The Earth And The Sky by Debbie Lee Wesselmann is a collection of short stories which has an overall theme. Not all short story collections have a theme that ties stories together, so I found it interesting that The Earth And The Sky does. This overall theme is that even though our cultures may be different, as human beings we all have the same wants, needs and desires etc., so perhaps we are not as different as we thought we are. This theme does not apply to every story in the collection, since not all of the stories take place in other countries and/or with people of other cultures, there are a couple of stories that take place in America with Americans as the main focus, but I found the theme did apply to many of the stories.
Some stories were written in first person, while others were written in third person. The third person narratives kept us close to their protagonists, but I felt even closer to the first person protagonists. I was more so able to crack in to the thoughts of the first person narrators and really understand what they were feeling than I was able to with the protagonists who were told about in third person.
Wesselmann definitely seems familiar with the other countries she writes about (it says in the about the author section at the end of the book that she has traveled the world many times, which came as no surprise to me after reading the book), and her descriptions of other cultures/countries are easy to visualize and seem believable. She especially likes to compare how different Americans are from other cultures. Many of her stories include American characters in a foreign place or vice versa. And in a couple of stories we see the Americanization of people from other cultures. If I hadn't read the about the author section at the end of the book, I still would have guessed the author was American, although there are some stories that do not feature Americans at all, which if I had read those stories on their own and not as part of this collection (for ex. "Rosa's Vision" which takes place in Chile), I might have thought the author was from that country and cultural background, instead of being American.

The 15 short stories in this superb collection represent a wide variety of characters and cultures. While the stories take place in mainly rather exotic locations--Taipai, France, Italy, the Grand Cayman, Chili, Montreal, and Japan, the themes are universal and face humans across the globe.

One of the main themes threaded through the collection is loss--the characters struggle with loss of culture, loss of independence, loss of the self, loss of a parent or a child, and the loss of love. Some of the characters experience loss while driven by acculturation, duty and family loyalty

My favourite stories--in order--are: "Ingrid, Face Down," "Core Puncher," and "Snow Angels." And it was not an easy feat--either making the selection or putting them in order. These three stories are unforgettable.

"Ingrid, Face Down" is the story of a schoolteacher who finds herself taking a long weekend getaway alone--and not with her boyfriend--as originally planned. The author creates a languid pace with language as the teacher, Ingrid, gathers the courage to try scuba-diving. Ingrid physically explores the silent beauty of the ocean while simultaneously analyzing her inner, emotional life and the inevitable shortcomings of her romantic relationship with her duty-driven boyfriend.

"Core Puncher" is the story of a grieving parent who spends her holidays chasing tornados in Oklahoma. Family and friends simply don't understand the drive--or the need--Lillian has to face death and then record the event. Lillian meets a fellow traveller on the road, and they share a moment of recognition.

"Snow Angels" takes place in France and concerns a quartet of young students--Kate (the narrator), Matthew, Aaron, and Dave who meet and befriend a fellow American, Daria. Daria finds herself abandoned in a strange country, and she quickly joins the group. However, Daria's presence upsets the existing dynamic, and both Matthew and Dave find her rather annoying. Kate's relationship with Aaron is also spoiled by Daria's presence, but some serious lessons await them all when they leave for a skiing holiday in the Pyrenees.

For many years, I've found that reading short stories is a tried and true method for discovering new authors. Some authors I have discovered through reading short stories ... To this list, I shall now add Debbie Lee Wesselman. As a reader, I am in awe of a talent that can create a perfect, unforgettable tale within the structure and confines of the short story format ...

The title of the book, "The Earth and the Sky: Stories" reminds me of either the Orient or Native American folklore. Reading several of her stories I learned much about the Chinese culture, specifically within the setting of Taipei as in "Dance of a Falling Comet". She writes with crystal clear precision, capturing details of feeling and thought using a unique pallette of different colors. This story even had a sequel which completed the ideas and themes started by the other. The first story is set in Italy, where an American family rents a villa. The family includes two young daughters, Hannah and Jenny. There is a young lady who manages the villa and a wonderful horse named, Nocciola who becomes the hero in this very pleasant story. "Stone Daughter" takes place in Japan. An American woman returns to Japan, which is the ancestral home of her husband. He is the oldest son who must assume responsibilites for running the family pottery business. This intercultural marriage is filled with interesting insights and behaviors expected of the Japanese. Another story is set in the Grand Cayman Islands where snorkeling reveals the risks associated with viewing the wonders beneath the ocean ... The story which is set in Toulouse, France develops some unexpected twists and turns with a very surprise ending ... "Life as a Dragon" reveals a lot about cleverness and using one's intuiton with honor. "Down Under the Lake" is a story about a pre-teen girl whose parents are divorced who goes out boating with her older brother and the serious temptation which she survives. "Core Puncher" is a story about Lillian who chases tornadoes for excitement - she chases them from Oklahoma to Texas trying to capture them on film and video. There is a hidden reason behind her need to challenge nature ... This one brought occasional tears to my eyes as I learned more about Lillian and her life. All of the stories are marvelous, with vivid descriptions of people, places, and events that reveal feelings and values from different perspectives. Not all the stories end the way the reader expects ... The scintillating events about which the author writes, reveal the great depth and understanding she posseses. Sometimes there are competing emotions or values which must be resolved. She capures complex emotions that occur within specific social and cultural contexts. These stories are like delicately chiseled sculptures ... each is unique and must be looked at from different angles to be fully appreciated. It is highly recommended. Erika B.