Thank You for the Music: Stories

Jane McCafferty's compilations are like musical selections from a favorite cd. You can feel the characters and setting, and find yourself getting caught up in the outcome of each short story, hoping the next selection is just as lyrical. Filled with bittersweet hope, this book does not disappoint. Thank you-Jane.

What a treat! I've discovered a new short story favorite. This collection is worth reading if only for one story in particular, "The Dog That Saved Her." Well, also, "Dear Mr. Springsteen." Two of my very favorite short stories ever, up there with the best of Lorrie Moore and Amy Bloom. Please pick up this slim, moving, surprising gem of a book!

Now that 2004 has ended, I can say with confidence that this is the best story collection of 2004. It's one of the best collections I've read in years -- and woefully ignored. Whenever I direct someone to this collection, I get this response: WOW! Please discover this writer.

"Thank You for the Music" is McCafferty's third major published work and her second collection of short stories. This is a collection that celebrates the contradictions and mysteries of our lives and shows us why we're worth writing about, worth reading about, worth thinking about, and, ultimately why our lives are worth living. Few people are able to find the sacred in the ordinary as well as McCafferty does. So while many of these stories begin with our very mundane selves - the jealous brother and husband, recent empty-nesters (who have only themselves and their "achievements" left to live with-or to avoid), insomniacs who are moved to graced risk by misapportioned devotion to pop stars, the family misfit, the suburban father, frustrated by the life he seems to have gotten painted into, and others - McCafferty perseveres and penetrates each protagonist deeply and keenly for more, faithful to her belief that there is more, lots more. Often, we can't see beyond what we think her characters should be; neither can most others in her stories. But it's because she's able to expose what lies beneath all our foibles so respectfully, so artfully, subtle but important epiphanies emerge. And in being witness to them, we get all that blessed residue. McCafferty's writing is both visionary and clear, both mystical and well grounded, both spontaneous and well organized. Reading this book, her first collection of stories, and her wonderful novel, "One Heart," I'm reminded of Richard Yates, both for his writing ability and, unfortunately, for the fact that he wasn't aptly appreciated during his time. If this collection doesn't move McCafferty out where she deserves to be, it's not going to be for want of a solid achievement.