ANHEDONIA

This debut collection of short stories by McLoof examines the expectations and disappointments of human relations.

Anhedonia, the title of this collection, refers to an inability to experience pleasure. Many of the characters in these seven stories face varying degrees of tedium or ennui in their lives. The opening story, “Space, Whether, and Why,” takes the form of a dense paragraph, written in the first person, that relates the intricate details of a relationship in which one partner asks for “space.” In “Disneyland,” a 16-year-old lesbian decides to ask her father for advice about girls. The title story continues the theme of potentially uncomfortable encounters when a father decides to take his 8-year-old daughter along during a Chili’s dinner date. “How to Start Again in Twelve Easy Steps” is a series of notes-to-self on how to rekindle a failing relationship, such as “When she calls, be happy. Relish the sound of the ringtone.” Finally, in the closing story, “Negotiation,” a couple enter peace talks after a split. This brief, 35-page collection showcases McLoof’s versatility; “Negotiation,” the strongest piece, is written in the second person, which effectively places the reader in the front seat of an emotional roller coaster: “Your fingernails are dirty and your clothes are stained with paint but that does not mean you are unprepared to meet with her right now.” The anxious negotiation is peppered with believable statements of reconciling lovers: “I want to be who I am with you all the time.” McLoof also has an enjoyably succinct descriptive style: “She…sees this woman wrapped around her father like a strait jacket.” Some may find the collection’s opening story a challenge, as its conversational flow can prove overwhelming: “I asked you what you needed ‘space’ for, as in what is it you do when you’re taking your ‘space’ rather than what kind of a person asks for ‘space.’ ” However, it’s a clever replication of how a person in a struggling relationship communicates their heightened, overwrought emotions. Overall, McLoof’s nuanced, perceptive study of how humans interact will leave readers wanting more.

A skilled, incisive, and smartly conceived set of tales.