Homesick for Another World

Inadvertently a second collection of short stories in succession, albeit of a very different nature. I had very much enjoyed Moshfegh's other works, especially My Year, which augured well for Homesick. Her style is very distinct, narrating the lives of people who have issues (in the broadest sense of the word), yet know they do and indeed often happily embrace them. Moshfegh does perversion and self-loathing very well, unlike some other contemporary short story writers from the US (for example George Saunders). Moshfegh is not critical of the state of America; this is a more pragmatic and nuanced recognition that the world is far from perfect. Anguish, self-loathing and despair could all be considered somewhat normal states. As well as often being very funny (in a wrong kind of way), Moshfegh's stories develop and arc. There is always the possibility of some hope or redemption, per the collection's title. Rarely in this sort of work (14 stories), there were no obvious fails. Most stories would stand up to a rereading. Eight and a half out of ten.

By Ottessa Moshfegh