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In Armenise's collection of short stories, which features a range of characters enduring moral conundrums, it is refreshing to see an emphasis on flawed characters working to better themselves. Rather than the exemplary, picture-perfect model of the heroic arc, the author expertly develops dynamic characters who struggle, sometimes miserably, but ultimately find a silver lining as their stories reach completion. Throughout the collection, Armenise comprehensively explores everything from tenuous sibling bonds and belief in God to the effect of one's upbringing and the desire for revenge.
The story of Alex and Raul is one that likely resonates with countless families. Giving off the Cain-and-Abel vibe, it is so much more: brothers with the same upbringing but different perspectives that lead them down different paths—the priesthood for one, and a talk show refuting God's very existence for the other. The honest, vulnerable questions between Alex and Raul as kids exemplify Armenise's approach for all his stories. They are utterly thought-provoking, even when the ending is not a "happily ever after."
In other narratives, the author tries to unravel the intricate layers of human behavior, beginning with an understanding of his characters' upbringing. For Morgan Washington in "The Evil Maker," his background in foster care and lackluster—sometimes downright abusive—authority figures leads him astray to a life of drugs. However, his determination and a soft, feminine nudge toward doing right combine to become the beacon of light in his life. Like with real life, the problem is that while one may be intent on leaving an old life behind, ghosts from the past simply won't let well enough alone. This adds to the intrigue from the audience's perspective, clearly showing how high the stakes are for reformed individuals like Morgan.
Armenise embraces the imperfection of the human spirit with grace, even when it's the story of individuals like Steve Adams, who redefine what it means to be down on your luck in "Devious." That being said, the theme that resonates with so many is that if you stay the course long enough, your luck will turn, too. It is this hopefulness in the most unexpected of situations that readers can latch onto, a pathway for them to see themselves and their situations in these characters.
"A Christmas Story" completes the author's short story collection, but in the process, it sheds light on faith and prayer, on illness and children. The excruciating details of pediatric cancer are captured with heartbreaking precision, showing how strong kids are in the face of mortality and fleeting time. Though the tone is markedly different from the other stories rooted in morally gray characters, the same level of uncertainty and helplessness is exhibited through the character of the father, Seymour. Conjure the image of a father playing the role of Santa Claus and being asked by his own cancer-ridden daughter for nothing more than some more time. It is unfathomable, yet it is a reality many families face. More than anything else, Armenise's work takes the rose-colored glasses off idealistic characters and still manages to portray the rough-around-the-edges persona to readers in a way that is extremely entertaining and relatable.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review