Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Mason Jar Press in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read plenty of short stories and novellas over the years, but there’s a genre that has eluded me until now. It’s called flash fiction. These are usually extremely short stories that offer character arcs or imply a larger narrative. Ani King wrote a series of tales of this kind for their debut Family Night: Stories. It’s a good collection through a queer lens with some stories being better than others.
Normally, I summarize the title, but I think Goodreads does it more justice, so here’s their blurb: “FAMILY NIGHT is by turns a lyrical celebration of queerness and an exploration of family and loss, often through a lens of magical realism. Ani King’s collected flash fiction stories explore relationships and connections: a teen girl attempting to summon her missing mother home with cigarette smoke and yacht rock songs; two sisters disputing how to care for an unhealthy elderly unicorn; a woman accidentally raising two daughters from the bones of her long-dead pet rabbits. Throughout FAMILY NIGHT, there is a sense of yearning for connection, be it with family, old friends, lovers, or community.”
There are 52 short stories in this collection, and each of them are one to seven pages long. One could finish it in a week if they wanted to. However, it may not appeal to everyone. The writing can be off-putting for some, especially how King often uses run-on sentences. These can spill over to more than one page, and some of them simply result in a punch line. Some of these work, and others don’t. In addition, King employs magic realism in very nonchalant ways. There were times that I had to do a double-take on what I just read. It was strange, but in the best way possible. I like that King explores the theme of connection in an absurd, yet sincere manner.
I also adore how Family Night shows its various themes through a queer perspective. Since the need for connection is a universal topic, I always look for something specific that makes it more meaningful. Even though I’m a straight woman, I felt attached to many of the characters in the stories because King, who’s nonbinary, allows readers to understand those experiences. For example, Love Buzzcut: A Story About a Girl details one girl shaving the head of another in a very intimate way. In another, The Best Werewolf Boyfriend is about a guy who falls in love with the titular werewolf, and he has to deal with his problems, including personal boundaries and his fellow werewolf roommates.
Even though there were some that I didn’t quite gravitate towards, there were others I truly connected with. My favorite stories were Kitchen Dancing, Dipsh*ts & Losers, and the titular Family Night. For the first one, I loved how it’s about a mother telling her daughter how she should never cook or clean in front of boys, or else they will treat her like their mother or housekeeper. She does all this while gliding around while making a meal, and the daughter brings up some things that might contradict her statements. The second one details the narrator’s grandmother and her relationship with her Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Specifically, she discusses how Grammy lived independently with it, yet it “attracted the biggest dipsh*ts and losers.”
I also love the bit when the seller keeps calling the T-bird much to the annoyance of the narrator.
And then, there’s the titular story Family Night. It revolves around a father and his prejudices at a…family night. I adore how it slowly reveals more about himself in a meaningful way. Plus, readers will certainly know a relative who behaves like that.
Family Night: Stories by Ani King is a good set of flash fiction stories. While it may not be for everyone, it will certainly click with certain readers. I love how the author goes to some strange places to explore the universal themes of yearning and connection. I would recommend it for those who love flash fiction and want more stories about family through a queer lens. Family Night: Stories is out now, so get it wherever you purchase your books.
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