Official Review: SQUARE DANCING AT THE ASYLUM, Nouveau No...

[sybil1reader]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "SQUARE DANCING AT THE ASYLUM, Nouveau Noir Flash Fiction" by Kirby Wright.]

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Square Dancing at the Asylum by Kirby Wright is nouveau noir flash fiction. I am very familiar with short stories, but flash fiction is a new creature to me. Upon research, I found that flash fiction is a snippet that tells a story that has a beginning, middle, and an end. Some of the stories in this book consist of only one paragraph, while others range from one to three and half pages of text. The author chooses each word with precision so one must pay close attention and digest each of these words to grasp the true meaning of the story since it can end before you know it. It is up to the reader to add all of the extra words through your imagination to make it into a more extended episode.

I had a few issues with understanding the stories at first, but I finally realized that the different stories happened either at an asylum or in the suburbs where Dadio, June Spoon, and their children live. This family is a constant throughout the seven books and approximately 90 stories in the book. The most fascinating story about this family was that Dadio liked to eat his children’s limbs. His daughter is down to one arm and he is saving that for Christmas. How sick is that? She takes it in stride though, as she observes the slithering of her pet snake so that when the time comes she will be able to move just as he does.

One of the stories entitled The Movies consists of one paragraph but it portrays the thoughts of men. Millions of men watch movies where they pull for the guy who is the underdog because they can identify with his pain. You probably will not find many men who will admit to being treated shabbily, but watching this movie makes it all right since the guy ends up with the girl. Count this as a giant leap for all the men of the world. They can enjoy the fruit without actually experiencing the heartache.

Another one that struck me was Danny Boy, which I think accurately portrayed loneliness. Danny Boy is the neighbor’s dachshund who constantly digs in the garden of a gentleman only referred to as “the man.” Each time Danny Boy squeezes through the fence to dig in his flowers, “the man” watches as the owners call to the dog, coaching him back through the fence, and cooing him all the way back home. There is never any interaction between the humans and “the man” vows to go check out the damage each time. As soon as the dog returns home, he misses him already. How sad it must be to look forward to a dog tearing up your flower garden!

I must admit that I just did not get the meaning of many of these stories. This is absolutely no reflection on the work itself; I just had trouble with interpretation with so few words. I do recommend it as a new reading experience for some, as well as a joy for the more seasoned reader. I give it four out of four stars because of the amazing amount of talent I believe it takes to pen such short snippets with a beginning, middle, and end.

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[kibs33]

This 'new' genre of FLASH FICTION is sort of at the crossroads between poetry and prose. The goal is to try to tell as complete a story as possible in about one page, utilizing poetic techniques such as rhyme, alliteration, and connotation to deliver the punch. Frequently these FLASHES will have surreal elements. Even if you are not wild about this form, trying it will at least allow you to learn how to write concisely and help you explore the surreal nature of your life.

[ALRyder]

Hm, I recently read and reviewed one of Kirby Wright's novels on here. It was pretty decent. I may have to try this one out. It is interesting that the main character in the book that I read referred to his father as "Dadio" as well, though it doesn't sound like it's the same man.

[kibs33]

No, not same man. This DADIO is right out of a Kafka story and JUNE SPOON, his mate, enables him. SQUARE DANCING takes direct aim at the nuclear family and the burbs, revealing the secret lonliness and longings of reappearing characters in nearly 90 super short stories.