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Rating: 
Summary: A gem: each facet a sparkling short story.
Review: Ever since I read Dorris' Yellow Raft in Blue Water I have wanted to read more of his magical prose. And finally I have. I carefully meted out a quota of one story a day to make the experience last its longest. And, I look forward to rereading this collection again and again when I need to quench one of those reading dry spells that settles in now and again
Rating: 
Summary: A Rewarding Reread
Review: Having owned this for years I recently dug it out (literally, from under a pile of similarly-owned books) and discovered a collection of stories that improves upon rereading. I recall I took readily to Dorris's style during the early nineties, a time in which everything for him looked bright and his marriage to Louise Erdrich remained intact and healthy, at least to the outside world. He and Louise seemed such soulmates--at least in the literary vein. Here was a man with promise, with a raw talent that surely would develop and refine with time, time that Dorris stole from himself with his suicide. Dorris's death makes the reading of these stories all the more pointed. Dorris saw so clearly within his words, within his writings he honed in on lives mundane and not so. His stories deal with the stuff of life: loss, love, work, family. That Dorris is no longer with us makes these stories resonate even further. For what lays beyond his fiction is this fact: Dorris' voice is worth remembering, worth taking out from time to time, worth sitting with up late in the quiet after one's own hard day of work. Within these pages are diamonds of pure truths.
Rating: 
Summary: Many men and a few surprises
Review: Interesting collection of short stories. Here are some thoughts:1: The Benchmark: Was Dorris an expert in pond construction? If not, how does an author research such a topic in order to sound so knowledgeable? What a skill! 2: Earnest Money: a guy who escaped to Canada to avoid the draft comes back to the US and meets the critical eye of the old and new women in his life. I did not like the very abrupt ending. 3: Qiana: Inertia can break up a marriage. Funnily, Irene finds solace elsewhere (her garden), while Normand is left out on a limb. 4: Name Games: Who are Noel and Alex? Noel needs to find out the inevitability of his sexual preference. Very well crafted story, where you only find out what's going on at the very end. 5: Groom Service: In an imaginary (?) matriarchal society, the groom is put through the ringer setting up a food dowry for the coveted bride. 6: Anything: Psychic George the DJ... I did not like this story all that well. It did not have much of a pointy. 7: The Vase: Dealing with aging, bitter parents can be quite the chore, especially when you've never been the favorite child. What is the son atoning for? Is he paying for his sins by putting up with his cranky mother? 8: Me and the Girls: This story is based on a NYT article, about a guy who kidnapped a couple of elephants and lived in the lam in NJ for a while. Too contrived, although this story truly proves the case that reality is stranger than fiction. 9: Jeopardy: Now, this one I didn't see it coming. What impacted me the most is how terrible it must be to continuously be living a semi-lie. 10: The Dark Snake: With some changes, this became part of the novel Cloud Chamber. Well done, but I can't stand that woman, who cuts her nose to spite her face. 11: Oui: My favorite story in the book. The ending was such a warm surprise! I love the voice of the narrator, which reminded me to the easy-speak that Jim Harrison uses too. Wonderful story full of hope. 12: Layaway: I did not understand this story, and would love for someone to read it and explain it to me! 13: Shining Agate: Starts with an Alaskan legend, and continues with the story of an anthropology student and superstition. 14: Decoration Day: This is another prequel to Cloud Chamber. Edna, who drives as a man, according to her sister, is the designated "man" in the story.
Rating:
Summary: Many men and a few surprises
Review: Interesting collection of short stories. Here are some thoughts: 1: The Benchmark: Was Dorris an expert in pond construction? If not, how does an author research such a topic in order to sound so knowledgeable? What a skill! 2: Earnest Money: a guy who escaped to Canada to avoid the draft comes back to the US and meets the critical eye of the old and new women in his life. I did not like the very abrupt ending. 3: Qiana: Inertia can break up a marriage. Funnily, Irene finds solace elsewhere (her garden), while Normand is left out on a limb. 4: Name Games: Who are Noel and Alex? Noel needs to find out the inevitability of his sexual preference. Very well crafted story, where you only find out what's going on at the very end. 5: Groom Service: In an imaginary (?) matriarchal society, the groom is put through the ringer setting up a food dowry for the coveted bride. 6: Anything: Psychic George the DJ... I did not like this story all that well. It did not have much of a pointy. 7: The Vase: Dealing with aging, bitter parents can be quite the chore, especially when you've never been the favorite child. What is the son atoning for? Is he paying for his sins by putting up with his cranky mother? 8: Me and the Girls: This story is based on a NYT article, about a guy who kidnapped a couple of elephants and lived in the lam in NJ for a while. Too contrived, although this story truly proves the case that reality is stranger than fiction. 9: Jeopardy: Now, this one I didn't see it coming. What impacted me the most is how terrible it must be to continuously be living a semi-lie. 10: The Dark Snake: With some changes, this became part of the novel Cloud Chamber. Well done, but I can't stand that woman, who cuts her nose to spite her face. 11: Oui: My favorite story in the book. The ending was such a warm surprise! I love the voice of the narrator, which reminded me to the easy-speak that Jim Harrison uses too. Wonderful story full of hope. 12: Layaway: I did not understand this story, and would love for someone to read it and explain it to me! 13: Shining Agate: Starts with an Alaskan legend, and continues with the story of an anthropology student and superstition. 14: Decoration Day: This is another prequel to Cloud Chamber. Edna, who drives as a man, according to her sister, is the designated "man" in the story.
Rating:
Summary: Read "The Benchmark," it's one of the best
Review: The first story, "The Benchmark," is one of the best pieces stories I've ever read. It's just one of those perfect stories. That the book isn't able to keep up with that level of performance isn't surprising but it's disappointing. There are good stories here but there are some mediocre stories too and I spent the last few stories wondering when I would be done with the book. For a great book of stories go to Tobias Wolff's _Back in the World_ or Thom Jones' _The Pugilist at Rest_. Dorris has crafted some good things here but there's not enough to hold the whole thing together.
Rating:
Summary: Read "The Benchmark," it's one of the best
Review: The first story, "The Benchmark," is one of the best pieces stories I've ever read. It's just one of those perfect stories. That the book isn't able to keep up with that level of performance isn't surprising but it's disappointing. There are good stories here but there are some mediocre stories too and I spent the last few stories wondering when I would be done with the book. For a great book of stories go to Tobias Wolff's _Back in the World_ or Thom Jones' _The Pugilist at Rest_. Dorris has crafted some good things here but there's not enough to hold the whole thing together.
Rating:
Summary: A rare and gentle treat...
Review: Working Men is a varied yet cohesive volume of short stories that left me breathless. Dorris unfolds each story and character flawlessly. Each emotion is crystalline and each presentation is a rare and gentle treat. Working Men is meant to be read and reread.
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