Sam the Cat and Other Stories - Mathew Klam

Modern short story is one of the genres that I like to read, especially during the short respites I get for reading during phases of more engagements than usual, in my life - which amount to almost half of the year. This book too was listed as one of the better recent short story collections, although some of the reviewers had mixed feelings about it. Anyway I took up this book to read on my kindle, and here's how I found the stories to be;

Sam the Cat - Sam appears to be an unsettled kind of man, undecided on what he needs, but with no shortage of women. He appears to be bored with life, when he sees a man who appears to be taking care of himself, and somewhat disciplined. Sam becomes further confused with what he wants in life, as he makes a point to impress the man. The reader is left wondering what exactly Sam wants, as Sam himself isn't being honest with himself. A fast paced short story, written in a direct style, giving a good view of Sam's confused state of mind.

Not This - The Protagonist Vincent needs some time away from his girl, Kiffany, and visits his brother and S-i-L over the Labor day weekend. The short story then focuses on the luxurious life that his brother leads, and what he does, and with whom he works with to get so much money. It also dwells on certain problems that the couple is having as they want to start a family. While all this, Vincent is undecided on his future, and is repeatedly insulted by his brother for being a loser. To say that the brothers are poles apart, is putting it mildly. Its a very readable short story, although it finished open-ended. 

The Royal Palms - It appears that most, if not all of, these short stories are related to the issues in relationships, irrespective of the stage they are in. In this short story, we come across a couple in which the woman, Diane, feels insecure about how attractive she is. Maybe she feels that her husband tolerates a dip in her looks out of sympathy ? Does it take an attention from a third party to rebuild her confidence ? And is that ok for the husband ? It is clear that these aren't the kind of things that, leave alone couples, even an individual is honest enough to admit to oneself. Hence a reader outside of the pages, do the deconstruction of what may have taken place.

Linda's Daddy's Loaded - Mike finds out he has married rich, and through his wife Linda's father's money, they soon begin to have a life their incomes would otherwise will not permit. But it comes at the occasional tolerance of the old man's unbearable visits, and his whims. But Mike soon finds out that maybe he really can ill afford to not tolerate his father-in-law, however much the daughter feels otherwise.

There Should Be a Name For It - A very young couple in the intense of early passion, try to understand if what they feel for each other is love - is there another name for it ? There should be a name for it.

Issues I Dealt With In Therapy - Is an enjoyable short story where a couple joins the wedding celebration in a resort island, of a close friend of the guy, who has really moved up the ladder of influential people. While the incidents therein make it a fun story, the fact that the father of the bride is one Mr. Niyangoda suggested that Matthew had picked up a Sri Lankan family in the U.S. to inspire the story. The therapy in question is the getaway for Phylida, a surgeon, and her guy, our narrator, who manage to  patch up issues that had accumulated over a time due to their busy schedules.

European Wedding* - Rich and Gynnie, both Americans, are supposed to get married in France, upon Gynnie's mother's insistence, citing their German and French roots. As with most of the stories in this collection, there is the doubt on the minds of both parties, an infidelity or two, and usually busy occupied lives.

As suggested above, all seven short stories are relationship related, and that of the young couples - young in today's terms for marriageable ages, I reckon - and the challenges, doubts, distractions that they have to live through. There is only short story, in which the story has a married couple as the center point.

A decent short story collection that I enjoyed, especially since I didn't spend my core reading time on this.

Rating: ***1/2



*A personal note about this 75 minute short story - I read this in the wee hours as I was returning on the night mail from Badulla upon completing stage 16 of Pekoe trail, somewhat drunk, and amidst the discouragement of my fellow trekkers.