The Way That Water Enters Stone

by John Dufresne

Stories set in American small towns deal with a sheriff investigating a murder, a man who sees visions, two lonely women who run an inn, and a father and daughter team of drifters

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

211 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

John Dufresne teaches in the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing program at Florida International University. He is a French-Canadian born in America.

Reviews

[Sarah Pascarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant short fiction from Dufresne that gives voice to the anonymous blue collar residents of Worcester, Monroe, Belle Glade, and other small towns throughout the North- and Southeast. Economical, spare, and unsentimental, Dufresne's short stories pay close attention to the everyday, the everyman, and the gradual eroding of hopes, dreams, aspirations in exchange for just getting by. There's no such thing as thriving in these stories -- it's all simply survival. He's also a master of setting/place -- the reader moves effortlessly from central Massachusetts to the Deep South throughout the collection, and by the book's close the landscapes of Florida, Louisiana, and Massachusetts are as familiar and well-realized as the characters.

[Kelsey Prosser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel rather torn between a two or three star rating. I settled with three because I did find more enjoyable about these stories than unpleasant. The book gathered and composed itself the further along I read.

There were a number stories in the beginning I felt ended more abruptly than mysteriously. I enjoy an unfinished cliff hanger of a story that leaves the reader to assume an ending of their own creation, but there were a few in this collection that felt more as if Dufresne simply submitted works that he had not yet finished and ran out of steam on. As I said however, there were fewer of these occasions later on.

For the most part, I feel it is refreshing to read a book where the stories' endings are not all predictable and where the content is not light and uplifting. Oddly, it is the darkness of this book which is appealing in its honestly and frank real-ness. There are glimpses into the less desirable nature of humans and a light shone on the aspects of people which they would most likely rather keep hidden.

The choice of story for the books ending was appropriate as it is the longest, strangest and most gripping narrative among the lot. What a crazy tale it was and embraces the depth and ugliness the collection of stories contains. It builds well.

It's interesting how there are so many reoccurrences of names, red hair, green/blue eyes, towns, etc. I cannot tell if some of these stories are meant to transact as they take place in only a handful of areas, or it is simply the authors attachment to certain characters and traits.

This is one of those books which would be good to keep on hand to read a story at a time. Though it is a quick read if you so choose. I am not sure I will ever read it again, but there were many aspects which I appreciate and enjoyed.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not always a big fan of short story collections, but I really liked this one. Dufresne manages to fully develop characters in just a few pages, and left me feeling I knew his subjects personally. Some of the stories are a bit depressing, but I enjoyed them.

[Chip · Rating 4 out of 5]

An often overlooked writer. These are great short stories. Compelling. Nobody ever talks about Dufresne, so I will: He needs reading.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Short stories ever.

[Paul Secor · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Dufresne is one of the cats - a great writer, even if the literary establishment doesn't seem to recognize him as such. That's their loss.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, these are some perfect stories that make the form proud.

[Nathan Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly underrated collection of short stories by John Dufresne. Though mostly known for his novels perhaps, this collection of stories features rich characterization and a textured sense of place. Check out "The Freezer Jesus," "A Long Line of Dreamers," "Must I Be Carried to the Sky on Flowered Beds of Ease?" and "Hard Time the First time." Textbook dialogue here, also.

[Heather Hackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of fictional short stories. Enjoyed it!

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good set of short stories. Ones you can read again. Stories stick with you and are thought provoking.

[Heather Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's impossible to read one story after the other. You have to pause in-between and put the book down and walk away for a little while. Super heavy shit.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have commented, Dufresne writes some great stories, some sad tales with great doses of humor. I wonder why I've never heard of him before - he's like a wonderful mix of Barry Hannah and Alice Munro. I didn't actually love the final story (otherwise I probably would've given this book 5 stars) except for the great line at the end about the picture of Fontana's fetus: "What you see in the picture is this cranium and spinal cord. Looks like a number 9 or a banjo." That's classic.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second John Dufresne book confirms what the first (Johnny Too Bad: Stories) suggested: he is a fantastic writer, and surely deserving of some sort of America's Most Overlooked Author award. The stories in this, his first collection, are perhaps more conventional than those in Johnny Too Bad, but are every bit as good. I'm now very much looking forward to trying some of his novels.

[Benjo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful debut by an brilliant, underrated author. Dufresne's stories revolve around ordinary people, living their ordinary lives. He describes life as it is - mostly times of crisis and tragedy, sprinkled with a few moments worth celebrating. Although I feel that some of his stories ended too abruptly, this is a solid collection which will be hard to forget.

[Deborah Schuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming stories about flawed, unhappy people doing what they can for themselves and others. The author is very kind and non-judgmental toward his characters. I will definitely be reading his novels.

[Linda Ragusano · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of short stories

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like short stories, and I think this guy does them really well. Varied enough, but holds on to his voice.

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, this is great reading !

[z]

Fun to see the names he incorporated into each story.