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Thursday 5 April 2012

Somewhere in Minnesota ~ Orfhlaith Foyle

somewhere in MinnesotaFoyle's work has been described as 'compelling and memorable.' This collection is littered with flawed characters, secrets and violence. In the title story Frankie doesn't appear to want love - her partner Peter thinks that perhaps she just isn't 'built for it.' Unable to find happiness in the present, Frankie looks back with a kind of nostalgia to the moments after her father last hit her: 'He stood back and waited a few seconds before he fixed my hair behind my ears.' The story is shocking and sad. 'The secret life of Madame Defarge' is a beautifully written exploration of violence, as is 'Two Vampires,' a horror story which starts like a joke: 'Two Vampires cross the road, enter a cafe and order eggs.' The reader is hoping for a less violent end in 'Sweet Frankie' however, the adults in the story appear to be helpless to prevent it. The collection concludes on a redemptive note in 'The Kiss' as Dennis looks at Ruth's black and green bruises: 'I smelled the medicine from the bandages,' he says, 'and I just kissed her.'

Read 'The Secret Life of Madame Defarge' here.
Read Orfhlaith Foyle's blog here.
Read an interview with Foyle here.
Read a review here.

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