February 1, 2005
By Lawrence Olszewski
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Alarcón's first collection is a mixed bag, both stylistically and in terms of quality. The most rewarding of these nine stories are those that deal with broken relationships, be they familial, amorous, or simply human. In "City of Clowns," which appeared in The New Yorker in 2003, Oscar comes to grips with his deceased father's double life. In "Third Avenue Suicide," David must find a place to hide out every time visitors come so they won't discover he's living with his girlfriend. "Absence" explores the plight of the defenseless immigrant, separated from his homeland. Some of the shorter pieces, however (e.g., "Flood" and "A Strong Good Man"), fail to ignite. The Peruvian-born Alarcón writes in a strong, vibrant style, with recognizable characters and realistic situations. The names and places are Hispanic in name only; the stories transcend a sense of place.