Title: Bodies of Water

Author: Marylee MacDonald

Genre: Short Stories

 

Fernando Romero is at a crossroads in his life, a dark place where suicide increasingly seems a viable option. The future looks particularly bleak as his father is succumbing to cancer and the nearby lake, which provides many jobs and opportunities, is drying up. In “Drought,” Fernando seeks the momentum to kick his life forward. “The Lock Out Room” begins with Angelo and Dewey down in the Bahamas for a needed getaway. The two firefighters find solace in the company of others while attempting to forget the pain of shared trauma. Davey is a veteran oil rig worker who has prioritized work over family, but he’s never given it a second thought until having a heart-to-heart conversation with two co-workers in “Hiberna.” These are merely three of the riveting stories that are included in Bodies of Water.

A compilation of distinct and excellent stories, the characters in each story featured in Bodies of Water are linked in their proximity to water. Author Marylee MacDonald has authored 14 unique narratives of various lengths that are poignant, tender, and reflective. The characters that populate the stories are men and women, young and old, whose lives have reached an emotional or physical crossroads. MacDonald possesses well-rounded prose and suffuses each story with satisfying conclusions.

There is an undercurrent of sadness that runs through many of the stories in this engrossing anthology, whether the characters are struggling to free themselves of past or present ordeals. The author portrays the sadness in a controlled way that is impactful. Pearl recently survived the harrowing experience of a destructive hurricane and has now become fixated on viewing the replica of Noah’s Ark in Kentucky in “The Ark Encounter.” Pearl believes that the construction of a similar ark in her community will prevent future tragedies. In “Some were Rabbits,” Sueellen Biggs’s unhappiness over her divorce and her ex’s attempts to curry favor with their only child lead to an unconventional solution involving a potentially criminal act.

The brilliance in the author’s short story collection is in their eclecticism, whether the story is taking place along the Ganges River (“The Sacred Shore”) where a young American Woman seeks to further find inner peace in Yoga or in a recently reunified Germany in 1991 (“The Wood Turner”). Issues of abandonment, family discord, the loss of a family member are told in an honest and sincere manner. Each story possesses a compelling element with a sporadic but intriguing surprise along the way.

Progress lies at the core of each of the gripping stories, whether a man is attempting to bounce back from near-fatal injury (“Bubbly Creek”) or a couple is striving to reclaim their marriage (“Lake Biwa”). There is more than enough humanity to guide each story forward. While each story will possess resonance with readers, the emotional close-mindedness of Betty and Arnold in “Lake Biwa” limits their overall likability. However, considering the range of stories, there is something for everyone in this collection.

Bodies of Water is a fantastic compendium of genuinely thought-provoking stories of people adapting to life’s changes and their individual reactions. Marylee MacDonald’s work is noteworthy and exemplary.

 

 

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