White Light — Mark O'Flynn

O'Flynn takes us into his local neighborhood where people, both the ordinary and the bizarre, wrestle with the challenges and puzzles that life throws at them. His characters delight us and his language never ceases to surprise. In this eclectic collection, O'Flynn, an accomplished poet, turns his hand to linked short stories, micro-fictions, and monologues. He displays ventriloquist-like skill, conjuring Shakespeare's Iago, an illiterate inmate called Banjo, and a famous Australian poet who finds herself trapped in a toilet cubicle. Monopoly and ping-pong become extended metaphors for the games of everyday life. The result is a heady mix of wordplay, philosophical ruminations, and astute social observation.