Entry Level

August 22, 2022
Wimmer’s innovative and darkly humorous debut collection employs emergency situations and fantastical elements as the protagonists struggle to make a living with low-paying jobs. “Passeridae” follows a group of crew members aboard a cruise ship as they take cover from terrorists in a laundry closet, where they reflect on the debauchery of their guests and reference the movie Titanic while joking about their low likelihood of survival. “INGOB” involves a search in Door County, Wis., for the missing county snowplow driver, nicknamed “Chief.” Mabel, the narrator, wonders if Chief’s disappearance is connected to a mysterious stranger who recently appeared at the rec center, where Mabel runs the bingo table. She describes the sound of his voice as “rustling leaves or maybe a rusted chain dropping to the floor,” which caused her to fumble the cards, and Chief came to her aid by ordering the man to leave. In “Strange Magic,” the employees of a skating rink discover that if they skate counterclockwise around the rink, they will reverse their aging. When Mary Ellen, who had a mastectomy, discovers her breast has regrown, the narrator’s understated reaction perfectly sums up the mood of Wimmer’s characters: “We had confirmation that something weird was happening.” Throughout, Wimmer makes the most of strange situations.

Starred review from September 1, 2022
An intriguing, wide-ranging story collection with a hint of magic. The real and the surreal drive the 15 stories in this debut, many of which have been previously published in other formats. "Passeridae" is told from the perspective of cruise ship staff members hiding out in a linen closet after an armed attack on their ship. In "Ghosting," a woman sees her weight loss drugs work while other pills do nothing to stem her mother's increasing dementia. "Fuse" is narrated by one-half of a pair of conjoined twins, and "Strange Magic" features an opening line that immediately embodies the story title: "When Mary Ellen's left breast grew back on its own during our Saturday dinner break, we had confirmation that something weird was happening." Oddities continue in "Seven Minutes in Heaven," in which wishes are granted to those who kiss, making it difficult for the narrator to avoid unwanted attention. The letters that make up "Billet-Doux" are struggling San Franciscan Liz's imagined conversations with her job, her local bar, and the attractive man she sees on the train every day but never actually speaks to. Relatives handle family conflicts, scientists investigate natural and unnatural phenomena, and overlooked children take action throughout the book. The protagonists tell their stories from a wide variety of locations and circumstances, with common themes that unite the collection, and the author uses a narrative tone that is consistent across the stories while also allowing each story to develop a unique voice.Wimmer is a strong writer and fills the pages with elegant, evocative phrasing ("We said words of respect in our native languages, which between the eight of us totaled fourteen gods and six words meaning 'grace' "). Her tone is often wry ("Evelyn thought of her bed like a trapdoor spider, capturing the interest and monetary resources of her romantic partners"), and even the book's most sardonic narrators balance their misanthropy with a touch of curiosity. The stories vary in length and format but retain a clear aesthetic sense throughout, making it easy to imagine that the characters from "Flarby" and "Intersomnolence" might someday cross paths. The work educates without being didactic; readers learn about Wisconsin bingo regulations and Waardenburg syndrome in "INGOB" and the properties of sphagnum moss in "The Bog King," with the bits of trivia blending seamlessly into the tales. The far-from-superfluous details bring Wimmer's characters to life and add a layer of authenticity, convincing readers that the author knows what she is talking about (whether the topic is used car salesmanship, roller rink playlists, or the duties of sleep lab technicians). The elements of magical realism are presented without fanfare, and Wimmer succeeds in creating a world where they are entirely plausible. Fans of Karen Russell, Veronica Schanoes, and Connie Willis are all likely to find stories to enjoy in the collection, as Wimmer blends traditional literary fiction with a touch of the fantastic. Vivid, thought-provoking stories make an enjoyable and challenging book.

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