Review: A Permanent Member of the Family

A Permanent Member of the Family by Russell Banks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Families can be complicated. And the families that appear in A Permanent Member of the Family are no different. Russell Banks has a way of taking a subject like family and relationships into a space where you might not see it going. And that's why I love short story collections in general—whether it is a themed collection or not, you're always surprised when you turn the page.

The stories range from an older gentleman interacting with his three law enforcement sons to a lady shopping for her first used car to a bartender talking to his customers. There are some gems in there, while others are the type that leaving you asking, “Why did I care about that character?” Some of my favorite stories in this collection include “Former Marine”, “Big Dog” and “The Green Door.” Anyone that enjoys any of the author's previous works or short collections in general will like this book.

*Received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads

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