![]() ![]() ![]() Schutt doesn’t waste a word no lengthy character descriptions or long rambles about the taste of the air, the feel of the wind, the colour of the sky. It’s John Ashbery who says it best (on the back cover of the collection): Christine Schutt’s Pure Hollywood is “pared down but rich”. While the bulk of the piece is told from Mimi’s perspective, every so often there’s an unexpected shift, such as this one from the point of view of Arnie the famous, now dead, comedian: It’s a strange story, almost devoid of emotion and drama, except for one shocking incident when Mimi discovers her old home. The story mostly focuses on Mimi, her marriage to a much older man – a famous comedian – his sudden death and then her search for the old house in the desert that she and her brother lived in with their mother. Their famous mother was an alcoholic who committed suicide, their renowned father – separated from their mother – wasn’t the most loving of men and so all they had was each other. The opening story, which shares the title of the collection, is about Mimi and Stetson, a sister and brother, who have a special bond. ![]() What’s not to like? knee-jerk observations The collection is beautifully packaged, has my name in the back as one of the hundreds of supporters and features a quote from George Saunders. Pure Hollywood by Christine Schutt came in the mail as part of my And Other Stories subscription. ![]()
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