Children in the Woods

This collection was published in 1994 and features about two decades worth of selected stories from the beginning and (what is now the) midpoint of Busch's career. Stories to be read slowly and savored. Busch was a fearlessly observant writer, with the lyrical gifts to express the joys and sorrows of emotional relationships without ever succumbing to morbidity or self-pity. Naturally such a brooding worldview was never rewarded commercially, and Busch's passing in late February of this year received only a fraction of the notice granted at about the same time to Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" trial in London. Don't make that mistake; treat yourself to this excellent introduction to his work. Best stories here, in my opinion: The Trouble with Being Food, Critics, Stand and be Recognized, Ralph the Duck, Folk Tales, The Page, Berceuse.

Reviewers: For your information "Frederick Busch, who wrote 27 books, died February 23, 2006. He was 64 and lived in Shelburne, NY." Taken from the Boston Globe.

Yes, there is an eerie quality to these stories, the kind that lies just past the happily-ever-after of so many fairy tales. It is with beautiful prose, a clear eye, and often affecting poignance that Busch expresses the small and large cruelties his characters inflict upon each other, sometimes in the name of love, and sometimes not. Busch masters the complex emotions in these stories without sentimentality or cynicism. This is a wonderful and necessary piece for any literary fiction collection.

It has been quite some time since I read this book, but I do remember how powerful the writing is. References to fairy tales are woven throughout these stories, and, as you know, fairy tales can be rather frightening. Giving this book only one star demonstrates one of two things: the reader should be reading only feel-good books, or the reader completely missed the point.