The Smallest of Entryways

by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes

The Smallest of Entryways is a selection of short stories written during the years 1998-2014. In these stories, set in locales as far flung as Paris, Key West, and a highway pit-stop in Montana, Cristen Hemingway Jaynes explores the rejection of the former selves of her characters, brought on by changes in circumstances and relationships that lead to sudden alterations in perspective. The turning points her characters face as they deal with addiction, seclusion and abandonment give them a mild hope that, as John Hemingway points out in his introduction, tell the reader “things about the present that most of us suspect, but that perhaps many of us don’t want to see.

110 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2012

Reviews

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting depictions of a life of movement, and both a yen-for and boredom-of stability, normalcy. The title piece walks the line between poetry and prose.

[eLwYcKe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift from a friend, so I went in cold knowing nothing about the author or, really, what these stories were about. They are fragments of people's lives, possibly autobiographical, possibly fiction, but wholly compelling, teeming with detail and a kind of impressionistic writing style that can be momentarily dazzling. I love all the references to food and to homes, places one will never see as they can only be understood and experienced through the writer's words, which sometimes merge between prose and poetry.

[Zoe I.L.K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, Brilliant and Beautiful.

“The Smallest of Entryways” is a collection of short stories that is mesmerizing. If you’re a fan of the short story then you’re in for a treat with these.

The Author, Cristen Hemingway Jaynes took great care in her imagery, and word choice; every story came alive off the page. Although I found all the stories to be fantastic there were three that stood out above all others. “Laundromat,” “Vienna Sausages” but my all time favorite has to be “Wax.” That story is so beautiful, that I almost want to give it all away, (but you really need to read it for yourself.) “Wax” was so striking that I actually teared up at the ending with the Snowy imagery. Those three make it into my top 20 favorite stories of all time. I Highly recommend “The Smallest of Entryways” to everyone whether you’re a short story reader or not.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Images and details of an American childhood that are relatable, often impressionistic, and call to mind experiences of my own mobile, sometimes solitary, vivid and formative, partly single-parented origins.

Things I was reminded of: Suburus, macrame (!), yellow wrapped McD cheeseburgers, bubble yum, scrimshaw, formica, home made whole wheat and playing the flute.

And so I return to Proust, Maugham, Woolf, Kerr, Eco (anyone blessed with Old World memory) as I prepare for the new year, new skin, new prospects. Happy to have been reminded where I come from as I can appreciate more all that lies ahead.

[Chris Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! I was wondering if Cristen Hemingway Jaynes would be cast into the shadows of her own literary heritage - eclipsed by the talents of her forefathers, but she instead finds her own unique, raw, and beautiful voice which leads down the path of a narrative reminiscent of a modern day Carver.

[Allteriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Smallest of entryways es sido sin duda un libro de relatos que te muestra y te acerca a la realidad del alcoholismo con tal precisión que puedes sentir toda esa angustia e impotencia.


En los relatos predomina un narrador omnisciente, pero también podemos encontrar algunos relatos narrados en primera persona como: Deseo que estés aquí. Sin embargo ello no impide que el lector se sienta parte de la historia, ya que las descripciones tan hermosas y poéticas de Cristen consiguen que aquello que sienten los protagonistas de cada relato llegue a nuestra propia piel. Tanto, que ha conseguido conmoverme con algunas de sus historias, sobretodo porque es un libro muy intimista o incluso biográfico, donde la autora intenta plasmar todo lo que sufrió tanto en su niñez como ya en su adolescencia al tener que cuidar de su madre alcohólica. Te encuentras relatos en los que una niña pretende ser fuerte cuando su madre, presa de una depresión, comienza a beber y a descuidarla. Teniendo que soportar comentarios de las vecinas o de las amigas de su madre a la vez que echa de menos a su padre. Otros relatos donde el protagonista es el propio alcohólico sufriendo por el síndrome de abstinencia. Él mismo es consciente de todo lo que ha perdido por el alcohol, De alguna manera, ya no solo por los nombre que se repiten a veces, los relatos están conectados y llegas a pensar que es un grupo de conocidos o incluso familia.

Un dato a saber que la portada original del libro, la cual podemos encontrar en el último relato, es un retrato de la madre de Cristen. Sinceramente yo me he sentido muy impotente, sobretodo en los relatos en los que era la niña la protagonista, el cómo intentaba ser aceptada y fuerte por su madre. Pero es porque sabes que todo eso lo padeció Cristen de alguna manera.

Mi puntuación para este libro es de un 7/10. Y como siempre os animo a leeros el libro y sacar vuestra propia opinión, la verdad es que rápido de leer y muy emotivo. Quiero también agradecer a la Editorial Madrilenian por hacerme llegar el ejemplar. El día 4 de Julio estuvo la autora firmando en Madrid, fue una lástima no poder asistir. Sin embargo, si alguno de vosotros fue me encantaría que me contarais vuestra experiencia.

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