The Writer's Life 3/10 - Away

Amy Bloom's short stories were published in the most respected anthologies. I happened on a copy of her second novel, Away, which I just finished. Although I found her style difficult, I was engrossed in the narrative. While the characters are complex, the story is simple. A young woman escapes a Russian pogrom that wipes out her family. She lands in America and begins a new life on the lower east side of Manhattan, a Jewish enclave in the 1920's, only to have it disrupted by news brought by someone from her home town. What I thought was going to to be an immigrant story evolved to a compelling odyssey featuring fascinating characters and interesting and perilous situations. At times I thought it was going to be a great novel. While it does not reach exalted status, it's still pretty darn good. The author uses an omniscient narrator who renders a brief history of characters who move or have moved off stage. I frequently was confused as to who was being cited, my only real complaint about the book. Of course, someone who suffers as much as the protagonist is given to existential angst. Here's an example: "We live and we love the world... and we kid ourselves that the world loves us back." Love and loss are the major themes. The tone is grim, reminding those privileged to be living in modern times how easy we have it compared to those that preceded us. Anyone who prefers all points to be resolved neatly should pass. I am puzzled by the last line, although I believe I know what has occurred. Published in 2007, Away is still selling modestly, ranked less than 300,000th at Amazon, where 13 million books are listed. 221 users have rated it, forging to a consensus of 3.3 of five. Although I can't argue with that, the novel seems more important than most that are rated similarly.

One great thing about working on a novel, an author has something to do when he awakens at 4 AM and is unable to get back to sleep.

I made my annual visit to the dentist and the news is not good. Three teeth need bonding, and a molar has deteriorated substantially beneath its cap to the degree that it needs extraction and a bridge. The bill will be $1600, and that is the least expensive option. The most expensive would have been $3200. The work will take two more sessions to complete.

My thanks to Paisano, who bought a romance novel, the floating book shop's only sale of the day. Thanks also to the Russian gentleman who donated four books in English. I had a long visit from Ol' Smoky. Usually he talks up a storm. Today he was content to sit on the ledge of the garden that surrounds the building at the corner of E. 13th and Av. Z and play with his cell phone while listening to the radio through a headset. A few mornings ago I saw him sleeping on the ground outside the train station. Like so many of the homeless, he will not use a shelter.

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/