From Pamela Carter Joern comes a book of short stories that focuses on characters who live in the small town of Reach, Nebraska. Inside of, In Reach, you will find 14 short stories of varied length, all of which contain wonderfully imagined characters who feel like your next door neighbors.
How you read a short story collection varies from book to book and person to person. I personally love to read short stories in between novels and I like to read at least one short story a week. With Joern's collection, I read one story a day. I just wanted to immerse myself in this little town and get to know its residents.
Pamela is a great writer and masterful storyteller and she draws the reader into her stories with finesse. Each story is unique and rooted in reality of human life and filled with compassion. Some were heartbreaking while others made me smile and laugh. Each one is just so good, its hard to pick my favorites. I adored the story, All the Wildness in Her (great title) of a widowed couple who sneak out of town to enjoy each other's company and steal kisses. I loved the story, Redeeming the Time Being about a mother and daughter grieving the death of a spouse/parent that takes place in Seville, Spain ( I have visited here recently) and I loved the story, The Sky is Falling about Ella who has just been saved at a revival meeting and how her husband Buck handles her new found religion. Oh my, all the stories are just so, so good. You need to read it for yourself.
Pamela Carter Joern is not a well known author but she should be. You should remember her name. She is a really talented writer and super creative. Her stories leap off the page with realism, honesty and grit. I can't wait to read more of her books and stories and maybe even visit Nebraska someday (since it's pretty close to Minnesota).
In Reach was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in 2015. Pamela has won the Nebraska Book Award for her book, The Floor of the Sky (which I also read and it was awesome).
If you liked Olive Kitteridge you will love In Reach by Pamela Carter Joern.
