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A review by grace_theliteraryfiend
Elbow Room by James Alan McPherson
4.0
Another short story collection and this time I wasn't bored to tears. For February I read James Alan McPherson's Elbow Room, it seemed like an appropriate read for Black History Month. McPherson won the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for this collection of twelve short stories that explore the everyday lives of a eclectic group of people connected to the black community.
What I loved about this collection is that it felt so natural, each of McPherson's stories was about events or interactions that you, I, or anyone else could have. From talking to a stranger at the doctors office to being witness to a theft in a foreign country, the situations are not unto themselves exclusively black experiences. What McPherson does is beautifully take these interactions and experiences and retells them from the perspective of the black community. McPherson is a true master story teller, his stories are unique, they are engaging, thought provoking, and full of empathy. I can't imagine someone not liking this collection of short stories.
Some of my favourite stories in the collection were:
- The Silver Bullet - a comical tale of one man's attempt to join a street gang. If there was one man who was not meant to be part of any gang it is Willis Davis.
- Problems of Art - a pro-bono lawyer named Corliss Milford is set to represent Mrs. Farragot against charges of drunk driving, except the truth seems just out of reach.
- I Am An American - Leroy and Eunice are on vacation in London when they find themselves embroiled in a case of theft, where Leroy is the witness. The issue, the indivduals' who were robbed are Japanese tourists who speak very little english. Anyone who has travelled to foreign countries knows that somehow you will always end up as translator at some point in your travels.
- A Loaf of Bread - A store owner is accused of raising his prices in a predominantly black low-income community. The story is told from the perspective of the store owner and the leader of the protest group. This short story is a humbling look at human nature and greed (but not in the way you imagine).
If you are a fan of short stories I highly recommend this book, it was an easy read and always interesting. Or, if you are just looking for a good book to read for Black History Month then look no further, this is a great choice.
Happy reading everyone!
What I loved about this collection is that it felt so natural, each of McPherson's stories was about events or interactions that you, I, or anyone else could have. From talking to a stranger at the doctors office to being witness to a theft in a foreign country, the situations are not unto themselves exclusively black experiences. What McPherson does is beautifully take these interactions and experiences and retells them from the perspective of the black community. McPherson is a true master story teller, his stories are unique, they are engaging, thought provoking, and full of empathy. I can't imagine someone not liking this collection of short stories.
Some of my favourite stories in the collection were:
- The Silver Bullet - a comical tale of one man's attempt to join a street gang. If there was one man who was not meant to be part of any gang it is Willis Davis.
- Problems of Art - a pro-bono lawyer named Corliss Milford is set to represent Mrs. Farragot against charges of drunk driving, except the truth seems just out of reach.
- I Am An American - Leroy and Eunice are on vacation in London when they find themselves embroiled in a case of theft, where Leroy is the witness. The issue, the indivduals' who were robbed are Japanese tourists who speak very little english. Anyone who has travelled to foreign countries knows that somehow you will always end up as translator at some point in your travels.
- A Loaf of Bread - A store owner is accused of raising his prices in a predominantly black low-income community. The story is told from the perspective of the store owner and the leader of the protest group. This short story is a humbling look at human nature and greed (but not in the way you imagine).
If you are a fan of short stories I highly recommend this book, it was an easy read and always interesting. Or, if you are just looking for a good book to read for Black History Month then look no further, this is a great choice.
Happy reading everyone!