Yellowcake by Margo Lanagan. Random House Children’s Books. 2013. Reviewed from ARC from publisher.
The Plot: A short story collection from Margo Lanagan. Which means two things: each story is incredibly unique; each is amazingly good.
The Good: Here’s the problem: each Margo Lanagan short story is so unique that it’s impossible to easily sum up just why her short story collection is terrific. What label to even give it? Fantasy? Horror? Magical Realism? Retellings?
Each story in Yellowcake is perfect. With each story, I was pulled into a fully created world. No, more like fell — fell into a place and time and didn’t, at first, know quite where I was. Lanagan treats her readers with respect: she knows you can keep up with her. That no one’s hand needs to be held. Here, she says, in the story; let’s not waste time or words with exposition or any info dumps or any pretend casual, “as you remember, John, (explanation of what John knows but the reader never could.).” Why walk when you can run?
The stories in Yellowcake are a short window into other people’s lives, into other worlds: with each, you know that life was happening before the story began and will continue after it ends. People’s actions aren’t punished or rewarded; they just are.
These stories are rich: rich because of the language Lanagan uses. Rich because of the world-building. Rich because of the plotting. Rich because of the characters. So rich that this isn’t a “read it all at once” collection; it’s a set of stories to be read and savored over time. And because there are ten stories, see why it’s almost impossible to say anything more? Because to say more would mean to do ten reviews, one for each story. And to do that — well, part of why I enjoy diving into a Lanagan story is figuring it out for myself. Realizing, this story is being retold; realizing that something terrible was happening; discovering some quiet beauty. Why take that away from someone else?
So, instead, here are some lines I particularly liked:
“Was she smiling? He wouldn’t put it past her, to have a smile at his expense. Smug cow.”
“Her whole face had come unset form its folds and habits, from here it might age any number of different ways.”
“And her he was in the middle of it, for the moment — “
“Well, in the town where there two beautiful daughters lived there was a fascinator, named Gallintine.”
“Down I go. Down and down, down and round, round and round I go, and all is black around me and the invisible stone stairs take my feet down. I sing with more passion the lower I go, and more experimenting, where no one can hear me. And then there begins to be light, and I sing quieter; then I’m right down to humming, so as not to draw attention when I get there.”
I love Margo Lanagan’s novels; but oh, these short stories! So, yes, a Favorite Book Read in 2013.
Other reviews: TeenReads; Librarian of Snark; Something To Read For The Train; Strange Horizons.
Archive Tea Cozy 
I often say that short stories are the cilantro of the literary world. People either love or hate them. There is not middle ground. I definitely fall in the love category (for both :-)). Those that don’t like short stories seem to feel that there just isn’t enough to engage their attention or make them care about the characters. I think a great short story reflects a perfect moment in time and gives you exactly what’s needed – no more and no less. Do you want to know more about what’s going on with the characters after the story ends? Yes. But then ideally you also should feel that way after a novel you’ve loved.
I’ve been looking for a new short story author to try and Margo Lanagan sounds like the one. Thank you for the recommendation.
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Oh, you have to try Margo Lanagan’s short stories! Let me know what you think!
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“Lanagan treats her readers with respect: she knows you can keep up with her. That no one’s hand needs to be held. Here, she says, in the story; let’s not waste time or words with exposition or any info dumps or any pretend casual, “as you remember, John, (explanation of what John knows but the reader never could.).” Why walk when you can run?”
THIS. This is a perfect summation of feelings that I myself couldn’t articulate. This was my first shot with Lanagan and I will definitely be reading more!
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You will love her other ones! I can still recall so many of the images from SINGING MY SISTER DOWN in BLACK JUICE.
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