The Topless Widow of Herkimer Street

The eight stories in THE TOPLESS WIDOW OF HERKIMER STREET sort into four categories. These are:o Difficult older women. In “The Current Occupant”, the high-strung and unpleasant wife of Dr. Lewinter pressures him to evict Kitty, a stranger who has usurped their Vermont country house. Turns out that the sixty-something Lewinter actually dated Kitty, who is a calm but conniving female alternative, in college. Meanwhile, “The Topless Widow of Herkimer Street” features the elderly Ilene, who appears to take an outrageous but principled stand. Grief and aging, however, may actually animate her intransigent behavior.o Doctors in difficult family situations. “Lessons in Platygaeanism” shows the ophthalmologist Fay, recently remarried after the accidental death of her husband, neglecting her seven-year old son. This young boy then becomes unreasonably devoted to his mother’s strange brother. In contrast, the dying Dr. Chapman is the owner of 61 iron lungs in “Long Term”. He has to decide who gets to monetize his macabre collection: his brother, who is a loser with harebrained ideas; a rabbi who is trying to raise money; or his grandniece, who is unsure about her future.o Medical tragedies. Dr. Barrett and his wife cope with the failed suicide and persistent vegetative state of their young daughter in “Bioethics for Dunces”. An abortion the couple had early in their marriage becomes part of their mental mix. Similarly, middle-aged Marcy Gayle suffers a catastrophe in “Toward Uncharted Waters” and becomes a burden on her lonely husband Walter, who makes poor choices and is starved for sex.o Unusual courtships. A dithering lonely veterinarian has a crush on his much younger clinical assistant. In “One Wish”, he acquires the power, yet not the will, to make her love him. Likewise, the successful lawyer Caleb never overcame his high-school crush on Dana, a marginal actress nearing forty. Then in “Rendezvous in Wikiternity”, he begins to court her on Wikipedia.IMHO, three of these stories—Occupant, Topless, and Rendezvous—unfold with Appel’s usual elegance and quiet humor and surprise with plausible concluding twists. Other stories—particularly, Lessons, Bioethics, and Uncharted—seem to reach as they conclude. This book also has a few clumsy word choices—standing on, not beside, the binnacle; a patch of stratus clouds (don’t they blanket the sky?)—that are unusual for this meticulous author.This is the fifth Jacob-Appel story collection that I’ve read. It’s good but also for Appel completists. Rounded up.

Author of the superb, award-winning EINSTEIN'S BEACH HOUSE, Jacob M. Appel offers eight more solid and exceptional stories of ordinary people in often extraordinary circumstances. The opening paragraphs of each story unfold in addictive “divine details” of characters, settings, and situations. Eight stories ranging in perspective and age of the main characters, from the seven-year-old boy vulnerable to the possibility of a flat earth to that topless widow in late life possibly tipping into being a comedic geriatric. Instantly engaging and imaginative, ripe with perfectly placed and often dark wit, compact (and devoid of lazy adverbs) yet stuffed with delicious descriptions (“they'd been driving...greased with cheer,” “the Michelangelo of poor judgment and second-rate ideas,” “she studied that pathologically diffident quasi-giraffe, the okapi”), consistently original, the stories entertain and enthrall the reader. At times the writer takes us to an edge, be it one close to parody, tragedy or emptiness, but he knows brilliantly how to craft a story’s beginning, middle and always that perfect ending.Each time I read a book of short stories by Jacob M. Appel, the sense that this is the apex of his publications, perhaps even of the genre in modern time, worries me - much like his risk-list-making character in “Bioethics for Dunces.” And I’m wrong; the next book comes out and expectations are exceeded.Mr. Appel’s writing seems effortless and fluid, a style readers can instantly find comfortable and enticing. He sets his stories possibly with threads from his own world and his vast knowledge, but not apparently in that heavily interwoven pattern (such as John Updike’s). He stands back from his characters (and any pedantic writing) and lets them take form. How does he write with the sensitive understanding of those lives of quiet desperation, especially those late in life no longer facing “options as burdens” and finding acceptance as an uninvited guest?Eight stories. An accomplished writer (as well as lawyer, doctor, polymath, bioethicist, kind responder to fans, and licensed New York City sightseeing guide) holding innumerable higher education degrees and countless writing awards and giving us book after excellent book. We are fortunate readers.

The stories were refreshingly authentic, yet incredibly familiar —the writing a masterclass in craft. However, many of the stories ended a little too perfectly.

I first heard about Mr. Appel from a friend and his story intrigued me. The more I learned about him caused even more interest which lead me to reading some of his books. I seem to be drawn to literature where the author takes the most odd characters or situations and holds you spellbound and eagerly awaiting the next page. Loved the little vignettes and Jacob’s wit and remarkable storytelling.

I recently viewed a documentary on Amazon Prime, “Jacob”. I was intrigued by the man and curious about his writing. This is the second book of his short stories I’ve read and I have quite enjoyed each of the stories I’ve found there. I often find myself thinking of one of the stories days after I’ve finished reading it.I’m convinced that I’ve been hooked and will continue to read Mr. Appel’s books until I’ve finished the final book. Wherever and when ever that may be.Thank you Mr. Appel for your unique insight I continue to find it enticingly interesting.

I don’t read that many short stories. But I saw a documentary on the author and thought that sounds interesting and I bought his book of short stories the topless Widow of Herkimer Street. From the very first line in the very first story I was hurt. The stories in far too soon and that by the time they end I am very invested in the characters in the story. I can only say thank you to the author for providing such a wonderfully written book of short stories.

The stories left me thinking. I think that's the best thing s book can do. I will probably read it again.

These short stories remind myself of a kinder gentler Alfred Hickcock type of ending. Leaving the reader to their imagination..Bravo Jacob.