Flyways Book PDF, ePub eBook

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Book Descriptions:
When one describes fictional characters as “leaping off the page” the cliché generally invokes one of two ideas: either the characters, through their sheer force of presence, leave the reader desiring transcendence, or that the characters are so realistically portrayed that they could seemingly steal your cab or be seen sipping an americano at the local café. The former approach relies upon hyperbole and the reader’s desire that reality should imitate its fictional counterpart. The latter summons the mimetic illusion, manipulating the text’s form to make everything seem realistic. To be successful, both approaches demand a great deal of skill. What astonishes about Devin Krukoff’s Flyways is that it manages to do both. His characters do not “leap off the page,” they reach out and slap you in the face. And this is a good thing. Flyways employs an interesting conceit: each chapter begins with a flash story about a species of bird. The brief passage and the bird’s implicit characteristics create an elaborate metaphor comparing bird and protagonist. For example, the red-winged blackbird—a creature notorious for thieving shiny-objects—introduces a chapter concerning an autistic boy; the domestic chicken connects to a lady who manically believes in “blue magic.” The blue jay—a bird that devotes itself to a single mate—ironically foreshadows a woman’s gambling addiction. The device is as efficient as it is playful, for it often instantly establishes a character’s essence while also inviting the reader to ponder the metaphor for the chapter’s duration. Some are more successful than others. I confess that a couple left me confused even after consulting the Internet, which may be a failure of my own imagination rather than the author’s, or may be a geographical constraint, as all the birds are residents of British Columbia. Krukoff’s delicate balancing of hyperbole and psychological realism is the book’s greatest achievement. Flyways is thematically reminiscent of Zsuzsi Gartner’s All the Anxious Girls on Earth, but without the moral didacticism. While Krukoff’s stories share Gartner’s sense of humour, they elicit the reader’s sympathy rather than condemnation. Many of the characters are extreme: a pregnant teenaged girl tries to abort her child by convincing a stranger to push her down an escalator; a fraudulent therapist prescribes extreme sports to his clients to support his own adrenaline addiction; two ex-cons plan a domestic terrorist attack to unsettle Canada’s commodity fetishism. Despite these sensational situations, Krukoff’s stories remain surprisingly plausible. He sustains this illusion by manipulating the prose to reflect a character’s psychological state. Indeed, each chapter’s diction and structure mirrors the protagonist’s mental state—a strategy that creates a cast of fully developed individuals. If the character is simple, the sentence structure is simple and the diction limited. If the character becomes horny, sexual innuendo begins to saturate the prose. For example, an ad-man imagines a more successful future while leering at teenaged girls. The italicized words are my emphasis: “Not that his job was without benefits. He was well-liked in the office. He could surf the internet all day long, he imagined, and his position would have still been more secure than some of the executives’. But, at times, he could not help craving more. He wanted to spearhead a winning campaign, to not only be liked but respected by his colleagues, to see his framed portrait hanging outside the boardroom above the Employee of the Month placard.” The device becomes even more tantalizing when Krukoff has the ad-man dismissing the company’s approach that embedded “an ad with innuendo that was not always meant to be consciously detected,” preferring instead ads that are “blatant and crude.” The subtly self-reflexive scene is not only hilarious, but suggests Krukoff’s aesthetic preferences. A realist can get away with fanciful stories if the prose is slyly crafted. Devin Krukoff won the 2005 Journey Prize for his short story, “The Last Spark.” Flyways affirms his place among Canada’s leading stylists. — Brandon McFarlane

Flyways by Devin Krukoff

From reader reviews:

Angela Jones:

Does one one of the book lovers? If so, do you ever feeling doubt if you find yourself in the book store? Try to pick one book that you just dont know the inside because don't determine book by its cover may doesn't work this is difficult job because you are frightened that the inside maybe not while fantastic as in the outside look likes. Maybe you answer can be Flyways why because the wonderful cover that make you consider regarding the content will not disappoint you actually. The inside or content will be fantastic as the outside as well as cover. Your reading 6th sense will directly guide you to pick up this book.

Ernestine Miller:

Beside this particular Flyways in your phone, it could possibly give you a way to get closer to the new knowledge or data. The information and the knowledge you will got here is fresh from oven so don't always be worry if you feel like an older people live in narrow village. It is good thing to have Flyways because this book offers to you readable information. Do you oftentimes have book but you don't get what it's all about. Oh come on, that will not happen if you have this in your hand. The Enjoyable set up here cannot be questionable, such as treasuring beautiful island. Use you still want to miss the idea? Find this book along with read it from today!

Rosalie Dietrich:

As a student exactly feel bored in order to reading. If their teacher asked them to go to the library as well as to make summary for some e-book, they are complained. Just very little students that has reading's heart or real their interest. They just do what the trainer want, like asked to the library. They go to generally there but nothing reading seriously. Any students feel that reading through is not important, boring and also can't see colorful photos on there. Yeah, it is to get complicated. Book is very important for you. As we know that on this time, many ways to get whatever we wish. Likewise word says, many ways to reach Chinese's country. Therefore , this Flyways can make you experience more interested to read.

Teresa Obannon:

Reading a book make you to get more knowledge from this. You can take knowledge and information from a book. Book is published or printed or created from each source that filled update of news. Within this modern era like at this point, many ways to get information are available for you. From media social including newspaper, magazines, science book, encyclopedia, reference book, book and comic. You can add your knowledge by that book. Are you hip to spend your spare time to spread out your book? Or just searching for the Flyways when you essential it?