I picked this one up after I loved her first novel, Mostly Dead Things. I wanted more Arnett! This collection of short stories reads like a painter’s experimental sketches. Arnett is exploring different women, situations, topics, fleshing out where her interest might lie for further investment. Nonetheless, like many short stories, they stand alone in piquing your interest, even if they leave you feeling an uncomfortable sense of non-closure (in the case of these stories, likely intended).

Arnett has a way of writing emotion and higher level themes, always grounding the stories in visceral meaty details of real life: period blood, insect bites, warm coke, damp pits, hair pins falling out, and so many sweaty beverage glasses in the Florida heat. She has this uncanny ability to notice those details as real parts of life, there behind/supporting the dramatic plot points; she doesn’t gloss over them in pursuit of a larger story. Real things happen in real life, and sometimes you have to stop your “journey” and empty your menstrual cup.

There were a few standout stories for me. The eponymous Felt in the Jaw, weaves together fear of being alone, health scares, and sadness that binds people together. Aberrations in Flight was a metaphor-laden exploration of relationships. And See Also: A History of Glassmaking drags you through details of a day in the life of Patricia, a data entry technician whose Florida life lives up to the strip malls and pitchers of margaritas you’d imagine. Notice of a Fourth Location was also a standout because it was such a “WTF is going on?” story. Next level Arnett.

If you loved Mostly Dead Things (still her best work to-date), give this one a read. If you were on the fence about it, you likely won’t care for these stories. I’m looking forward to her future work! And in the meantime, find her on twitter - she’s on fire over there.

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