"Window," by Nancy Jensen

Nancy Jensen's debut collection "Window" compels you to stay with the author from start to finish. This is a unique hybrid book of five short stories and five essays.  I picked up the book intending to read only one piece (I started with the essays) at a sitting, and was chagrined to find I'd read the whole book in an afternoon and the next morning. (Chagrined because I felt like a kid who snuck her family's entire quart of ice-cream!) I'd tried to get up and do other things, but found myself ruminating on the pieces as I gardened or vacuumed, wondering how the author tied so many disparate points together into satisfying and intriguing resolutions. Jensen seems at home with conflict, and is not afraid to face struggles within herself that compel the reader to take similar stock. Conflicts define and lay bare the souls of Jensen's characters, like the History professor who's ashamed of his Appalachian roots, so advises students to look forward, not back. The student protagonist recognizes him as a fool, because in denying his personal history, the professor gives the lie to his own chosen field.

 
Such charletons are laid bare in this book, like the art professor who's an armchair liberal, yet traffics in the vast power differential between himself and his student lovers and third-world servants. Yet in the midst of these highly flawed characters, the author never lets herself off, is hardest on herself when examining her own biases and evasions. This is an intriguing search and the author makes some stunning discoveries. I highly recommend this unique and compelling collection. 

Comments

[Tabor]

Thanks, Mary Lee. You have written a compelling review and now I must add another book to my long list. I just finished reading Firefly Lane which my daughter had left at my house. It is a sad book and mediocre read. My next is going to be Green Mansions which I had read decades ago and which I order used from Amazon. Maybe I can squeeze your recommendation in soon!

[Wally]

I'll put that book on my list. I'm trying to finish "A Passage to India". Believe me, it's a book that I can easily put down. It's taking a long time to read. I just received "Angels Flight" in the mail from Amazon. It will be my first read by Michael Connelly. I can't wait to get started on it.

[joared]

This book sounds interesting. I have a large bookcase full of mostly only partially read books gradually acquired since my husband's death three years ago. That's not even considering some of those placed elsewhere that I've read during that time. Think I'll be starting on some of the unread soon, again.