Astronauts : and Other Stories

Rating:
Summary: Looking Down from Above
Review: Recently, I had the pleasure of not only hearing the author read from his debut collection, but talking to him about craft. "I want to hover over these characters," he said, over a pint at the Newtonville Times here in Newton, Massachusetts. He does just that -- observantly, unobtrusively -- and in Astronauts & Other Stories, winds up sending back to earth some radiant, revealing photographs. I'll dispense with the synopses, and say only that the characters are human, the stories inventive, and the tone clear, lyrical, and almost Zen-like throughout. Don't be misled by the author's tenderness. It's genuine, but not without its acknowledgement of sorrow, despair and hurtful behavior. Matthew Iribarne picks up where another of my favorites -- Andre Dubus --left off just a few years ago. Both seems to enjoy a celestial perspective on us. A joy to recommend.

Bryan

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Work, Beautiful Book
Review: Take a look around the new fiction section at any bookstore these days and you'll see there's a welcome boon in short story collections. And this wonderful book by Matt Iribarne is sure proof that this trend consists of fine, exquisitely written material. I dare you to pick up this collection, read "Make Me Laugh"-a funny, sad and wise tale about a disgraced priest-and not wish you had a couple of hours to wade through all of this smart and witty new writer's stories. This is the kind of book that reminds you of all the greats-Tobias Wolff, Ron Carlsen, Charles Baxter-and offers fantastic nuggets of originality that suggests the beginning of a long and fruitful career for Mr. Iribarne. Don't miss this one.

Rating:
Summary: Astronauts and Other Stories
Review: Terrific stories. Of course, I may like them more because I try to look at my own dreams for the odd concrete element like the tooth that the priest kept or the car lighter that glowed and brought the family together. Matthew Iribarne knows about the quirky sacramentals that are always revealing us to ourselves. I hope that he keeps writing and helping us cope with the ephemeral relationships of everyday life.