What is it like to a walk a mile in the shoes of someone else? That is the question that author Jill McCorkle explores through writing each of the eleven stories found in her latest collection of shorts. Going Away Shoes offers a catalog of women in the throes of real life dramas. Each character is faced with problems, disappointments, and regrets and each expresses the depth of her feelings with a true grit that is refreshingly honest, evocative and extremely entertaining.
The headline story, "Going Away Shoes," is a Cinderella-like tale about a dutiful daughter who spends her days taking care of an ailing mother (and watching soap operas and longing for the life she could've had) while her shallow sisters let her bear the brunt of the responsibility.
In "Surrender," the untimely death of a son leaves his mother with a great disconnect from his child, a five year-old little girl who is acting out over the loss with a foul mouth and a very cruel lack of manners toward her grandmother.
A divorcee and single mom in "Midnight Clear" tries to do right by her two young sons by inviting her ex and his new flame over for drinks one Christmas Eve, only to have the septic system suddenly back up.
In "Happy Accidents," a lonely school nurse tries to recreate a more appealing picture of her life with the calm, gentle support of PBS art teacher, Bob Ross, via his TV show, The Joy of Painting.
These are just some of the stories in this wonderful collection. And while I enjoyed them all, three stories in particular lingered in my mind a little longer than the rest.
"Intervention" appears to be a story about getting help for an addiction, but on a deeper level it evolves into so much more - a story about love and commitment and how forgiveness and the ability to overlook things play such a vital role in the longevity of a marriage. The writing and structure of this piece is near-perfect, and the short and revealing climactic scene that McCorkle delivers at the end is startlingly brief but deeply resonate. A truly amazing story!
I laughed out-loud while reading "PS," where a woman writes a Dear John letter to her family therapist. Hilarious!
In "Me and Big Foot," a lonely, single woman wakes to find an unfamilar pickup truck parked outside her house and suddenly, her version of the ideal man takes up residence.
If you don't already know the work of Jill McCorkle, you'll be in for a real treat with Going Away Shoes. McCorkle is as clever as clever can be. In reading her novels and stories for twenty years, I so admire how she is able to strike a balance between action and description. She is truly a master at pairing pain and pathos with good humor.
