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| The Spirit Bird
ISBN: 9780822980223
Platform/Publisher: Project MUSE / University of Pittsburgh Press
Digital rights: Users: Unlimited; Printing: Chapters; Download: Chapters
Subjects: FICTION / Short Stories (single author).;
Nelson's (Language in the Blood) story collection explores a number of lives and loves across a variety of geographies. Each story, whether about the man running his own movie business in the desert ("Alba"), the man who transforms from his normal self into a donkey in the blink of an eye ("Who Is Danny Pendergast?"), the woman struggling to deal with her unstable father ("My Crazy Father"), or the man exploring the further reaches of his sexuality ("The Path of the Left Hand"), touches on the complexities and intricacies of personal relationships. As the title indicates, birds play a reoccurring role in the book, and many of the characters are enthusiastic birders. An obvious yet still successful parallel is drawn between the lives and relationships Nelson depicts and the birds that flutter through the pages. One character asks questions like, "What was to be gained by counting species?" Nelson's stories show how humans become unsettled; how our spirits, hopes, and aspirations are always in a state of flux. Each plot turns on unexpected developments, which challenge our perceptions of reality. Together, the stories act as a powerful chorus that speaks to the reader about love and loss, and overcoming obstacles. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kent Nelson is the author of the novels Language in the Blood and Land That Moves, Land That Stands Still . His short fiction has been included in The Best American Short Stories, The Best of the West, O. Henry, Pushcart, and The Best American Mystery Stories . An avid birdwatcher, Nelson has identified 757 North American species. After the age of fifty-four, he has twice run the Pikes Peak Marathon-26.3 miles, 7,815 feet up and down. He lives in Ouray, Colorado. |
