Synopses & Reviews
Review
"'An extraordinary alertness came over him.' Conroy's protagonists all possess a vivid awareness not only of the present but also the past. In fact, key moments from the past determine his characters' behavior. His message is familiar—the randomness of modern life precludes us from seeing recognizable patterns—but Conroy interests us by using external objects to establish a character's connection to the past. He asks us to pay attention to details so that we may also experience 'an extraordinary alertness.' The best stories in this collection—'Midair, ' 'Gossip,' and 'The Sense of the Meeting'—reveal the complexity of relationships between men and women, fathers and sons, and remind us that memories play a significant role in the ongoing struggle these relationships produce. Conroy's Midair is simply extraordinary." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)
Table of Contents
Midair -- Celestial events -- Car games -- The mysterious case of R -- Roses -- Transit -- Gossip -- The sense of the meeting.