I have rediscovered the beauty of short stories after reading Jess Walter. I was amazed at how his multidimensional characters told wonderful stories with timeless and contemporary themes. I particularly liked the ones that emphasized family relationships, blended families, and multigenerational concerns.
His stories also provide a poignant and painful illustration of the stages of life. I particularly liked his ability to characterize teenage angst and the unique concerns of aging citizens in communities and families that don’t always recognize individual needs. Some of the themes that I will remember are
-Finding protection from unexpected and chance meetings
-Magnificent desolation
-Reinvention of self
-Limited expectations from certain people
-Stereotyping
-Generational shifts
-Universal humanity
