The Hunter and other stories of men
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley October 3, 2018
Author David Cohen
Distributor: Transit Lounge
ISBN: 978-1-925760-06-4
Publisher: Transit Lounge
Release Date: August 2018
Website: http://transitlounge.com.au
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In this award winning collection of short stories, David Cohen once again uses his dry wit and a wonderful understanding of the human psyche, to present an affectionate and warm hearted look at us, the human species.
The Hunter, the first story and the title of the book, establishes the slightly quirky balance of the when the fate of Ibis standing in the way of a major construction project becomes a problem. What to do, what happened to the original site manager and how will the new one, by the name of Hendricks, manage to solve the problem. In a similar framework to his last applauded work Disappearing Off The Face Of The Earth, The Hunter proves to be a most captivating read.
Lament of a Bus Stop outside the Benrath Senior Centre is seriously quirky and deliciously insightful as it tells a tale of a bus stop that has become what it considers as redundant and is becoming resentful of its role outside a dementia care Senior Centre. Of course everything starts off rather well as it was put there to solve a problem for the Seniors who would wander from their establishment and wait to catch a bus: of course the bus will never come. It was unique, special the one and only in a trial program with a successful outcome. Over time the Bus Stop begins to become resentful, full of woe and poor feelings, failing eventually to appreciate the very important role it has to play in the lives of others.
Addressing the secretive issue of domestic violence is Command Hooks: moving house, a Heckler and Koch gun with ammunition, Ray and a note that asks to meet him down in the carpark at 11pm leaves the next step completely to the imagination, but as with Cohens works the suggestion of what happens next has already been presented.
Those whom tend to have issues with the Department of Transport will really enjoy Variations on a Theme by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, where parking a car a can take on a life of its own and the green man, well who really knew……………
A misunderstanding of intentions sees a list being drawn up of Pros and Cons in the style of the Duke Of Wellington sales closing strategy, which brings a form of clarity to a completely different situation preying on the mind, while Look For The Silver Lining visits tragedy and recovery that often comes with unexpected side effects, underlined with a salient little point that as you travel through life, people come and people go, as often is required!
Absolutely enjoyable and written with Cohen’s wonderful wit to the forefront, The Hunter is off-beat, humorous, dark and once again portrays the unique and comical aspects of life and living.
A fantastic read.