THE GOODBYE PROCESS Stories

In Mary Jones's debut short story collection, narrator Suzanne Freeman embraces her vocal task simply, her careful diction allowing each story to shine. Each brief work deals with the universal experiences of separation, departure, loss, or abandonment. The wide variety of stories varies in length--with some just a few minutes long, some many minutes more--and each is instantly absorbing. However, it can be difficult to discern where one story ends and another begins, as Freeman does not read the titles. The title story, the last in the collection, is a beautiful rendering of a final goodbye. This is a broad selection for those who like stories. Jones is an author to watch, and Freeman a narrator to seek out as well. D.G.L. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]