Two For One--How The Hell Did These Titles Make "The New York Times 100 Most Notable Books????????????????????????"

                                            Even had I not just re-read "Wuthering Heights," I would still question  this decision.

                                             First, when I bought "Cleanness," I did not know who Garth Greenwell was, or more impotantly, that it was a short story collection.  I thought it was a novel; it turned out to be a short story collection, and I am not  partial to those.  Sure,  some are good,  but this--of  the nine stories featured, only two were good,  and  they were crammed with gay eroticism, which only shows Greenwell  is good at chronicling specifically his fantasties or activities.  Too much info, Garth.

                                               And that story, "Harbor," culminating with a priest in the dark, on the beach,  stripping to his black skivvies, and diving into the ocean--so what?

                                                 Garth, you are not the gay voice.  Annie Proux outdid all you gay male writers with  "Brokeback  Mountain."  Which many were too closeted to write.

                                                    Garth Greenwell lives in  Iowa ,  which is Closet Case Country!!!!!!!!!

                                                      Thanks for nothing,  Garth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                          Now,  "Luster" is a  novel,  which gives it one up on "Cleanness" already.  But it takes its time about things, even  though it  is a short novel.

                                                             Edie is finding the New York career fantasy of the Baby Boomer generation  is not doing it for her.  She shares  an apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn, with a roommate;  the living conditions and  neighborhood are abysmal.  For distraction, she sleeps around.

                                                              Online, she meets Eric Walker, an archivist, living in Maplewood, New Jersey.  I mean, who would live there?  Though I know it from my Seton Hall days, as it was not too far from  South  Orange.  Eric has a wife, Rebecca, who is a Medical Examiner, at a nearby Veteran's Hospital.  They have an adopted daughter, Akila, who is an interesting character. Not as interesting, though, as when Edie moves  into the Walkers,  as a tenant.  What  is  going  on?  "Fatal Attraction?" "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle?????????????"

                                                                   Nothing so histrionic,  but I will say this--as Edie becomes  more ensconced in the Walker home, something sinister builds.  Leading to a most  ambiguous turnout.

                                                                      Worth  reading?  Yes, but if  you don't feel like bothering, don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                         Perhaps  I am  losing my faith in "The New York Times!!!!!!!!!!!!"