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The Wonders of the Invisible World: Stories |
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The Wonders of the Invisible World: Stories by David Gates Random House (Vintage Contemporaries) 258 pages, 2000 ISBN 0679756442 Reviewed by Faith Leslie - South Africa David Gates writes with wit rather than humour, and it is a mordant wit which savages the characters he portrays. These are characters portrayed in a world which some of us do not experience, yet which rings unfailingly true nonetheless, as the author shows not only the action of the story but the characters' inner selves. One does not doubt that these painful, fascinating stories, are based on either personal experience or a very close examination of the subjects. In the story which gives the book its title, The Wonders of the Invisible World, the protagonist is an older, divorced man involved with a young married woman. He has a young daughter which complicates his feelings about his inamorata; and when something happens to create a serious problem, he has to make a choice. In Star Baby, a gay man has charge of his young nephew whose mother is a drug abuser and choices have to be made which will have far-reaching implications. The Intruder shows the relationship between an older gay man and a beautiful young man whose lifestyle has a profound effect on their futures. The Wonders of the Invisible World is a collection of stories that require careful reading to realize their full meaning, often painful, yet handled in a sensitive and intelligent manner. |
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