Customer Reviews

The Rose City and Other Stories

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David Ebershoff is one of the more exciting new writers of fiction on the scene today. In his latest book of stories he proves that not only does he write well, but he also has that rare ability to create characters so real that we can swear that we've met them. And this is all the more unusual in that the people he creates are far from heroic. They represent that part in all of us that just borders on malfunctional, traits that if pushed further would be gross fodder for the mental hospital. And yet he makes us care for them....passionately.

Ebershoff also firmly understands Pasadena, California - a strange place watched by millions on January 1 each year as a haven for beautiful flowers, purple mountains, palm trees, and terribly affluent people. Without resorting to disdain Ebershoff lets us get to know these sequestered relics from another time who refuse to move out of their historic importance into reality. He takes on the guise of the very young, the aging closeted divas, the used up street walkers and wanabe sex toys, and with each narrator voice he seems to be intuitively right on target. This is a superb collection of stories from a writer who merits our close attention. His next novel will be eagerly awaited by a growing devoted readership.

While reading these David Ebershoff's short stories I kept turning to the back of the book to see his photograph. He reminds me of the boy-next-door and his innocent eyes and slight smile grabs you -- and his short stories are anything less than innocent. Where on earth did Mr. Ebershoff come up with these wonderful gems? They're brilliant! Seven short stories -- seven different themes totally. Readers who want crisp, tight reading will find The Rose City compelling and difficult to sit down. I don't describe plots in my reviews, but anyone who wishes gay-themed short stories that go beyond sex and looking good is in for a major treat. I highly recommend The Rose City. So much in fact I'm giving it a second read immediately. If I could rate the book higher than a 5, I would.

David Ebershoff cements his reputation as one of the most exciting writers of my generation in this elegant collection of short stories dealing with relationships from the perspective of a gay lifestyle. He writes with much grace and understanding, offering sympathetic portrayals of gay characters ranging in age from ten to forty eight. It's one of the best recent collection of short stories I've read, rising close in stature to Rick Moody's "Demonology". Having enjoyed both "The Danish Girl" and now, "The Rose City", I eagerly await reading Ebershoff's next novel.

This is a slim volume of only seven stories, six of which have been published previously. Similar themes run through several of these stories. In many of them a male character, often young, is dealing with his sexual feelings for other males and the realization that he is different. They range in age from a ten year old ("The Dress") to the middle-aged Roland--who has the least self-awareness of any of these characters-- in the title story "The Rose City." There is not a happy male among them as they grapple with who they are or who they are becoming. I found the youngsters particularly poignant. But perhaps the saddest character in any of the stories is Roland. Obsessed with his appearnce, he is 48, has had a nose job, constantly works out, is forever looking for a new "hubby-hub." Nothing much ever changes in his life. I fear that Roland is not as different from some of us as we would hope. A most interesting if not admirable character.

So these stories, while they may not get you up and dancing, ring completely true. Mr. Ebershoff is a very fine writer. He has a wonderful gift of setting a tone or describing a character or situation in few words. Here are only two examples: An AIDS victim is someone "who died in his sleep, boiled over with fever." We experience immediately the horror of this man's death. Another example: Jon in "Regime" describes his mother as "custardy in the upper arm." A wonderful image. There is nothing left to be said.

These are bleak but thoughtful stories. I recommend them highly.

Each story captures an exquisitely agonizing moment in the life of a gay youth (or of a man trapped in his gay youth); a moment when a decision is made that will set a precedent for future behavior. The story about the boy who gets trapped in a dress and has to be cut free by his dad is probably the most charming. I (unfortunately) associated with the poor boy who uses anorexia to gain "control" over his miserable life. Is there a gay man out there who hasn't known a man like Billy who justifies his own betrayals with the thought his parents betrayed him? Perhaps "Living Together" is my favorite - so subtle, so painful, so true.

Ebershoff's language is at once precise and lush. We are developing a very smart contemporary gay literature and we are lucky to have this author dedicated to illuminating our particular condition.

After reading "The Danish Girl" I had high hopes for this story collection. Happily I was not disappointed. Each story was a delicate balance between emotions difficult to convey and the spaces in a relationship when the communication doesn't quite gel. There is also a low current eroticism to many of these stories that only makes them that much more powerful. And once again, the author demonstrates a facility with creating a space and time that unfolds before the reader with a specificity that is almost visual. That, plus a wonderful storytelling ability makes this collection extraordinary, especially for such a young writer. Do yourself a favor and discover him now.

Each of these stories show off the artistry and intelligence of the author. Though nothing here quite equals Capote's "A Christmas Memory" or Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues," I must single out three of Mr. Ebershoff's seven stories. "The Dress" is a heartbreaking tale of a boy's exposure - not just physically, but emotionally, indeed psychically. Rarely have feelings such as these been more eloquently expressed. "Trespass" and "Regime" cover some of the same emotional territory, but involve older youths. These three stories go right to core of growing up gay in America. This may never be considered a classic collection, but it is always interesting. Mr. Ebershoff is someone to watch. "The Danish Girl" was superb in every detail. These stories should serve to enhance his reputation. I eagerly await the arrival of his next novel, "Pasadena."

I don't think this book is nearly as strong as Ebershoff's The Danish Girl. I loved the Danish Girl and can't wait for his new book, but this collection didn't do it for me at all. And I am a huge short story fan. You might want to check out Marissa Silver's short story collection instead.

I enjoyed several of the stories in this book. However, many of them were also very pointless and just ramblings that I think were supposed to be poignant, but really weren't. I don't regret buying it, but I'm not going to regret selling it off either.