Bang Crunch
by Neil Smith
Published by Vintage International
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Reviewed by Jenny Salyers
Bang Crunch is Canadian author Neil Smith’s debut collection of short stories. It contains nine short stories all about pretty ordinarily average people who find themselves in rather unexpected situations. I didn’t know what to expect when I opened up the book, while snuggling up on my sofa, against the cold weather outside with a large mug of tea. What I found between the covers of this slim novel captivated me and left me wanting to read more by this extraordinarily talented author.
These are a few of the introspective stories in Bang Crunch:
“Isolettes” introduces us to a young set of parents dealing with the extremity early birth of their child. The story examines the frailty of the new life, and the struggle the young mother has with finding love for the incubator-bound baby, wrapped in tubes and sensors.
“Green Florescent Protein” is about Max, a teen struggling to cope with several new situations. He recently moved to a new home in Westmont. His mother, a wacky, sober ex-drunk who talks to his father’s cremated remains (which are housed inside a curling stone), deciding to give herself a “life overhaul.” He also is struggling with a new feeling of attraction that goes past friendship with his closest friend, Ruby-Doo.
“The B9ers” – What happens when a survivor of a benign tumor starts a support group for others in the same situation? The B9ers captures the struggle of a group of people trying to return to normal life after a close call. They don’t get the support and sympathy they need, since their tumors were not malignant, but still struggle along after surgery.
“Bang Crunch” – Is a look into the life of a girl with Fred Hoyle’s syndrome, which ages her a year a day.
“Scrapbook” – Amy and her boyfriend struggle with the attack on a University German class that ends with the death of eight women. He was one of the survivors of the attack. This story delves into the “what ifs”? Why did this happen? The story also delves into the emotions of guilt and anxiety of being a survivor.
Armchair Interviews says: A debut short-story author to read and be encouraged to write more.