Harper, July 2009
Lust and Greed are Two of the Deadliest of the Seven Deadly Sins. Elizabeth George has brought together 18 "known" authors and 5 "unknown" authors to examine many aspects of these two forms of sin. This is an evenly excellent collection of short stories that leave one wishing for more.
As editor, Elizabeth George asked contributors "to create a new story that had as its backdrop either lust or greed or both of them." They have succeeded. The women who wrote these stories come from varied backgrounds, including "journalists, educators, and techies." All of them were students of George at one time or another. It is difficult to point out one author to the exclusion of others, yet one has to highlight the few to honor the many. The stories from previously published authors include an original story by George, Nancy Pickard, Marcia Talley, and Marcia Muller. New authors include Barbara Fryer and Patricia Fogarty.
Lust and Greed are Two of the Deadliest of the Seven Deadly Sins. Elizabeth George has brought together 18 "known" authors and 5 "unknown" authors to examine many aspects of these two forms of sin. This is an evenly excellent collection of short stories that leave one wishing for more.
As editor, Elizabeth George asked contributors "to create a new story that had as its backdrop either lust or greed or both of them." They have succeeded. The women who wrote these stories come from varied backgrounds, including "journalists, educators, and techies." All of them were students of George at one time or another. It is difficult to point out one author to the exclusion of others, yet one has to highlight the few to honor the many. The stories from previously published authors include an original story by George, Nancy Pickard, Marcia Talley, and Marcia Muller. New authors include Barbara Fryer and Patricia Fogarty.
Fogarty turns the traditional "Back to School Essay" on its head. Anyone who has ever had to read or write such an essay will deeply appreciate this marvelous send up. It is written in the voice of one Harlan Dudek in Period 4 who titles his essay "My Summer of Lust." Harlan writes, "Mrs. Funkhauser, please do not read out loud to the rest of the class. Thank you." Fogarty is a former high school English teacher and she has the voice exactly right in an essay that definitely could not be read aloud in class. As a former English teacher and school administrator, I can certainly imagine that at least one student wanted to write an essay like this. I would have liked to see one written so beautifully as this one.
Marcia Talley, in her story "Can You Hear Me Now?" presents the bitter taste of being stuck on a train next to someone who is constantly on his cell phone. But, is Marjorie Ann's seatmate named Brad, Dave, or Phil? He answers to different names based on the ring of his phone or to whom he calls. The story takes an interesting turn at the end as Brad/Dave/Phil receives an extreme penalty for what appears to be his duplicitous behavior.
Marcia Talley, in her story "Can You Hear Me Now?" presents the bitter taste of being stuck on a train next to someone who is constantly on his cell phone. But, is Marjorie Ann's seatmate named Brad, Dave, or Phil? He answers to different names based on the ring of his phone or to whom he calls. The story takes an interesting turn at the end as Brad/Dave/Phil receives an extreme penalty for what appears to be his duplicitous behavior.
George has placed a delightful little story among the collection. "Lusting for Jenny, Inverted" combines lust and greed as prime motivators in bringing two people together, one for lust, the other for greed. Just as in the short stories of O. Henry, which are distinguished by an ironic twist, George makes the protagonists the recipients of the perfect ending. Consider "The Gift of the Magi" reconstituted in "The Twilight Zone." George's voice in this story is very different from her novels; George is clearly having fun with her characters and their situation. And, when you get to the point where you understand the title, you will say, "Of course. I knew that!"
The stories demonstrate lust and greed in a variety of guises and, in George's words, show "where submitting to the calls of these sins can lead a person." These stories leave this writer greedily lusting for more and more. After all, there are five more sins lying in wait to tempt our senses.
The stories demonstrate lust and greed in a variety of guises and, in George's words, show "where submitting to the calls of these sins can lead a person." These stories leave this writer greedily lusting for more and more. After all, there are five more sins lying in wait to tempt our senses.
