Vol. 17, edited by Allison Fradkin $13; NewTown Writers Press; 159 pages
I always look forward to reviewing the annual volume of this anthology series, put out by Chicago's NewTown Writers Press. This year's theme: subtext. We all recognize what that is, right? Maybe, maybe not, hidden under the surface as it is. As the Press puts it, subtext is "reading between, behind, beneath and beyond the lines." And whose subtext are we looking forthe author's, the characters' or our very own? Whatever: This collection of 28 short stories and poems provides a delightful potpourri of sad, sweet, funny, and reflective glimpses into the lives of an assortment of folks.
For example: the couple having a romp in apples. Or Gabriel, distraught over his lover's suicide in 1961 Seattle, who summons his "cousins" to witness his despair. Or the snide cocktail party attendee anxious to leave with his lover. Or Brady, the gay Mormon, who makes a surprising request of Lucas, his straight friend since childhood. Or overweight Gabriella, sweet on Meredith in their high school homeroom. Or Oscar and Warren nearing the end of their life together, filled with the richness of fairytales.
One of the joys of an anthology, aside from the diversity of perspectives, is that you can dip in for a short delectable, and jump out again at the end of a piece without the gnawing guilt that you've stranded new friends in the middle of some dilemma. And then you look forward to another dip, as time allows. Many of these pieces are so rich you'll want to revisit them again to find new thoughts to nibble on. Enjoy!
Many of the submissions you'll find in these pages were penned by writers from the Chicago area, but this volume also includes authors based in other parts of the country, as well as in Turkey. The NewTown Writers mission is to foster queer literature and provide the local, national, and international queer community with opportunities to"… speak up and speak out, and to be heard loud and queer." Volume 17 of Off the Rocks succeeds admirably. It is dedicated to writer, performer and Chicagoan Cookie Crumbles.