Jon DeCles

DeCles is a master of language. In two of the stories, he rises to the challenge of telling a story in the first person. In others, he demonstrates his skill with styles from hearty, to brusque, to richly poetic. He also manages pathos without being pathetic—taking us through regret for the inevitable, the loss of love or friendship, or achievement that does not bring what you hoped for after all. He can also display a sometimes bizarre but always entertaining humor. Look for the biting satire of the “in” crowd’s idea of a party, or a victim who talks his attackers out of their project, or an improbable performance of Madama Butterfly.