In The Dis-condition of Ease, a collection of vignettes and short stories, author Owen Patterson explores reincarnation, hell, infidelity, loyalty, and more. That these concepts are often in opposition to one another is no mistake, as illustrated in the final piece, titled “Addendum.” Most of Patterson’s works showcase a lone yet persistent man struggling against common human challenges under very uncommon circumstances. However, in some cases, the challenges are less ordinary. Take, for example, the story about a husband who confronts a gang of murderers. If you like to read dream-like stories with a heavy dose of reality and humorous undertones, The Dis-condition of Ease is for you.
At times, Patterson uses personification in his storytelling. For example, in “To Be Acquainted,” a man walking home in the snow converses with the sun and the moon, who tell him their origin stories. This conversation provides the man with the much-needed strength to endure the freezing walk home to his family, along with a good story to tell his friends. In the fable “Wind and Tree,” elements of nature are personified to teach a lesson on acceptance. In these stories, Patterson creates a peaceful and sometimes humorous tone.
In contrast to the peaceful feeling Patterson evokes in “To Be Acquainted” and “Wind and Tree,” “Lighthouse Beacon” is suspenseful and tells the story of a man who dies on the operating table and reanimates knowing that a trio of murderers will attempt to kill him and his wife soon. Not only is John able to turn the tables, he manages to deliver a funny jab at the gang. Patterson’s ability to work humor into serious situations is impressive. In fact, he’s able to maintain it through the most suspenseful story in the collection, titled “Heartland.”
Patterson’s longest and most descriptive piece, “Heartland,” feels like it is set in the past with details like the “coloreds’ church” in the narrator’s hometown. The past it may be, but it’s an apocalyptic one, where children feed off the blood of sick animals and townspeople hide in their homes to escape from a threat. Patterson doesn’t reveal the threat until nearly the midpoint of the story, opting to let readers use their imaginations and enjoy the suspense for a while. For me, much of “Heartland” reads as a description of purgatory, or even hell, but I won’t reveal what happens to the narrator. Nor will I spoil the source of the threat—you’ll want to keep reading to find out.
Although Patterson’s collection is entertaining thanks to the humor, suspense, and fable-like pieces, vignettes like “Rorschach” and “On To My Usual Place” left me scratching my head. In some cases, I researched character names and other details to see if I had missed something. Turns out that I hadn’t. Patterson’s works can read like unsolvable riddles at times, not unlike how Thaddeus describes himself in “Rorschach.” Just a tad more story development would do the trick.
In the end, Patterson reminds us to keep a sense of humor and daydream a little. The Dis-condition of Ease is an entertaining read—and a fast one too, maybe too fast. Like me, you might find yourself wanting the stories to go on for a while longer, to walk a little farther in the characters’ shoes. And that’s testament to Patterson’s ability to turn the ordinary into something more imaginative.
