![]() ![]() ![]() My greatest grievance with Anoka is its length. At times the meaning is hidden a few too many layers beneath the surface, and at other times the reader picks up on the twist much sooner in the story than necessary. You can see the amount of love and care that he puts into each and every sentence, leaving no word untouched and ensuring that every word counts, especially in the two flash pieces, “Soilborne” and “Orange.” In fact, one of the critiques that I have is that he might learn to restrain himself in some instances at times the stories feel overworked, offering either too much or too little for the reader. ![]() I didn’t completely have my bearings in “Dead America,” but his prose pushes you through page after page. The crowning jewel of Hawk’s arsenal is his prose. Featuring the town of Anoka, Minnesota-purportedly the Halloween capital of the world-and exploring universal human themes through the lens of indigenous life, Anoka is a debut with astounding power. Anoka by Shane Hawk is short, clocking in at only 84 pages and with only six short stories, but packs a big punch. If you’re looking for new talent, look no further. ![]()
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