My Father's War and Other Stories - Hardcover

Poet Sutter ( Pine Creek Parish Hall ) makes a compelling fiction debut with this collection of stories about bonds within male communities. His characters are ordinary Midwesterners whose otherwise unremarkable lives are touched by a moment of raw clarity and truth. In the title novella, a father recounts his experiences as a soldier in World War II to his sons, who had been Vietnam War protesters. The older man's revealing tale forges fraternal links among himself, his sons and past generations of warriors and peace-lovers. In "Happiness" three young men on a camping trip narrowly escape death and share an appreciation of their love and friendship. Sutter lays bare the depths of the human experience with economy and precision. Looking back on his mother's slow surrender to cancer, a young man's tremendous guilt and loss are conveyed in a simple recollection: "She wanted kisses, but he was horrified by her breath." The five stories offer leisurely exposition and character development; though some are drawn out too long, their honesty and sensitivity will resonate.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

These are old-fashioned stories, firmly grounded in reality, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. The themes, too, are traditional: coming to terms with maturation, family relationships, war, and death. While these subjects are always current, the title story is particularly topical. In it, three brothers learn greater understanding and respect for their father after hearing of his World War II experiences. Set in the Midwest, the stories all have a solid sense of place, complete with jack pines, blizzards, muskrats, and hawk migrations. The dialog and the artistic unity are also especially noteworthy. Recommended.
- Dorothy Golden, Georgia Southern Univ., Statesboro
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.