Rust and Bone: Stories Book

It's no secret I'm a fan of short story collections. There is something about getting through a story in its entirety during a reading session that feels wholly satisfying. You can knock a short out on a bus or subway ride, read one over a lunch break, get one in before bedtime. You can pick up and put down a book a short stories for longer periods of time with no real guilt and start relatively fresh each time you crack it back open. The downside is that you invariably enjoy some stories more than others, which becomes a real bitch during review time because you end up pitting the little tales against one another in an effort to appraise it overall. By comparison the ratings will rise and fall in a balancing act, and I rarely emerge thinking every one of them was stellar because of this.

I'm pleased to report 'Rust and Bone' comes pretty damn close. I'd like to think of it as an assortment of small situational squirms that cover a wide spectrum and has the ability to get under every inch of your skin. The book is mostly tales of tough folks in trouble: a sea-world trainer being mauled by a killer whale, a couple involved in the brutal underground world of dog-fighting, an alcoholic father inadvertently ruining his kid's prospects in life, and the stresses of being a sex addict among others. There are ugly, violent, and sadistic sides to life commonly happening behind closed doors, trespasses and indulgences committed by everyday people. This collection holds your head up to the keyhole for a peek.

Davidson's writing is raw and visceral, giving you every bit of the grit and discomfort he intends. It isn't necessarily the gore that gets you (although there is some of that), rather it's the predicaments the characters find themselves in (two pitiful amputees starved of affection trying to feel each other out, for instance). I found the tone and originality more than satisfying. The writing is razor sharp, making for a lean book. There are echoes of author Thom Jones in the pages, an influence that results in a very masculine and unflinching read. Rust & Bone has a quick pace and a keen eye for everyday horror that most might be unaware of. There were stories I enjoyed more than others, ranging from great to good, and occasionally I felt that shock value was employed simply for the sake of it, but other than that there were few qualms to be had. If you enjoy short stories, this is a book I highly recommend.

*This book was one of my '10 Books That Stuck With Me' piece. Check out my other selections: