortunately, those moments are rare, and although the children are more sympathetic than the adults, that's not saying much.

Besides taking some unbelievable turns, the big problem with the plot is how predictable it is. Simply, I thought there'd be more to it, and there wasn't. In fact, everything played out exactly as I would have expected it to, as of a few chapters into the book, so while an engaging, surprising plot might have overcome the flaws instigated by unlikeable, unsympathetic, self-involved, and spoiled characters, we just didn't have that.

It's possible that part of the point of this book is to put forward a privileged bunch of characters who get in the way of their own survival and happiness, and I suppose the author succeeded if that's the case, but I simply didn't enjoy this book, and as fast a read as it was, I'm afraid I can't really imagine recommending it to anyone. The primary emotion it drew from me was annoyance with the characters, and that's never a good thing to have to report. show less

These stories are like a bubbling brook, comforting and refreshing in its simplicity, with a glint of startling clarity every so often. The details that the author occasionally sprinkles throughout her stories remind me of when painters place small white dabs on the surfaces of water: it's only a small detail but it's what makes the story and the water come to life for the reader and the viewer.

My favourite story was The Ice Harvester, and I was unable to get through Paint due to my own show more squeamishness at the visceral. show less

The eleven stories collected here all have something to do with relationships, often frustrated, sometimes unrequited or worse, unwanted. Meloy moves easily between male and female protagonists, sometimes employing child narrators. Although most of the stories appear to be set in Montana, except for perhaps the first, “Travis, B.,” it doesn’t seem as though Montana is integral to the story. Rather, it is usually some aspect of the principal character, heightened by a recent event, that show more establishes the landscape of the story. It is an emotional landscape with wide vistas but also dark mountains and fast-flowing streams.

There are no weak stories here. Meloy knows her craft and chooses wisely. But there are always a few stories that stand out for any particular reader. For me, “Travis, B.,” “Spy vs. Spy,” and “Two-Step” are highlights. But even writing that I’m already thinking of others that I could have chosen. I like the tender, unrequited affection of “Travis, B.” The arch rivalry of “Spy vs. Spy” added a hint of the surreal, perhaps. And “Two-Step” just seemed both mature and sad, the way extra-marital relationships get more tenuous and probably unrealistic as the participants age. There are plenty of insightful observations amongst these tales and enough bon mots to raise a wry smile. Try “Liliana” for unexpected exuberance.

Well worth a read. show less