Out of a bleak postmodernist vision of the Midwest come two
desiccated husks of novellas, both about souring relationships and
sex-as-violation, in a bone-dry debut. First story, "Drought":
June. Hot, no rain. House, peeling paint. Willa: painter. Pond,
drying. Canoe, oar, a man: Kale. Kale drinks, drunk. Was writer,
once. Like Willa's father now. Cows, calves dying. Buzzard bait.
Kale shoots cans through bedroom window. Couples with Willa in
moonlight. Hot, no rain. Kale goes to town, alone. Masturbates in
car. Drinks, drunk. Turned on by cafe waitress, cicadas mating on
the windshield, masturbates on way home. Kale sells herd, drinks.
Rapes Willa, pregnant now. Hot, no rain. Willa shoots cans, then
Kale. Drowns herself in pond. Rain. Second story, "Say What You
Like": Man in pain, woman in pain. His dog needy, her cat not. Man
dreams of mother breastfeeding him while masturbating him. Man hits
woman, scares her by driving fast, bangs her head against headboard
during sex. Woman takes it, takes aspirin. Winter: Snow, long
nights. More hitting, never on the face. Spring: Sun, crocuses.
Woman asks, "Do you love me?" Man answers, "No." Woman walks out.
Man says, "Boomerang." Conclusion: Aside from the memorable
terseness of the prose, which in this case makes divinity of
brevity, not much ground here hasn't been covered before - and
better. (Kirkus Reviews)
Debra Di Blasi writes from the heart of the Postmodern American
Gothic. A native Missourian, she plumbs the depths of psychosexual
repercussion and searing sentiment behind the region's parched,
pitchfork-bearing facade. Though her writing has been widely
published in literary journals, Drought, paired here with a second
novella, Say What You Like, is a stunning first foray into book
form. In Drought, Di Blasi dissects a young couple's relationship
on a failing cattle ranch, allowing us to see all the subcutaneous
mental and physical violence they endure. As unceasing heat kills
the couple's livestock, Di Blasi focuses a science writer's
exactitude and a poet's charged restraint on the human cost of
rural tragedy. Say What You Like offers an even more ruthless
examination of a couple's deep-seated pain. Pared down to short,
numbered sections, the relationship of a nameless "He" and "She" is
laid bare by Di Blasi's unflinching skill with the scalpel. Debra
Di Blasi is a daring young writer of the top order.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
