Opportunity
By Charlotte GrimshawRH/Vintage, NZ$27.99 | Reviewed by Laura Fergusson
Opportunity is a patchwork quilt; a collection of stories each absorbing and thought provoking in its own right which combine in a fascinating whole. Characters marginal to one story reappear as the central voice of another, granting the reader fresh perspectives and a glimpse of unsuspected motivations. The overall effect is a cross section of Auckland, an exploration of intertwined lives and the unexpected impact each of us has on the experience of those around us.
The wider scope of the collection allows Grimshaw the freedom to leave individual stories open ended. There are no easy resolutions here, no simplistic tying of loose ends. Life is not that tidy. Instead we move into another head and see the world through a fresh set of eyes, new problems and conflicting emotions.
But there is not the wrench of leaving a newly comprehended character which other short stories inflict on readers. They will re-emerge sooner or later as somebody’s daughter-in-law, cousin, lover or neighbour, and another part of the jigsaw will slot into place. This creates a compulsion to continue reading which is rare in short story collections, part of which is pure nosiness. The intimacy of Grimshaw’s first person style, and the ease with which she inhabits the consciousness of her vastly disparate creations makes the book impossible to put down.
