Ananda Lima’s Poetry Collection Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil
Writers often contemplate their purpose and audience when crafting their works. Some write for themselves, others for the market, and some for a specific muse. However, Chicago author Ananda Lima takes a unique approach by writing for the Devil.
Lima’s debut collection of short stories, Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil, delves into the intriguing concept of an unnamed writer who finds themselves entangled with the Devil at a party in 1999, only to then write a story about a similar encounter in 1981. The collection weaves back and forth between stories written by the writer and stories about the writer herself, offering a dynamic and engaging narrative structure.
Throughout the book, readers are treated to beautifully crafted interludes that connect the titled stories. These interludes touch on everyday experiences like waiting at the DMV and navigating the complexities of living in a world affected by COVID-19. The Devil appears in these interludes, sometimes as a source of inspiration, sometimes as a friend, but always as a catalyst for the next narrative, driving the overarching theme of the collection.
Each story in Craft is a masterpiece of short fiction in its own right. In “Idle Hands,” the reader is presented with a series of responses from workshop participants critiquing the writer’s story, offering a poignant commentary on the workshop process. “Antropófaga” follows the protagonist Béia as she indulges in a peculiar lunch ritual of consuming Americans from a vending machine at her workplace, showcasing Lima’s talent for blending the surreal with the mundane. Even in the brief tale “Rent,” where roommates free a ghost trapped in a piano, the narrative brims with energy and creativity.
What sets Lima’s stories apart is their ability to transcend traditional storytelling tropes. Each story falls into a familiar category of short fiction, from ghosts to magical realism to returning home, but Lima infuses them with a unique perspective on craft and storytelling. The interludes serve as a meta-conversation about writing fiction, prompting readers to consider the boundaries of storytelling and the stories that are deemed acceptable to tell.
At its core, Craft is a reflection on the power of storytelling to shape our experiences and perceptions of the world around us. Lima’s book challenges readers to see stories as more than just words on a page but as vehicles for profound human experiences and connections. Each narrative in Craft invites readers to embrace the unknown, sparking a sense of curiosity and wonder that lingers long after the final page is turned.
Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil by Ananda Lima is a thought-provoking exploration of the art of storytelling and its transformative impact on both writers and readers. Lima’s masterful storytelling and inventive narrative structure make this collection a must-read for anyone interested in the craft of writing and the power of storytelling to illuminate the complexities of the human experience.