flpress

Katherine Anne Porter's powers of perception are so keen that she's the kind of person I would never want to have around as a friend. Everything would be stripped down in her gaze, leaving little room for cherished illusions. The book captures this perfectly: She simultaneously depicts the short-comings of a world on the brink of World War II and scrutinizes those flaws that are endemic to all cultures and times. The meanness and arbitrary ways in which people subdivide who they consider equals are examined with Porter's scalpel. Be prepared for some discomfort: You may see a few habits of your own on display. Her ability to portray the human condition is stellar, and really shows that you don't need to fall back on gratuitous sex and violence to tell a compelling story.

2022-11-14 16:15