When this collection of fiction appeared it had nothing to do with other 80s writing, such as minimalism or magic realism. Ms. Benedict's hard-scrabble characters (most of whom have a spiritual insight in the story) remind me a lot of Flannery O'Connor's, except Benedict forgoes a Catholic explanation of these insights. Some of these stories have the generality, and power, of myth. A few of the pieces are slight or repetitive, and the same words crop up over and over. The final story of the collection is flawless.

I first read SHINY OBJECTS in around 1983. Dianne was a teacher of mine at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. I loved it. The stories are unique, and original with a gentle, wonderful breeze of a voice. Her narratives are unusual and deep, expressing invaluable and poetic images and insights into childlike perceptions and even grotesque realities. It haunts me and I still find myself in quiet moments 17 years later, aware of it inside me. Dianne write me: rudy@kdsi.net please.