Sometimes It's New York: Stories

In his new book of short stories, longtime journalist and author Claude Stanush (All Honest Men) presents a mixed bag, at times outstanding, but just as often confusing. The opening story, ""New York, New York"" tells the tale of a young writer witnessing the rise and fall of his friend's writing career; its concise prose, detached narrator and overall sense of mankind's powerlessness will remind readers, favorably, of Hemmingway. The next story, ""Bishop O'Hare,"" also showcases Stanush's ability to draw compelling, flesh-and-blood characters, but the storyline proves anti-climactic; unfortunately, this proves to be the start of a trend. As the collection progresses, Stanush's style starts to unravel, his narrative voices become less clear, and his stories begin trailing off. Though many of the 13 stories stand up well on their own-Stanush has a winning, wise way with the human condition-the progression, taken all at once, may leave readers with a steady sinking feeling.