Naked Pueblo

I came across this book at Price/Costco, and was attracted by the title. Years ago (and probably, still) Tucson radio station KLPX used to refer to Tucson---the "Old Pueblo"--- as the "Naked Pueblo" instead. I saw the title, and of course, I was intrigued.I started reading the book and thought I'd pee my pants laughing as I read the first story. I live in Arizona, and with just a few strokes of the brush, Poirier had the essence of the lake and everything else.After the first story, I thought the book was going to be a broad comedy, but it surprised me. It became intimate character sketches of the people I see every day, clearly drawn. From the dumb cowboy wannabes riding around in their trucks to the scent of the Sonoran Desert, Mark gets it right. I work with these people and have wandered around in their town, and every detail is exact.I set the book down about 2/3 of the way through it, 'cause I didn't want it to end. I couldn't resist, though, and picked it back up. I was pleased at the way the stories bookended, though.I went back to Costco and bought another copy, just in case one gets loaned and never returned. This is the first book I've bought 2 copies of since Tim Powers "Anubis Gates."

As a mother of three active children, I am often dismayed at the amount of time I have to read. It is easy for me to start a book, but difficult for me to finish. I enjoyed Mark Jude Poirier's The Naked Pueblo and was able to complete a story in a short amount of time. Mr. Poirier developed the characters so authentically that the book grabbed me like a novel. His descriptions made vivid pictures in my mind. Many times I laughed aloud at the quirky images he created. Thank you Mr. Poirier for getting my mind off of homework, basketball practice and changing diapers if only for a moment.

On the surface (and particularly at the outset of the collection), Poirier's stories portray a somewhat-difficult-to-stomach world, but it soon becomes clear that there's a very big heart at the heart of these tales, and the images one is left with depict not ugliness but the nuggets of beauty lodged therein. There's a lot of love amidst the hatred, especially between young men whose loyalty and devotion to one another speaks of a quite hope in the power of a love that can emerge between desperate people in desperate circumstances. Particularly moving stories include "Tilt-a-Whirl," "Let Them Love!," "Cul-de-Sacs," and "Pray For Beans." They're ugly, and lovely, and terribly terribly sad. And they're excruciatingly well-written which make them all the more satisfying and wrenching to read.

I find I'm generally disappointed in short stories these days - they seem to try too hard. But this writer's stories are so intriguing and memorable. I loved this collection. No matter how bizarre the character or the situation, Poirier is able to show the inner workings of his characters and reveal his affection for them. The reader ends up feeling for them as well.

What a distinctive voice this writer has! I love short stories, and these are better than good -- hysterically funny, yet surprisingly touching and accessible. You don't have to live in Tucson to recognize his characters; most could come from just about anywhere in middle (and not-so-middle) America. Brought back memories of my own adolescence, in all its randomness and revelation. I laughed out loud, and then found myself thinking about a character days after I'd finished a story....highly recommended!!!