The Greek philosopher Theophrastus, a student of Plato and Aristotle, wrote influential texts on science, ethics and human nature. His book Characters--a compilation of 30 "moral types" outlined through short literary descriptions--is the inspiration for Jim Heynen's story collection Ordinary Sins.
In more than 40 character snapshots supplemented with illustrations by Michigan artist Tom Pohrt, Heynen describes a man who talks nonstop to his bees, a girl who sprouts cherries from her ears, a well-spoken man who refuses to let people see him eat and someone who is such a good eulogist that strangers ask him to speak at funerals. The result is an archive of quotidian quirks--delightfully surreal in some cases, perfectly mundane in others.
At times, Ordinary Sins is reminiscent of certain Beatles' songs, such as "Eleanor Rigby" or "Mean Mr. Mustard," which illustrate characters both cartoonish and familiar. They contain a sort of winking, sidelong humor, as though the reader and narrator are enjoying an odd moment together.
There is even a profile of a critic ("The Book Reviewer") who finally writes her own book (a "strange and quirky collection of short prose pieces") and imagines what other reviewers will say. Though she hopes they label it "flash fiction," she thinks, "If anyone labeled them 'snippets' or 'vignettes' she would throw an epic tantrum."
In the book's introduction, Heynen discloses that several of the characters are thinly veiled self-portraits, adding, "You are welcome to find Waldo, if you can." --Annie Atherton