Customer Reviews

Harmony of the World (AWP; 6)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Originally published in 1984, this collection features Baxter's least middle-class, most internally-troubled characters. They are senile, depressed, chronically lonely. The finale, "The Crank" is a gorgeous study of plot. The recently divorced protagonist's interactions with a similarly lonely guru are magical and uplifting. Baxter went on to mature considerably in terms of craft, but these stories are emotionally generous and smart.

Please don't take the fact that I gave this only three stars to mean that this book isn't very good. I gave it three stars because I am comparing it to other works by Charles Baxter.

This collection of short stories highlights the human condition, for better or for worse. What is true about Baxter's fiction is that he makes characters interesting, especially those characters who, if they were real people, I would have nothing to do with in reality. That is a good thing.

One story, "The Crank", acts as if it doesn't belong in this collection, but in another collection of Baxter's called "A Relative Stranger." In "The Crank", a loner meets a crank caller and discovers something about himself along the way. The protagonists in these stories range from lost college students to elderly persons who seem just as lost. The title story reminds us that we share the same griefs and joys that everyone else does.

Overall, this collection is worth a read, especially if you love short stories, or if you want to learn how short stories are crafted.

Sifting through "Harmony of the World" is like panning for gold. Each page is an exercise in patience and endurance, but when you happen upon a nugget of Baxter's comical insight or warm compassion, you know you've struck it rich. Baxter does a wonderful job of balancing intelligence, humor, and believable characters. The title story alone is worth the price.