Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

just read an absolutely heartbreaking short story on the bus home (which somehow feels appropriate), adam haslett's "reunion," from his collection you are not a stranger here. yes, it's a pick of today's book club; please don't let that scare you off. my buddy robin, who's appallingly brilliant and a fine, fine writer in his own right, recommended the book to me, and I'm stunned by the beauty and delicacy with which haslett writes. "reunion" is a tale of james, who at the age of 25 is dying of aids - and allowing himself to do so, perhaps out of shame -

"For a moment, he felt again the devouring shame that he'd let this disease he'd been so warned of into his body, let it in because he wanted pleasure and somewhere along the way believed people he shouldn't have. But he'd learned early in life there were things it was best not to think about. The shame passed and he didn't let his mind pursue it."

- and perhaps out of apathy. his memories, his deterioration are nearly difficult to read, as if too personal, too intimate. I actually teared up upon completing the story, which is quite rare. the rest of the stories in haslett's book are nearly as good, and all are as solid. phenomenal writing from a great new talent.

msnbc did a good online q&a with haslett in august.