3 out of 4 stars
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The Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 offers an immersive experience deep into the psyche of ordinary people, putting readers through a relentless exercise in empathy.
In this treasure trove of 33 short stories, two graphic novels, and a novella, author William H. Coles places readers in the shoes of a diverse array of characters across an assortment of seemingly innocuous situations. In one story, a truck driver picks up an unlikely hitchhiker by the side of the road—a good deed that rippled destructively through his life. In another, a woman receives a package from the man she had once hoped to marry—who now lay helpless in a hospital bed, waiting to die. Still, in another, a bullied boy fights back for the first time—sparking a series of events that leaves him branded for life.
Coles’ portrayal of people is as striking as the illustrations that accompany each of his stories. It’s not inks and watercolors, but Coles deftly captures both the depravity and the nobility of human nature through his choice of words. In one story, a man thinks about his wife as the “sea fog around his ship of opportunity, happily obscuring his chances for advancement, cheerfully diverting any choices that could have made him great.” Was it any wonder that he’d want her dead? In another, a surgeon’s son unsuccessfully commits suicide and leaves his father with a horrifying dilemma. “It would be a blessing for his son to die,” the narrative continues. “But he refused to wish his son had been more thorough, not left him with these decisions.”
There’s always something in Coles’ stories that tugs at the heartstrings. The brittleness of bonds between parents and children. The futility of escape. The search for a nonexistent miracle. The consequences of people’s choices and, especially, their mistakes. Sister Carrie, the novella at the end of the book, reiterates the themes of family, love, and life choices, where sisters Jessie and Carrie grapple with circumstances that nearly tear them apart. With the irony and tragedy that pervade many of the stories, I was glad that Sister Carrie ended the book on a happier, more optimistic note.
I’ve been reading a lot of good things about Mr. Coles; hence, my expectations of this collection are incredibly high. Coles rises to the occasion, creating an outstanding display of human “portraits” so carefully and honestly rendered that the characters all feel so real—so, well, human. There’s a sense that we’re peering into the hearts and souls of people we know, people we care about, people we may even love. That’s when we start feeling their joy, their despair, and in several cases, their determination to survive. And then, we begin to understand. Fred Bean in the story Nemesis has a self-absorbed personality that people reflexively detest, but Coles makes us see him for what he is—a flawed human being, just like the rest of us. How can we not see ourselves in him after that? How can we not appreciate what he’s going through? How can we not understand? How can we not empathize?
Illustrated Short Fiction is an enlightening literary piece that, on a grander scale, could potentially enhance people’s understanding of their fellow men. Given all its merits, I wouldn’t have hesitated to rate this book 4 stars. However, because of several typographical errors that marred the narrative, my final rating is 3 out of 4 stars. All of the errors can be easily rectified (the worst of it is the inconsistent spellings of the names of two characters) and would not, in any way, prevent anyone from enjoying the book or learning from it.
Illustrated Short Fiction would be an excellent read for anyone who’s interested in the so-called “psychology of imagined human beings.” Aspiring writers, in particular, have much to gain by studying Coles’ approach to creating characters and conflict in his literary works. The book also includes two graphic novels—drawn versions of the stories Homunculus and Reddog—which should be a treat for the visually inclined reader. There is something in the book for everybody, so I strongly encourage every reader out there to give this a try.
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Illustrated Short Fiction of William H.
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