The rest of the stories in the collection lacked its power. Some came close (“Allergic” had the same strength in its ending and “A Drunk Cedar Waxwing” is probably my favorite of the whole collection), but on the whole, I found them less compelling than I had hoped.
Reddick is definitely a skilled writer when it comes to characterization. In a short space (the longest story is still only four pages long) he is able to show the reader exactly who a character is and what they want. In some cases, he is able to fit in a surprise or an ironic twist, which is not an easy feat in flash fiction. He also shows incredible empathy, especially regarding aging and death. His works are not overtly philosophical, but they do open the door to philosophy. Readers will find themselves touched by his works, and it’s very likely some of the stories will inspire them to think.
Some of the weaknesses I found in his writing are matters of taste. Some will be less important to readers than his strengths are. Nevertheless, in the interest of an honest review, I should mention them.
In some of the stories, the ending simply didn’t land. Sometimes it felt like no ending at all; other times it felt trite or pointlessly sentimental. (For a few stories, it was confusing, as most of the story would be in first person but then would suddenly switch to third for the last few paragraphs.) Some of the long sentences don’t quite reach the point of lyricism but instead fall into confusion.
While I enjoyed some of the stories, overall, I was left unimpressed by the collection. People who have stumbled across Reddick’s work and enjoyed it will likely be glad to find a collection of a few dozen more. Most readers, however, will find a few they enjoy and be either unimpressed or content with the rest.