Terrarium

June 1, 2018
A new collection from one of our finest short story writers, preceded by condensed versions of her last three books.The assumption must be that, despite the prize nominations, critical picks, and good reviews, most readers have missed Trueblood's last three books and that her latest is insufficient to win them on its own. Because why else would her new collection be published as the fourth element in an omnibus of selected stories from each of its predecessors, all of which were relatively recent (Criminals, 2016; Search Party, 2013; Marry or Burn, 2010)? The problem is that since "Terrarium"--this is the name of the section of new stories within the book--contains a fair amount of flash fiction and stories that require a lot of attention and mulling from the reader, the publisher is not doing it any favors by sticking it at the tail end of a collection of the strongest (and, among them, the longest) stories Trueblood has ever written. There are indeed some great stories here, praised for their unsettling combination of empathy and ruthlessness, for their elegant, uncommonly quick development, for their diverse, unexpected subject matter. Stories like "Invisible River" and "Sleepover" doubtless deserve the widest possible audience. As for the grab bag of pieces in "Terrarium," it's hard to know how they would seem if they were not read at the tail end of the line. Trueblood's interest in calamity persists--kidnapped babies, battered wives, terminal diseases. And she is still a cleareyed and compassionate reporter of the complexities and contradictions of human nature. Maybe if the collection had been allowed to become a book on its own the short pieces would seem less like fragments. Trueblood has had an unusual career, having first published at age 60. Nonetheless, what seems intended to be a "rediscovery" feels a little rushed.Sometimes more is less.

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June 25, 2018
Selections from three previous collections, as well as 30 new stories (also headed “Terrarium”) comprise this excellent volume from Trueblood. The arrangement itself shows Trueblood’s shift to much shorter stories, particularly in the new selections. In “Phantom Father,” young Michele’s obsession with her mother’s first husband, Alonzo, who committed suicide and whom Michele never met, shadows her well into adulthood. The strangeness of obsession and family dynamics also figure prominently in the newer stories “The Tamarins” and “Helen of Troy.” In the longer stories, Trueblood’s direct and emotional prose draws the reader in, while the recent shorter pieces have a punchy, declarative flavor. In “Sleepover,” grandmother Angie, recently recovered from a heart attack, muses over decades as she chaperones a teenager’s birthday party that gets out of control. Some of the same themes recur in the newer stories, “Aliens: Saving the Child” and “Two Birthdays.” Across these 49 stories, Trueblood provides breadth, depth, and something even more—a window into her evolution as a writer. The earlier stories bear resemblance to Alice Munro’s, while the later are reminiscent of Lydia Davis’s; but throughout, Trueblood projects her own unique voice.

August 1, 2018
Terrarium offers a landmark collection of stories from a distinguished author. Selections from several of Trueblood's (Criminals: Love Stories?, 2016) previous books showcase characters who grapple with relationships, yearnings, and the pull of defiance, at times uncovering a spark of recognition or launching an unwieldy reckoning. Their lives run the gamut of conflicts with spouses, lovers, in-laws, caregivers, mothers, daughters, and granddaughters as they navigate through everyday perils and grievances. These 19 tales also cast light on the entanglements of conscience, leading readers to wonder if Trueblood's creations will ever grasp the totality of their desires. Closing out the collection is a substantial set of new stories and vignettes, which feature notably succinct ruminations that manage to capture the nuance of her earlier works. Circumstances vary?a baby is abducted during a trip to the zoo; a cancer patient abruptly disappears during a lunch date; a woman arrives home to discover a man has broken into her house?leaving unanswered questions in their wakes. Trueblood's stories question, explore, and expose as they offer unexpected connections and deeply human realizations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)