Earlier this year, as soon as I heard news of Lydia Millet’s newest novel, I diligently set about reading the last two novels of her recent trilogy (How the Dead Dream, Ghostlights, Magnificence). Even when this author writes a trilogy, it is more like three loosely connected novels, the way some novels are a collection of loosely connected stories. I finished the trilogy satisfied that she had given me three distinct examples of her worldview shown through the eyes of three related characters.
I Like Kenny G
There. I’ve said it
And if that makes me whiter than Wonder Bread
So be it.
His music takes me back
To a brief time when I was happy,
Tenancy
The two men stood in the entryway of Edwina Graham’s spacious one-bedroom apartment. This whole building was going condo, and the fact that an old woman had a controlled rent of $580 wasn’t going to stand in the way of that. She had held out for months, but Carlson had had enough. This was a multi-million dollar deal, for God’s sake.
Depth
Indescribable depth of pain
As she defines a new horizon
This uncertain home lacks
Cats and comfortable beds
Test Subjects
There was something wrong with the self-checkout at Queen’s Grocer, I could tell. I didn’t know quite what it was yet, but I was sure there was something wrong with it. “Insert bills, or select method of payment,” said the robotic female voice.
My Burdens
Do you remember that time when we got lost camping in the mountains?
When I asked if your pack was heavy, you assured me it wasn’t