A skinny, unremarkable collection of seven previously published stories from up-and-coming British novelist Rhodes (Timoleon Vieta Come Home
) observes the sadly unequal love relationships between adoring men and preoccupied women. Rhodes's characters possess the uncomplicated, pared-down dimensions of archetype, such as the old professor of "The Carolingian Period," who's been intoning the same lecture at the School of Architecture for 30 years and is undone in a moment by a pretty auditor's attention; one sees his regrets coming paragraphs away. "Glass Eyes," set in the forest, feels like a fairy tale: Coquettita, an older witchlike woman who is much experienced in love and has one glass eye, keeps a young naïve lover. As proof of his love, she demands the ghastly removal of his left eyeball, in order to match her own; as he complies, he—surprise—sees her for the first time as she really is. Similarly, "Beautiful Consuela" explores just how much a man in love will take from his beloved: she tests the truth of his feelings by growing hideously fat, unwashed and altogether repulsive, and he remains with her gladly. Rhodes aims for parable and, despite inventiveness, comes closer to pat. (Feb.)
