Mary and O'Neil

February 1, 2001
The title of Cronin's debut collection of eight interconnected stories, set between 1979 and the present, implies that the content will be devoted to the relationship between the eponymous duo. Instead, they don't appear in the same tale until halfway through, detailing their marriage in their early 30s after both become teachers. Before this, there's a lengthy opening story concerning the events leading up to the accidental death of O'Neil's parents, Arthur and Miriam; another story on how O'Neil and his older sister, Kay, cope with the aftermath; and a third about the abortion Mary has at the age of 22. After the wedding, the stories still don't always focus on the pair, with one devoted solely to Kay's own dysfunctional marriage. Cronin, a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, is an accomplished craftsman, and at times his prose is quite moving and beautiful, though the sadness he channels is too often uninflected by humor. Playing out variations on the theme of the inability of parents and children to truly know one another, Cronin is capable of creating fresh poignancy. Readers interested in going straight to the best of the collection should head for "Orphans" and "A Gathering of Shades," in which the author affectingly paints how the two siblings help each other through the pain of living and dying, showcasing the real love story here. Agent, Ellen Levine. (Feb. 13) Forecast: This is a promising debut collection, and national print advertising in the New Yorker and alternative weeklies should target the appropriate readership. Sponsorship announcements will also feature the title on NPR.

January 1, 2001
It is 1979, and 19-year-old O'Neil Burke has it all. He's in love, successful in college, and warmed by the affection of his parents and older sister Kay. After a weekend visiting their son, the Burkes, protecting each other from dark, unshared secrets, drive off an icy embankment and die. O'Neil's mounting losses include his girl, his career ambitions, and any sense of direction. Eventually, he finds his way back into a pleasant life, teaching high school English in Philadelphia and marrying Mary. More sorrow solidifies the bond between O'Neil and his sister when she fights a losing battle with cancer in her late thirties. Cronin's key mistake in this fine series of linked short stories about a family weathering crushing blows is indicated by his misleading title. Mary, who makes her first appearance nearly 100 pages into the book, is not nearly the presence that O'Neil, his parents, and his sister are. This is too bad, as the scenes between Mary and O'Neil are rich with affectionate humor, leaving the reader wanting more. Nevertheless, this is a worthy first effort by a novelist worth watching. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/00.]--Beth E. Andersen, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2001
This is a story of fidelity, pregnancy, maturation, cancer, and death--all well-tread themes in current fiction. Presented as "a novel in stories," we meet a middle-aged couple coping with crises, whose troubles seem to be transferred inevitably onto their children. The bulk of the novel centers on one of these children, O'Neil, and his wife, Mary, and relays the happenings of their individual lives as they graduate from college, meet girls and boys, and eventually settle down with each other. The utilization of worn-out ideas often burdens the novel, restraining it from ever taking flight. But despite being heavy in places, the novel is generally well written. Cronin's use of language, when crisp and inventive, allows the characters a freedom to develop within the tired concepts, which in turn uplifts the novel. Although his literary influences frequently peek through, particularly his fondness for Updike, should first-novelist Cronin continue shaping his voice, he will be an author to keep your eyes open for.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)