Not so much a trend as...

[threemonkeys]

Interesting. In the last year I have read three collections of short stories where the author was able to achieve a very clear elegant style of description. I mean a prose style that is akin to a Japanese painting style where a few lines are enough to invoke all the details in your mind. Interestingly all three of these collections are from Australian authors. And yet I read enough Aussie fiction to know that it isn't really a general style thing - it isn't as if the authors are even in the same city. As I said - interesting.

I read the most recent of these, The Grinding House by Kaaron Warren, on the plane back from Conflux. This is a collection of very short stories which have strong emotional themes with a personal level focus. Coupled with quite original settings, this works very well with the style mentioned above. This combination works best with very short pieces. The only story in the collection which didn't work for me was the title story - a longer piece. For some reason in that story I kept missing the transitions - a problem I had with a Sheri Tepper novel recently. Apart from that it is a fascinating and enjoyable collection and I can see why so many people have been saying good things about it.

Comments

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

What are the other two collections?

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Never seen by waking eyes by Stephen Dedman and A tour guide in utopia by Lucy Sussex.

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

Cheers.