Flight and Other Stories »

Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers
The rich and ironic short stories in this collection explore many of the complexities faced by Latino-Americans as they flee one culture for another. In 14 unique stories, José Skinner draws on his own personal and cultural experiences as a Puerto Rican-born male, a journalist in war-torn Central America, and a resident for a number of years of the American Southwest. His "strangers in a strange" land reveal their tales of cultural and physical displacement, misinterpretations between strangers, and very real conflicts between Latinos and Anglos in fully authentic language, providing a complete and fascinating portrayal of the Hispanic-American world. Skinner isn't afraid to tackle large issues and social canvasses as he deftly contrasts the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle differences within Hispanic culture itself. In each of his well-crafted stories, he shows a profound compassion for and deep understanding of the dilemmas and painful choices facing those of mixed-race heritage in America. Skinner's own reckoning with cultural identity brings a clarity to the complex interplay between whites and Latinos and a vivid new understanding of the price that must be paid by those taking "flight" from unbearable situation. (Summer 2001 Selection)

Publishers Weekly

Jos Skinner's Flight and Other Stories is a varied, well-crafted and frequently daring collection of vignettes centering mostly around the complex interplay between whites and Latinos in the American Southwest. In "Archangela," the arrival of a Mexican maid begins a young Anglo boy's sexual awakening; he soon learns that he is not the only member of his family drawn to her. Language and desire also inform "Careful," in which a gay teen tries to adjust to a new high school. The characters are complex and fully realized, and Skinner's voice is confident yet nuanced throughout. ( Mar.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.