Leslie C. Halpern Shares MyShelf Review of Jendi Reiter's Short Story Collection

 Author: Jendi Reiter

Title: An Incomplete List of My Wishes

Genre: Literary short story collection

Publisher: Sunshot Press

ISBN: 9781944977207

Purchase at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1944977201/

Reviewed by: Leslie Halpern for MyShelf.com

http://myshelf.com/literary/15/anincompletelistofmywishes.htm

Reviewed by Leslie C. Halpern originally for MyShelf.com

This collection of eleven short stories by award-winning poet and novelist Jendi Reiter focuses mostly on interpersonal relationships and overcoming grief, fear, and isolation. Several stories include gay characters struggling with their homosexuality, and adolescents contemplating how their religious backgrounds fit into their evolving self-image.

The length and style of these stories varies, but an underlying sadness permeates most of them. The language mixes pop culture, erudite allusions, and poetic expression for an interesting combination that requires careful attention. For instance, in the story "An Incomplete List of My Wishes," a divorced woman onboard an airplane reflects on her experience at a funeral, her divorce, a family member's death, and the solemn occasion to which she is headed. Most of the story consists of her reflections with no action occurring until the end. Filled with great sadness, flashes of anger, touches of humor, and ultimately, a revelation expressed as a metaphor, this story packs a memorable punch in just 10 pages.

Other stories explore family dynamics, adultery, aging, and infertility, although each selection includes multiple subtexts. For instance, in "Today You Are a Man," written in a stream of consciousness style, a gay Jewish boy fantasizes about comic book superheroes to help him deal with his tumultuous coming of age, his father's infidelity, and his shaky understanding of Judaism, marriage, and homosexuality. Usually associated with a Bar Mitzvah, the term "Today You Are a Man" means something different in this story.

Complex and lovely, this collection is the kind of book where readers will stop reading after each story and think about how the characters mirror their own lives. These are stories to be savored.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jendi Reiter is the author of the novel Two Natures (Saddle Road Press). It is a multi award-winner:

Rainbow Award winner, Book Excellence Award,  and National Indie Excellence Award finalist

See the book trailer at http://bit.ly/twonaturestrailer

"Intense revelations about what it means to be both Christian and gay...a powerful saga"  --Midwest Book Review

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