University of Akron Press read and liked Alan's review of The Civilized Tribes: New and Selected Stories:

"In his photograph on the back cover Jerry Bumpus looks every inch the mild mannered academic his biog alongside suggests. But look closer because there's a wicked glint in his eye. He's a sadist, he brings together a little person and a massive vicio...more In his photograph on the back cover Jerry Bumpus looks every inch the mild mannered academic his biog alongside suggests. But look closer because there's a wicked glint in his eye. He's a sadist, he brings together a little person and a massive vicious dog, (virtually) every story is sloppy with blood and brutality or sex, usually brother-sister incest or troilism or god knows what. An unstoppable brutality often powers the story, while victims go into a trance. The book not so much pins you to the chair as abducts you and chains you to the floor and then whips you. It's fucking sickening and brilliant and unstoppable. 'A Lament to Wolves' reminds me of William Goyen, with its farmyard setting, patricide, incest and stunning description of one person's power over another, a whole group through sheer force of will. The title story is a beauty and starts off with a fork lift truck accident at work. There are some breathing spaces, the story Shame, although dated - girdles, goosing and a mid 20C attitude towards lesbianism - is a fine story of a breakdown through stages of paranoia (I'm into stories of breakdown) at work and at home.

At the weekend our car was broken into and to cheer ourselves up we booked a few days in Barcelona at Easter for the family. After I settled down to read the story 'Fakes'. It's set in Barcelona and features many of the sights I expect to see in a few weeks - Las Ramblas and the Gaudi cathedral and it is the most horrible story I've ever read for what the protagonist, and thus the reader, sees. Fuck now that will be at the back of my mind while i walk about the city.

So thanks Jessica for recommending this powerful, weird but also rich and subtle book, it is funny as well. It's wormed its way into my mind and it's singing. (less) "