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The Man in the Banana Trees
The stories in The Man in the Banana Trees take place in the past, present, and future—from the American Gulf South to the orbit around Jupiter. We meet teachers and students, ghosts and aliens. An ice cream consultant in the year 2036 predicts a devastating flavor trend and a disgruntled New England waiter investigates a mysterious tanker crash. Although wildly varied in setting, length, and genre, a thread of the fantastic unites these stories, as characters struggle to understand that thing lurking at the edge of their perception: something sinister, or maybe—miraculous.
- GenresShort Stories
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2024
10 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Marguerite Sheffer
1 book16 followersMarguerite Sheffer is a writer who lives in New Orleans.
Her debut short story collection, The Man in the Banana Trees, was selected by judge Jamil Jan Kochai for the Iowa Short Fiction Award, and will be published in Fall 2024.
Maggie is a founding member of Third Lantern Lit, a local writing collective, and the Nautilus and Wildcat Writing Groups. She received her MFA from Randolph College.
Her fiction has appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Epiphany, The Cincinnati Review, and BOMB, among other publications. Her story “Tiger on My Roof” was a finalist for the 2024 Chautauqua Janus Prize, which awards emerging writers’ short fiction with “daring formal and aesthetic innovations that upset and reorder readers’ imaginations.”
Her debut short story collection, The Man in the Banana Trees, was selected by judge Jamil Jan Kochai for the Iowa Short Fiction Award, and will be published in Fall 2024.
Maggie is a founding member of Third Lantern Lit, a local writing collective, and the Nautilus and Wildcat Writing Groups. She received her MFA from Randolph College.
Her fiction has appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Epiphany, The Cincinnati Review, and BOMB, among other publications. Her story “Tiger on My Roof” was a finalist for the 2024 Chautauqua Janus Prize, which awards emerging writers’ short fiction with “daring formal and aesthetic innovations that upset and reorder readers’ imaginations.”
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 4, 2024
My early Shelf Awareness review: Sheffer won the Iowa Short Fiction Award for her inventive debut collection. Technology and art are major themes and the 18 short stories, half of which are flash length, incorporate speculative elements to explore how the past--and the dead--might persist.
Sheffer draws on history or envisions an alarming near-future--or both within four pages, as in "The Unicorn in Captivity," which strings together moments in the life of a tapestry from a French chateau. In 2073, the "children of the sunken city," viewing it behind plexiglass, marvel more at the background foliage than the legendary creature.
Art also lives on in two other standouts. In "En plein air," the ghost of a painter haunts a corporate retreat on a Southern barrier island and fumes when she learns that her Black "house girl," Josephine, painted over her discarded canvases with everyday scenes of island life. In "In the Style of Miriam Ackerman," a photographer's posthumous exhibit is augmented with disturbing AI-generated projections.
Technology and creativity can be at odds or go hand in hand. "At the Moment of Condensation" features drones in a teardrop formation carrying upturned umbrellas to collect water. In a drought-ridden future where corporations monopolize airspace to harvest rain, the act is both protest and performance art. Climate breakdown is also the backdrop to "The Pantheon of Flavors," when the keynote address at the International Ice Cream Technology Conference 2036 predicts burnt tastes will dominate in a world on fire.
Several stories are voiced by teachers contemplating their responsibility to a certain student--a puppet, a boy objecting to the status quo during a staging of The Nutcracker composed of "white Victorian children and... mostly Black and Latino mice," or a murdered Black teenager given a virtual reality memorial. In the title story, set in Covid-era New Orleans, a woman miscarries twins. Although this seems like one of the most realistic stories in the book, she imagines the title character, a Rumpelstiltskin-like imp, ushering in disasters. Here and elsewhere, Sheffer dabbles in magic realism and horror.
She also commemorates real figures: Josephine in "En plein air" was modeled on Clementine Hunter; Lizzie, the discoverer of pulsars in "The Observer's Cage," was inspired by Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Sheffer moves between time periods and genres with aplomb, exhibiting variety and verve. Her final paragraphs and lines, in particular, are killer. This terrific collection should attract fans of Megan Mayhew Bergman, Alexandra Chang, and Louisa Hall.
(Out on November 5. Posted with permission from Shelf Awareness.)
Sheffer draws on history or envisions an alarming near-future--or both within four pages, as in "The Unicorn in Captivity," which strings together moments in the life of a tapestry from a French chateau. In 2073, the "children of the sunken city," viewing it behind plexiglass, marvel more at the background foliage than the legendary creature.
Art also lives on in two other standouts. In "En plein air," the ghost of a painter haunts a corporate retreat on a Southern barrier island and fumes when she learns that her Black "house girl," Josephine, painted over her discarded canvases with everyday scenes of island life. In "In the Style of Miriam Ackerman," a photographer's posthumous exhibit is augmented with disturbing AI-generated projections.
Technology and creativity can be at odds or go hand in hand. "At the Moment of Condensation" features drones in a teardrop formation carrying upturned umbrellas to collect water. In a drought-ridden future where corporations monopolize airspace to harvest rain, the act is both protest and performance art. Climate breakdown is also the backdrop to "The Pantheon of Flavors," when the keynote address at the International Ice Cream Technology Conference 2036 predicts burnt tastes will dominate in a world on fire.
Several stories are voiced by teachers contemplating their responsibility to a certain student--a puppet, a boy objecting to the status quo during a staging of The Nutcracker composed of "white Victorian children and... mostly Black and Latino mice," or a murdered Black teenager given a virtual reality memorial. In the title story, set in Covid-era New Orleans, a woman miscarries twins. Although this seems like one of the most realistic stories in the book, she imagines the title character, a Rumpelstiltskin-like imp, ushering in disasters. Here and elsewhere, Sheffer dabbles in magic realism and horror.
She also commemorates real figures: Josephine in "En plein air" was modeled on Clementine Hunter; Lizzie, the discoverer of pulsars in "The Observer's Cage," was inspired by Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Sheffer moves between time periods and genres with aplomb, exhibiting variety and verve. Her final paragraphs and lines, in particular, are killer. This terrific collection should attract fans of Megan Mayhew Bergman, Alexandra Chang, and Louisa Hall.
(Out on November 5. Posted with permission from Shelf Awareness.)
June 23, 2024
I started this story collection expecting to of course love the story I’d published in the magazine (Tiger on My Roof) and to find a few others I really loved, as is the case with most story collections I read. But that was not what happened; I loved them all. Sheffer is a brilliant and truly original writer with such a unique sensibility. I could go on about how impressed I am by her work, but I’ll just say that I intend to read everything she writes from now on. The pub date is November 2024, so you’ll have to wait a bit to read this, but the moment it hits bookstores, you should rush right out and buy it. I promise you’ll fall in love with these astonishing stories, too.
September 10, 2025
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕨𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕒𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕗𝕒𝕧 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 🍌
Equally as haunting as they are bizzare, Marguerite’s stories pack a punch w/o drowning you in sappiness. Grief is said to be the primary thread linking the collection, but the vibe is so eclectic you’re too far into the worlds created to wallow. Touching on everything from AI to corporate greed, memory to family, you’re bound to find (at least) a story or two that really knock ya out. For me, those were 𝙍𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙮, 𝙍𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨 & 𝙏𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙛. I willlll say tho, I don’t think there’s a bad story in the bunch—don’t have to tell ya what a rarity that is.
Marguerite’s writing reminds me a lot of George Saunders or Etgar Keret—in strength & brevity alike. In interviews, she’s mentioned great interest in “this idea of a ‘𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘮 𝘝𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺’—what are the absolutely essential parts of a story without which it wouldn’t function?” 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣!𝘵𝘤𝘩. Nothing is lost to this culling, but it’s obvi how meticulously it’s been done. Suchhh an impressive feat in a debut story collection.
𝚂𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎: the 6 Foot 7 Foot reference made me wanna chuck my fking book (𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺), bravo 👏🏼
𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡. If you love story collections, need something off the wall rn to keep your attention, or just wanna support indie presses—𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨 is where it’s at. 𝘛𝘏𝘐𝘚 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘯, 𝘛𝘏𝘐𝘚 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧.
Also…look at that cover!?!? I love it so much, but why? Make it make sense. It looks like……idk, dude😅😂
Equally as haunting as they are bizzare, Marguerite’s stories pack a punch w/o drowning you in sappiness. Grief is said to be the primary thread linking the collection, but the vibe is so eclectic you’re too far into the worlds created to wallow. Touching on everything from AI to corporate greed, memory to family, you’re bound to find (at least) a story or two that really knock ya out. For me, those were 𝙍𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙮, 𝙍𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨 & 𝙏𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙛. I willlll say tho, I don’t think there’s a bad story in the bunch—don’t have to tell ya what a rarity that is.
Marguerite’s writing reminds me a lot of George Saunders or Etgar Keret—in strength & brevity alike. In interviews, she’s mentioned great interest in “this idea of a ‘𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘮 𝘝𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺’—what are the absolutely essential parts of a story without which it wouldn’t function?” 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣!𝘵𝘤𝘩. Nothing is lost to this culling, but it’s obvi how meticulously it’s been done. Suchhh an impressive feat in a debut story collection.
𝚂𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎: the 6 Foot 7 Foot reference made me wanna chuck my fking book (𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺), bravo 👏🏼
𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡. If you love story collections, need something off the wall rn to keep your attention, or just wanna support indie presses—𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨 is where it’s at. 𝘛𝘏𝘐𝘚 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘯, 𝘛𝘏𝘐𝘚 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧.
Also…look at that cover!?!? I love it so much, but why? Make it make sense. It looks like……idk, dude😅😂
August 9, 2024
“The man in the banana trees is shorter than normal and he is physically disabled, the Dark Ages signifier of wickedness. He is wicked smart; he will wickedly outplay you.”
I can’t say all 18 stories hit me with full force, but this collection has a good range in the uniqueness of its pieces which, to me, shows a lot of promise in this writer’s future work.
The ones that worked for me were buzzing with life; they had distinct characters and (mostly) decipherable meaning.
Grief in its many iterations played a heavy hand as a dominant theme in this collection. There was often darkness behind the whimsy.
The shorter pieces were like prosaic poems - often bizarre and worthy of decoding.
Favorite story: The Observer’s Cage
I can’t say all 18 stories hit me with full force, but this collection has a good range in the uniqueness of its pieces which, to me, shows a lot of promise in this writer’s future work.
The ones that worked for me were buzzing with life; they had distinct characters and (mostly) decipherable meaning.
Grief in its many iterations played a heavy hand as a dominant theme in this collection. There was often darkness behind the whimsy.
The shorter pieces were like prosaic poems - often bizarre and worthy of decoding.
Favorite story: The Observer’s Cage
June 21, 2025
Startling and unusual stories that mine the subconscious, ranging from surrealism to horror and spanning from the imagined past to the unknown future. I particularly loved the title story, "Rickey," "The Observer's Cage," and "The Wedding Table" (though I warn you, that one, though short, could give you nightmares). This speculative collection blew me away!
dnf
December 12, 2024DNFing this one because I was bored by more stories than not. Having said that, I really enjoyed a couple! Rickey and At the Moment of Condensation. They were both kind of surreal or speculative in ways I liked a lot. Rickey is about a living puppet just trying to fit in at school, and A Moment of Condensation is a press release from a near future corporation that owns the literal rainwater in an area of sky. I’d try Sheffer again if I knew the stories would be like that.
May 6, 2025
Quirky, lovely, and heartfelt. Some very weird but all infused with meaning and beautifully written, just how a short story should be
July 27, 2024
"Do whatever you need to do to get away from what hurts you, to solve the puzzle of staying alive, to find a way."
November 3, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this.
I should probably stop requesting short story books since I almost never enjoy them. This is no fault of the author, usually. There were three stories that I did enjoy in this collection. Those being:
Mouse Nr 6, The Observer’s Cage and Tiger on My Roof (while I do think this last one could have been shorter.)
Overall, I think this was well-written, had diverse stories and can imagine that plenty of people will enjoy reading it.
I should probably stop requesting short story books since I almost never enjoy them. This is no fault of the author, usually. There were three stories that I did enjoy in this collection. Those being:
Mouse Nr 6, The Observer’s Cage and Tiger on My Roof (while I do think this last one could have been shorter.)
Overall, I think this was well-written, had diverse stories and can imagine that plenty of people will enjoy reading it.
April 1, 2025
Rickey – 4 stars
This is a literal look at what inclusivity in a school means, the ending was just too sad to contemplate. It is the kind of tale that can be dissected by a group read for several hours.
The Unicorn In Captivity – 4 Stars
A tapestry is a witness to the rise and fall of almost civilizations and we watch along with it, all the way to a possible future where it is an artifact to be looked at. It is a perfect tool to show us how some things have changed over time and how the world looks at each stage of the narrative, including a possible dystopian future.
At the Moment of Condensation – 4 stars
Another possible dystopian scenario, that plays out in a very technical report of rain being a prized commodity.
The Observer’s Cage – 3 stars
This is the story of an isolated team of three scientists who made a surprising discovery and how the process was part of their lives. It is longer than I cared for, but the way the author wrote it definitely felt like an actual old man was narrating it.
Yellow Ball Python – 4 stars
A short story of how the end result is not always the point of things. In its very brief narrative, we can see our own mirrored thoughts about certain things in life.
The Midden – 4 stars
A touching tale of a mother and daughter thrown into a different balance than they were used to.
How We Became Forest Creatures – 3 stars
The story is ambiguous enough to be about a lot of things. One group is afraid of another, and what happens when one of the former faces their fears.
Reentry – 4 stars
A good teacher leaves an impact like no other. This story begins in a simple fashion with our protagonist finding her rhythm in a pottery class. How it factors in later in her life is how the chapter ends.
En plein air – 3 stars
A ghost who haunts an artist’s retreat does not have a nice character. She picks on one person consistently, until that person finds something which has been hidden for a long time.
The Wedding Table – 2 stars
Although the concept of giving and receiving at a wedding was novel, it was a little too dark for me.
Mouse Number Six – 4 stars
Although supposed to be about a play that shows the same thing over and over again, the emotions work for the tale.
The Man in the Banana Trees – 2 stars
About miscarriages and related plotline. It was too strange and too long. Compared to the rest of the collection, I was surprised this was chosen to be the title!
Midnight Revolt at Bertrand’s Year-Round Christmas Store – 2 stars
About finding a new direction, also not for me.
In the Style of Miriam Ackerman – 3 stars
A little dark, took some time getting to the point but was very realistic. A nephew found his aunt’s previously unknown collection of photos and is now regretting letting the world see it.
The Pantheon of Flavors – 5 stars
I never imagined a dystopian ice-cream related conference could feel so stark, or that that combination of words would work well together.
Local Speciality 2 stars
I had high hopes for this odd tale of two people trying to make a quick buck with a ‘local speciality’. But I didn’t get the point at the end.
The Disgrace of the Commodore – 4 stars
A tale of a man being forced to look back at his life. I really enjoyed the way the story moved.
Tiger on my Roof -3 stars
I thought the concept of a tiger attaching itself to a mourners phone could have been shorter. It’s a deep story but I think a few instances in between didn’t add much to the overall narrative.
I highly recommend this book for people who like short stories. Lots of emotions and debatable points are within the chapters.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
This is a literal look at what inclusivity in a school means, the ending was just too sad to contemplate. It is the kind of tale that can be dissected by a group read for several hours.
The Unicorn In Captivity – 4 Stars
A tapestry is a witness to the rise and fall of almost civilizations and we watch along with it, all the way to a possible future where it is an artifact to be looked at. It is a perfect tool to show us how some things have changed over time and how the world looks at each stage of the narrative, including a possible dystopian future.
At the Moment of Condensation – 4 stars
Another possible dystopian scenario, that plays out in a very technical report of rain being a prized commodity.
The Observer’s Cage – 3 stars
This is the story of an isolated team of three scientists who made a surprising discovery and how the process was part of their lives. It is longer than I cared for, but the way the author wrote it definitely felt like an actual old man was narrating it.
Yellow Ball Python – 4 stars
A short story of how the end result is not always the point of things. In its very brief narrative, we can see our own mirrored thoughts about certain things in life.
The Midden – 4 stars
A touching tale of a mother and daughter thrown into a different balance than they were used to.
How We Became Forest Creatures – 3 stars
The story is ambiguous enough to be about a lot of things. One group is afraid of another, and what happens when one of the former faces their fears.
Reentry – 4 stars
A good teacher leaves an impact like no other. This story begins in a simple fashion with our protagonist finding her rhythm in a pottery class. How it factors in later in her life is how the chapter ends.
En plein air – 3 stars
A ghost who haunts an artist’s retreat does not have a nice character. She picks on one person consistently, until that person finds something which has been hidden for a long time.
The Wedding Table – 2 stars
Although the concept of giving and receiving at a wedding was novel, it was a little too dark for me.
Mouse Number Six – 4 stars
Although supposed to be about a play that shows the same thing over and over again, the emotions work for the tale.
The Man in the Banana Trees – 2 stars
About miscarriages and related plotline. It was too strange and too long. Compared to the rest of the collection, I was surprised this was chosen to be the title!
Midnight Revolt at Bertrand’s Year-Round Christmas Store – 2 stars
About finding a new direction, also not for me.
In the Style of Miriam Ackerman – 3 stars
A little dark, took some time getting to the point but was very realistic. A nephew found his aunt’s previously unknown collection of photos and is now regretting letting the world see it.
The Pantheon of Flavors – 5 stars
I never imagined a dystopian ice-cream related conference could feel so stark, or that that combination of words would work well together.
Local Speciality 2 stars
I had high hopes for this odd tale of two people trying to make a quick buck with a ‘local speciality’. But I didn’t get the point at the end.
The Disgrace of the Commodore – 4 stars
A tale of a man being forced to look back at his life. I really enjoyed the way the story moved.
Tiger on my Roof -3 stars
I thought the concept of a tiger attaching itself to a mourners phone could have been shorter. It’s a deep story but I think a few instances in between didn’t add much to the overall narrative.
I highly recommend this book for people who like short stories. Lots of emotions and debatable points are within the chapters.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
November 4, 2024
The Man in the Banana Trees by Marguerite Sheffer is a fascinating collection of 18 short stories that range widely in tone, length, genre, and perspective. Yet, these diverse tales are united by recurring themes of art, technology, and loss, often delivered through the voices of nameless narrators. Sheffer demonstrates an impressive command of the short story form, crafting stories that call to mind some of my favorite short story writers and the sharp storytelling of classic sci-fi TV.
The opening story, "Rickey," sets the tone with a beautifully unsettling example of weird fiction. (Weird fiction is the genre -- not a pejorative!) Rickey is a felt-and-feather puppet navigating school as a student, and the student body accepts his presence. But he does pose certain challenges for the teaching staff. This story is brief, haunting, and quietly heartbreaking. I honestly wanted to have my teacher friends read it immediately so they could experience the same devastation.
One of my favorite stories from the collection is the ghost story "En plein air". The ghost haunts the corporate retreat which was once her artists' colony. She may be prickly and less than sympathetic, but her journey toward self-awareness is handled with subtlety and depth. The balance in this story is remarkable; Sheffer builds both character and atmosphere with precision.
Sheffer’s skill often reminded me of literary giants of the short story form. The moments of sudden insight in the two stories I have already mentioned echo James Joyce’s famous concept of the epiphany. "At the Moment of Condensation," for example, conjures a dystopian world through a mere posted notice, an approach reminiscent of Borges’ talent for condensing complex worlds into just a few pages. Meanwhile, "The Observer's Cage" evoked the immersive style of Connie Willis and left me eager to revisit The Winds of Marble Arch. And though Publisher's Weekly compared "Local Specialty" to an episode of The Twilight Zone, I will have to stick to comparing it to a monster of the week episode of The X-Files (Season 3).
The final story, "Tiger on My Roof," offers a perfect conclusion to the collection. Here, Sheffer ties together her central themes of technology, art, and loss with a moving exploration of the teacher-student bond. It’s a powerful end, delivering a lasting emotional impact.
I’d like to thank the author for generously providing me with an e-galley of this collection. My opinions remain entirely my own, but I’ll certainly be purchasing a physical copy to revisit these stories and share them with others.
Sensitive readers should be advised that some of the stories in this collection deal with pregnancy loss and the death of children.
The opening story, "Rickey," sets the tone with a beautifully unsettling example of weird fiction. (Weird fiction is the genre -- not a pejorative!) Rickey is a felt-and-feather puppet navigating school as a student, and the student body accepts his presence. But he does pose certain challenges for the teaching staff. This story is brief, haunting, and quietly heartbreaking. I honestly wanted to have my teacher friends read it immediately so they could experience the same devastation.
One of my favorite stories from the collection is the ghost story "En plein air". The ghost haunts the corporate retreat which was once her artists' colony. She may be prickly and less than sympathetic, but her journey toward self-awareness is handled with subtlety and depth. The balance in this story is remarkable; Sheffer builds both character and atmosphere with precision.
Sheffer’s skill often reminded me of literary giants of the short story form. The moments of sudden insight in the two stories I have already mentioned echo James Joyce’s famous concept of the epiphany. "At the Moment of Condensation," for example, conjures a dystopian world through a mere posted notice, an approach reminiscent of Borges’ talent for condensing complex worlds into just a few pages. Meanwhile, "The Observer's Cage" evoked the immersive style of Connie Willis and left me eager to revisit The Winds of Marble Arch. And though Publisher's Weekly compared "Local Specialty" to an episode of The Twilight Zone, I will have to stick to comparing it to a monster of the week episode of The X-Files (Season 3).
The final story, "Tiger on My Roof," offers a perfect conclusion to the collection. Here, Sheffer ties together her central themes of technology, art, and loss with a moving exploration of the teacher-student bond. It’s a powerful end, delivering a lasting emotional impact.
I’d like to thank the author for generously providing me with an e-galley of this collection. My opinions remain entirely my own, but I’ll certainly be purchasing a physical copy to revisit these stories and share them with others.
Sensitive readers should be advised that some of the stories in this collection deal with pregnancy loss and the death of children.
November 3, 2024
Last updated on Nov 03 2024
Thank you #netgalley and #universityofiowapress for "The Man in the Banana Trees." I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to have read this GORGEOUS collection of stories prior to its release in two days (a gift to readers on ELECTION DAY 2o24 and hopefully it brings with it positive results). I zipped through these diverse and addictive stories - from flash to fuller length - and could not have enjoyed it more. I recommend it to anyone who loves CREATIVE writing, well-told tales on the speculative side of the spectrum, filled with unforgettable characters, joy and heartbreak. Kooky, otherwordly scenarios and powerful reversals of fortune. I have been hitting the jackpot with short story collections this year and have also learned that a few of the authors are loosely interconnected (either by education, mentorship, or just as fans of one another).
Well, Marguerite Sheffer is an amazing talent. Standout stories for me were the title story, Reentry, Rickey, Tiger on My Roof, Mouse Number Six, and Local Specialty. Two other favorites were based on historical events that I will be following up on now in real life and Sheffer says, beautifully, in her acknowledgements: "One of the dangers of writing historical fiction is that the true story is often more interesting than my made-up version." How true!!
I am a giant fan of short/flash fiction and a few of the stories were flash perfection. This collection won the Iowa Short Fiction Award and that says so much in itself. Another favorite writer of mine summed it up best: “Haunting and hilarious, horrifying and heartwarming, this is short story gold."
I can't wait to read more from this author and wholeheartedly recommend this debut collection. I have quotes to share in the coming days (once the book is released) and #brava to you, Marguerite Sheffer.
Thank you #netgalley and #universityofiowapress for "The Man in the Banana Trees." I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to have read this GORGEOUS collection of stories prior to its release in two days (a gift to readers on ELECTION DAY 2o24 and hopefully it brings with it positive results). I zipped through these diverse and addictive stories - from flash to fuller length - and could not have enjoyed it more. I recommend it to anyone who loves CREATIVE writing, well-told tales on the speculative side of the spectrum, filled with unforgettable characters, joy and heartbreak. Kooky, otherwordly scenarios and powerful reversals of fortune. I have been hitting the jackpot with short story collections this year and have also learned that a few of the authors are loosely interconnected (either by education, mentorship, or just as fans of one another).
Well, Marguerite Sheffer is an amazing talent. Standout stories for me were the title story, Reentry, Rickey, Tiger on My Roof, Mouse Number Six, and Local Specialty. Two other favorites were based on historical events that I will be following up on now in real life and Sheffer says, beautifully, in her acknowledgements: "One of the dangers of writing historical fiction is that the true story is often more interesting than my made-up version." How true!!
I am a giant fan of short/flash fiction and a few of the stories were flash perfection. This collection won the Iowa Short Fiction Award and that says so much in itself. Another favorite writer of mine summed it up best: “Haunting and hilarious, horrifying and heartwarming, this is short story gold."
I can't wait to read more from this author and wholeheartedly recommend this debut collection. I have quotes to share in the coming days (once the book is released) and #brava to you, Marguerite Sheffer.
August 17, 2024
This collection is as funny as it is heartbreaking, as far out as it is grounded. It contains plots that move swiftly, turns that sting in the best way, and truly never-before-seen premises. The Man in the Banana Trees is supremely original, and the prose is supremely gorgeous. Sort of like a super-spicy dish -- each story hurts a little (the heart), and you know they will continue to do so if you keep reading, but they hurt in a wonderfully satisfying and surprising and complex way. You won't be able to get enough! Also -- just a lil note -- this is a pretty short book as each of the stories is fairly short, which is a plus for me. I love a slim volume and a book of stories I can dip into in a busy life.
It's impossible to pick a favorite story. In my current mood, I'll say "The Unicorn in Captivity."
But also... “How We Became Forest Creatures." "The Wedding Table." "Mouse Number Six." All of them.
It's impossible to pick a favorite story. In my current mood, I'll say "The Unicorn in Captivity."
But also... “How We Became Forest Creatures." "The Wedding Table." "Mouse Number Six." All of them.
March 15, 2025
Favorite stories out of the bunch...
- Rickey
- The Observer's Cage (definitely in top 3)
- Tiger on My Roof (in top 3; this one made me cry a "little")
- The Pantheon of Flavors (goofy concept with a quick twisted ending)
- In the Style of Miriam Ackerman (at first did not captivate me but the AI-horror story ending got me)
- The Wedding Table
- Mouse Number Six (in top 3; poor Andres <3)
Honorable mentions: Yellow Ball Python (cute love story), The Midden, The Man in the Banana Trees, How We Became Forest Creatures, and Reentry
The other short stories were good but did not hold my interest as much as the ones listed.
- Rickey
- The Observer's Cage (definitely in top 3)
- Tiger on My Roof (in top 3; this one made me cry a "little")
- The Pantheon of Flavors (goofy concept with a quick twisted ending)
- In the Style of Miriam Ackerman (at first did not captivate me but the AI-horror story ending got me)
- The Wedding Table
- Mouse Number Six (in top 3; poor Andres <3)
Honorable mentions: Yellow Ball Python (cute love story), The Midden, The Man in the Banana Trees, How We Became Forest Creatures, and Reentry
The other short stories were good but did not hold my interest as much as the ones listed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2025
Anyone who has taken a Creative Writing course knows that the short story format is very difficult to master because the writer must be efficient with each and every word, phrase and sentence. Marguerite Sheffer made it appear easy. Of course I enjoyed some stories more than others with ‘In the Style of Miriam Ackerman’ being my favorite. That story, about a nephew attending an exhibit of his deceased aunt Miriam’s photographs, was ingeniously packed with clever imagery and intriguing imagination.
I look forward to reading more from Marguerite's versatile, encompassing mind.
I look forward to reading more from Marguerite's versatile, encompassing mind.
August 13, 2025
A stunning collection of contemplative, intricate stories that never once fail to captivate. Sheffer crafts worlds that invite you in to examine the minute while simultaneously arcing out into the eternal. Wonderfully wrought and piercingly prescient, every single piece will have me thinking for a long time yet. Marvelous.
October 22, 2024
I enjoyed reading this collection of stories. It was very heartwarming and talked about themes of grief, which was interesting and profound to read. Thank you Marguerite Sheffer, NetGalley, and University of Iowa Press for this ARC.
November 13, 2024
Sheffer's writing is heartbreaking, balanced, and playful. Perhaps most skillfully, she challenges us to care. In its navigation of community, relationships, motherhood, and boundaries of the real, The Man in the Banana Trees is an accomplishment of tremendous emotional accuracy and empathy.
May 25, 2025
This book is a trip! The collection of stories that all go great together, but somehow, are completely different. Everything one is an adventure all its own and makes you think deeply about the meaning of, well, everything. Definitely will revisit.
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July 15, 2025The arc of these stories is deeply impressive. Once I got to the final story — about how the unthinkable is made thinkable — I was blown away by how the collection as a whole functions that way. So glad I bought this at a reading.
September 2, 2025
Total magic, perfect length stories for pre-bedtime reading. These stories are so varied, creative, creepy, funny… it’s so wild to think that one author wrote them all. Sheffer is inspiring in her breadth.
Rickey stays with me most but also the LOBSTERS! Holy moly.
Rickey stays with me most but also the LOBSTERS! Holy moly.
March 13, 2024
Astoundingly original and well done
March 3, 2025
George Saunders meets Kelly Link. A brilliant book of short stories.
May 6, 2025
Great collection. Almost all of the stories were interesting, well-written, original, funky, and thought-provoking.
June 25, 2025
Some really creative short stories by a has been local author. I attended her reading at the book festival (Berkeley). Def recommend for quick read
January 18, 2025
A lovely collection of short speculative tales, w a literary slant. Elegant and economical prose. Adored all the stories but my fave would be "The Observer's Cage". Much recommended!
April 15, 2025
Funky and fantastical collection of vignettes!
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