Joy Williams

[Arthur Staaz]

Curious to see if anyone has read this author. Today's New York Times Sunday Book Review has a review of her new collection "The Visiting Privilege." Sounds like she covers a lot of the same territory that Ligotti covers, but from a realist perspective. I was particularly struck by a quote from her in a review of another author's work:

"Life is ludicrous and full of cruel and selfish distractions. Honor is elusive and many find the copious ingestion of drugs necessary. Our ignorance is infinite and our sorrows fearful. We have made an unutterable waste of this world, and our passage through it is bitter and unheroic. Still, the horror can at times be illuminating, and it is necessary that the impossible be addressed.”

It reminded me of why I love Ligotti's work so much. The horror can at times be illuminating (even if it inspires deeper horror). I haven't read anything by her, but I am intrigued and will probably check out her stories.

[dr. locrian]

Quote Originally Posted by Cynothoglys

I bought this book and have read the first couple stories. My judgement thus far: this lady can write. Her stories are firmly in the style of the American short story giants (Carver, Cheever, Updike, and especially Wolff), but she writes viscerally and with a wryness they lack. Her characters are even more downtrodden than Carver's. In that respect she reminds me of Flannery O'Connor. The first two stories were very powerful, so I'm sure that this is going to be quite a collection. Thanks for the heads up.

Reminds you of O'Connor? Say no more.

SOLD.