"The Wonder Spot" by Melissa Bank

I just finished The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank. If you're not familiar with Melissa Bank, she wrote the popular The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, a 1999 collection of short stories about one woman's attempts to find love and meaningful work. The stories are interconnected - they are all about the same person - but stands on its own as a self-contained entity. The Wonder Spot, though billed as a novel, is basically the same thing - a collection of stories about one woman's search for love and meaningful work. Yes, her family members carry over from one chapter to the next, but each one deals with a different boyfriend and a different stage in the life of protagonist Sophie Applebaum.

While I was reading The Wonder Spot, I asked myself what was compelling about it, why I kept reading - because it far from a perfect book. I decided that the book is like slightly salted popcorn - there's enough there to make you want more, but not enough to satisfy you.

Bank is a very good writer. Her protagonists are likable and funny, self-deprecating and flawed. Her style is spare - sometimes bordering on minimal. And while this minimalism is what kept me reading, I think, it also ultimately alienated me from the book. For this is really, at its heart, a short story collection rather than a novel. For example, in the chapter dealing with Sophie's college years, the focus is exclusively on her relationship with her freshman roommate. That's it - no mention of classes or other friends or anything else she did in those years. That's fine for a short story, but, in my opinion, it doesn't work for a novel.

Men came and went, chapter by chapter. Sometimes I wasn't even aware that one relationship had ended before Bank had moved on to the next. One particular ex-boyfriend - a man who died shortly after he and Sophie broke up - seems to have played a large role in her future emotional life, but he is barely even mentioned. This is not to say that I didn't know or understand Sophie by the end. I did. I just wanted some more consistency and a more thorough story.

I enjoyed The Wonder Spot while I read it, but looking back now, I didn't take much away from it. It was a light read, which I needed after Trespass, but with so many books waiting to be read, I am not sure this one was worth the time.

If you like short stories, give this novel a try because you might enjoy it more than I did. If, however, you enjoy getting deeply into novels with consistent story arcs and no loose threads, this book may frustrate you.

Here is a review of The Wonder Spot from Read for Pleasure that I agree with. Take a look if you want another perspective.

Comments

[Jessica]

I've picked this book up a couple of times but was never sure I would like it. I like short stories, but like you mentioned I I prefer a little more depth into a character's life in a novel.

By the way I really like your blog. I've been reading for a while now but this is my first comment. I wish Vegas (my hometown) attracted as many great author appearances and readings as you get in D.C.

[Gayle]

Jessica - thanks for the comment! I am glad you're enjoying the blog. I feel incredibly lucky to live here, where so many great authors come through. I got to meet Min Jin Lee again on Friday night, which was very special for me. I am surprised they don't come to Vegas - maybe it's because so many people there are tourists and won't realize the signings are going on. There are a lot of great author interviews available online so I recommend doing some google searches of authors you're particularly interested.

Glad to have you reading the blog!

Gayle

[Hope]

I like the ending. It seems that Sophie will get a second chance at the years she lost taking care of other people by dating a guy a "decade" youunger than her.