Apple Falls from Apple Tree: Stories

Papanikolas's second collection (following Small Bird, Tell Me) examines the tensions in several immigrant Greek families and how their new generations gradually assimilate into American culture. Although dutifully true to life, these six stories suffer acutely from the lack of any narrative. For instance, the opening piece, ""County Hospital 1939,"" depicts a young lab technician's gloomy life as she plods along, tolerating her oppressive mother, racist boss, spoiled brother and dismal romantic prospects. The author goes to great lengths to detail day-to-day minutia, ultimately ending up with an elaborate backdrop with very little going on center stage. The protagonist never actively seeks a better existence, and her life of resignation makes for extremely dull reading. Although not much of a story per se, ""The People Garden,"" nonetheless works as a lovely extended metaphor. Nina, now an old woman, draws comparisons between the different flowers in her garden and her various friends and relatives. ""As the nicotanea scent floated off, she thought it was like those who had come into her life, been important and then were gone because she had been too busy and there was not the time, the energy to keep up with them."" The best short by far, ""If I Don't Praise My House,"" portrays a snobby widow revisiting her former parish out of sheer loneliness. She briefly enjoys the illusion of belonging before she accidentally overhears some crushing gossip in the ladies room. Here, with a simple, interesting plot Papanikolas fares much better. (Sept.)