Book Review: Everyday People

I've long appreciated short stories, but they took over my reading pile after I found myself with unpredictable bursts of reading time when I was in the throes of my newborn babies. When my hygiene might be suspect and there may or may not be a well-rounded meal on the table and I might not remember when the floor was tidy enough for me to vacuum thoroughly, I could find satisfaction in beginning and finishing a short story in one sitting. I am past that sleep-deprived state, but I will always have a fondness for short stories.

Everyday People: The Color of Life--A Short Story Anthology is a curated collection of short stories. Many had me highlighting a line or passage (certainly not a given for me), and I would sometimes have to pause mid-paragraph to digest.

In the introduction, we learn the stories have all been written by people of color. And regarding the title Everyday People, Jennifer Baker reveals, "The name of this anthology is not meant to solely focus on the racial composition of the writers or characters but to showcase the larger story and relationships depicted as well as the landscape--be it in New York City, Maine, Alabama, Great Britain, South Korea, Ghana, or Sri Lanka."

My heart would tug as I would become invested in these stories, wishing I could alter outcomes and guarantee happiness. The fact that I was so drawn in speaks to the caliber of the work. They are far reaching. Perhaps we're following a fantastical account of a mental connection that allows individuals to communicate without speaking. Then there's the story of the older woman who enters homes with newborn children to support the families, but only for a fixed amount of time before she takes her leave. And the account of how people get into prostitution. Or maybe we're reading of the grandmother and granddaughter who can catch ghosts in their hair.

I imagine this title being used as required reading in a college course, leading to rich conversations in class. Some of these stories will make you uncomfortable, but as we wrestle to articulate what wrung us out, there can be insight into ourselves.

For those wanting more, at the close of the book you can find numerous recommendations in "Reading List of Contemporary Works by Women, Nonbinary, and Transgender Writers of Color/Indigenous Writers."

(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)