Welcome to Litsy!

Cecil Dawkins, born and raised in Alabama, was a contemporary, admirer, and mentee of sorts to Flannery O'Connor. But her stories in this collection are not referential or expected. With a sharp intuition, Dawkins creates characters that are wholly unique and intensely human—predictably unpredictable. I didn't like every story, but there was something so intriguing about the acute storytelling that kept me reading and left me thinking.

From the story "Hummers in the Larkspur"

These stories aren't polished and some meander a bit, but Dawkins' character descriptions are exceptional.

Cecil Dawkins' short story, "The Mourner" came first, but I'm reminded of Ali Smith's word wizardry here.

@Lindy , have you read this collection?

I'm thoroughly enjoying the second story in this this collection on a stormy evening. Dawkins has quite a fascinating way with words. I want to be her friend.

Not pictured: Princess Elliott in a crown and ballet slippers, because every day is #TiaraTuesday. 👸🏻

"...old sounds remembered from time before the pebbles lodged in her ears. But she could not heed the sounds now, because of that web of troubling that had spun itself out in her. So, in silence, she rocked."

This passage is gorgeous, original but also so familiar to me that it sharpens my own memories. I think Cecil and I are going to get along swimmingly!

I never know what to say about short story collections, so I've been postponing reviewing this book, which I read back in August 2016. Cecil Dawkins - a woman, born in Alabama, still living at the age of 90 in New Mexico, and a close friend of Flannery O'Connor - published this collection in 1963. Around half of the stories here were completely stunning, as good as any I've read in years. I want to read more by her.

There's a philosophy bookstore at Koenji in Tokyo - all the books inside are in Nihongo, but they have a large shelf of English books outside for cheap. Got this one for a dollar!