Death Is Not an Option

May 3, 2010
The female protagonists in Rivecca’s debut collection have a lot in common, so much so that they at times feel like the same person, despite (slight) variations in context. They are a mostly Midwestern bunch, sassy, bookish, and Catholic (or lapsed Catholic), but it’s their ambivalent relationships to victimhood that provide the collection with its real material: some refuse to be pitied, while others dabble in self-victimization for selfish purposes. In the title story, Emma bids farewell to her Sacred Heart classmates, including the popular Claire, who has spent most of their “friendship” trying to publicly humiliate Emma. In “Yours Will Do Nicely,” 21-year-old Katrina tries to maintain a relationship with a one-night stand by writing a fanciful letter to the boy she’s effortlessly enchanted. “Very Special Victims” introduces Kath, who can’t seem to convince those around her that her existence shouldn’t be defined by the fact that she was molested as a child. Rivecca’s a competent writer and obviously adept at mining the experiences of a certain kind of character, but the stories’ provocations aren’t delivered upon; instead, they feel repetitive and self-satisfied.