Zigzagging Down a Wild Trail

It had been a while since I'd read a Bobbie Ann Mason short story -- and, yes, that short story was "Shiloh." Zigzagging confirms Mason as a master craftsman. Her characters, generally rural Southerners, are believable; their world is authentic (and at times familiar). Most importantly, Mason is always revealing new considerations and new sides to her characters-- even familiar "types" come off without being stereotypical. (Take, for example, the recently-released-from-prison boyfriend in "Tunica.") It's nice to see Mason's compassionate take on politics on the homefront ("Thunder Snow"). "The Funeral Side" and "Charger" are highlights of this volume. In the former, one feels the difficulty of the main character's decisions, torn between her childhood home and elderly father, her unsettling childhood memories, her commitment issues, and the life she's left behind in Alaska. The reader understands the difficulty of the decision facing her (but this one's hoping she takes an Alaska plane!). In "Charger," Mason not only presents a convincing nineteen-year-old male as her point-of-view character but also captures the frustrations of many (in all walks of life) who feel (accurately) that no one else quite understands the problems they face. "With Jazz" is perhaps the strongest piece in the collection, with its humorous and affectionate depiction of a middle-aged mother (and recent grandmother) and its bittersweet ending.