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The First Honeymoon
In this extraordinary collection, Lyn Coffin writes with heart of longing and searching—for place, for connection, for love. Here, among these 17 stories, an artichoke reveals for a young bride the fault lines already dooming her new marriage; a mother makes final amends for telling an unwelcome truth about Christmas by telling a comforting lie about death; a young girl navigates the madness of her mother, the possible evil of her father and questions about her own state of mind; and we are treated to an inspired retelling of the classic Tortoise and the Hare fable. Coffin’s fictions cross boundaries; they are funny, ominous and heartbreakingly true.
“Sexy, smartly engaging and quirkily off-beat, these stories are a delight to read and ponder.” – Judith Roche, National Book Award-Winning Author of Wisdom of the Body
“Like Oates, like Updike, Coffin gives us characters we recognize, in spaces that are familiar—a coffee shop, a bar. She masterfully reveals the small yet extraordinary moments which eventually become irrevocable fate. Fiction worth re-reading: witty, wise, deeply imagined.” – Jed Myers, Author of Watching the Perseids
“Sexy, smartly engaging and quirkily off-beat, these stories are a delight to read and ponder.” – Judith Roche, National Book Award-Winning Author of Wisdom of the Body
“Like Oates, like Updike, Coffin gives us characters we recognize, in spaces that are familiar—a coffee shop, a bar. She masterfully reveals the small yet extraordinary moments which eventually become irrevocable fate. Fiction worth re-reading: witty, wise, deeply imagined.” – Jed Myers, Author of Watching the Perseids
172 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 26, 2015
Coffin's short stories are immediate. We are put squarely into the action between two lovers, estranged children, lost parents, mothers, daughters and incognito letter writers... immediate in the way Cheever opens The Swimmer or O'Connor starts out with A Good Man is Hard to Find. We instantly know the time, place and personae of the characters. These stories take us to familiar spaces, emotions and poignant descriptions of awkwardness we nod along with. Coffin plays with point of view, fables and quick, trim sentences that construct story lines with just enough detail, pain, humor and imagination to make them stick. A satisfying short story is a fast moving one, and these start out fast and are masterfully paced. The variety in this collection is impressive, makes this reader wanting for a more comprehensive, edited compendium some day of Lyn Coffin's short works.
July 6, 2015
This is a short collection of stories, well under 200 pages, but it is no quick read. The stories need time to digest and some demand an immediate re-reading. Full of imaginative, witty ideas and startling wake-up-your-head sentences.
I felt like I was eavesdropping on the very intimate relationships of some exceptional characters, and some ordinary folks with buried quirkiness.
From 'Point of View Problems', a couple of examples I've highlighted for my book club, the first an idea from page 97: "She had converted late to sanity and, like most converts, was especially secure in her faith." Hah.
And an image from page 101: "Carolyn's palpable dislike of him slid off her face like snow off a roof." Wow.
I felt like I was eavesdropping on the very intimate relationships of some exceptional characters, and some ordinary folks with buried quirkiness.
From 'Point of View Problems', a couple of examples I've highlighted for my book club, the first an idea from page 97: "She had converted late to sanity and, like most converts, was especially secure in her faith." Hah.
And an image from page 101: "Carolyn's palpable dislike of him slid off her face like snow off a roof." Wow.
May 7, 2015
These 17 stories touched my heart in different ways.They expressed different emotions and took me on individual journeys that only short stories can do.I thought about it and can't even pick one as the best one-they are all unique.
May 3, 2015
Nice collection-many themes..loved it!
September 7, 2020
All short stories, very personal, it´s a look at everyday life through but finding something special in it. She uses different literary forms, and has a certain wit with her writing that makes you smile. It´s not a fast read, but good. Lyn is a friend - this is my disclaimer - but I think the stories are good.
July 31, 2016
First, can I just say, unrelated to the content, but totally related to the content, the font? All sans-serif Arial style? That's a bit much on the eyes. We don't have to go all super serifed or ugly serifed or anything, but it looks cheap. I powered through, but I guess I like books in serifed font.
Now, to content that's actually content.
Ups and downs. Some stories I thought clever -- Fable for instance, with every sentence getting its own moral. Others were those what is real? what is imagined? style stories that simply don't turn my crank. Most stories were short and sweet, seventeen of them gently placed into 163 pages. The stories are airy, some no more than an idea let loose onto the page. That's fine. Sometimes wisps are all that's required. Most aren't about youth, the way so many stories and books and movies and plots assume that all we lose the ability to care about those who aren't under the age of thirty-one. People are in their fifties, in some of these stories, people are on their third marriages, someone bred peacocks (so we aren't devoid of quirk).
When I write stories, I feel they are like Coffin's: a tiny bit out of sync somehow that I'm not talented enough to articulate. Things are there, but it feels like a morsel without the ability to stretch into a meal. I like them though, for what little that's worth.
The First Honeymoon by Lyn Coffin went on sale March 29, 2015.
I received a copy free from Librarything in exchange for an honest review.
Now, to content that's actually content.
Ups and downs. Some stories I thought clever -- Fable for instance, with every sentence getting its own moral. Others were those what is real? what is imagined? style stories that simply don't turn my crank. Most stories were short and sweet, seventeen of them gently placed into 163 pages. The stories are airy, some no more than an idea let loose onto the page. That's fine. Sometimes wisps are all that's required. Most aren't about youth, the way so many stories and books and movies and plots assume that all we lose the ability to care about those who aren't under the age of thirty-one. People are in their fifties, in some of these stories, people are on their third marriages, someone bred peacocks (so we aren't devoid of quirk).
When I write stories, I feel they are like Coffin's: a tiny bit out of sync somehow that I'm not talented enough to articulate. Things are there, but it feels like a morsel without the ability to stretch into a meal. I like them though, for what little that's worth.
The First Honeymoon by Lyn Coffin went on sale March 29, 2015.
I received a copy free from Librarything in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2015
Lyn Coffin is an accomplished poet, translator, and playwright in addition to teaching literary fiction and other pursuits. This is a collection of short stories that draws on all these talents. It is diverse, reflective, sometimes funny, but sometimes just writing best appreciated only by other writers. There is usually a brilliant sentence or two in each selection and the title story is excellent. Check out the author's website - pretty cool writing and photos. I was surprised to find out her age!
July 7, 2015
Lyn Coffin's short story collection is immediate and emotionally evocative. I laughed out loud, I cried, I was shocked, and I was intellectually stimulated. Coffin's writing is crisp and clear. To use the author's words, "Reading you, I had the impression of moving many ways at once, as if I were dispersing. It was pleasurable , yet terrifying, like a ride on the roller coaster. When I wanted to get out of it, I couldn't. Mostly, I wanted in." I think this is the most well balanced short story collection that I have ever read.
April 21, 2015
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!
These stories range from one page to several page. The book was fast to read but that does not imply a lack of depth. These stories are primarily about relationships. They are thought provoking, intelligent, and had many levels to them. Sometimes I re-read parts of them because they made me think. My favorite was A Gift Horse.
These stories range from one page to several page. The book was fast to read but that does not imply a lack of depth. These stories are primarily about relationships. They are thought provoking, intelligent, and had many levels to them. Sometimes I re-read parts of them because they made me think. My favorite was A Gift Horse.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews