Very good debut story in current New Yorker from Irish (?) writer Danielle McLoughlin the dinosaurs on other planets - a fairly long naturalistic story w limited cast of chars - a 50ish woman married to a 70ish man who is cranky and withdrawn - they have not slept together in more than a year and he will not discuss anything about their relationship - and repressed and ashamed she feels she must keep this estrangement or rejection a secret - they have two grown children one long absent in japan. The other daughter Emer announces a weekend visit (from London) and shows up w her 6 year old son and new boyfriend. From there the story unfolds v much like a play as the central char - Kate - feels ever more deeply alone and at the same time strangely enlivened by daughter'a boyfriend's evident interest in her. It's one of those rare stories that feels complete in itself and yet in which the characters are sufficiently round and also sharply delineates so that we can imagine them living off of or beyond the page. We are left w just enough doubt and unanswered questions to sharpen our attention: what is the building that husband Colman is ripping down at the outset of the story? Who is boyfriend Pavel and why is he suddenly cast aside?
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