Mr. Voice by Jess Walter

Demi Moore, circa 1970's.

I’m not familiar with Jess Walter’s work and as the final story in The Best American Short Stories 2015, Mr. Voice was slightly underwhelming. Enjoyable enough but not exactly fireworks.

The narrator reflects on her 1970s adolescence, a time when her single mother is locally famous for being an absolute “stunner.” Men orbit her like confused moths around a porch light, so naturally the entire town (daughter included) is baffled when Mom chooses to marry a decidedly average-looking radio announcer, nicknamed “Mr. Voice” because he is famous on the radio.

What follows is a slice of the narrator’s puberty years as she adjusts to life with her new stepdad and even develops a confusing crush on her stepbrother. Walter sidesteps a few obvious clichés and while the story leans heavily on exposition (lots of this happened, then that happened), it somehow doesn't feel entirely bogged down. There is a natural rhythm and flow to the story with a somewhat compelling narrative voice. The emotional beats might have landed more sharply with a more subtle approach, but hey, maybe that’s just my preference.

Still, there are some humorous and unexpected moments that give the story a bit of heart. Running beneath it all are the gender politics and challenges of being a teenage girl in a world built on patriarchal expectations. Where everyone seems a little too comfortable policing women’s choices while ignoring the everyday dangers they face in the presence of men. The story brushes up against the era’s casual sexism and the ambient threat of male predation in a way that feels accurate, even if it isn’t explored as deeply as it could be. 

A decent short story, but not one that’s going to take up long-term residency in my brain. As a side note, I genuinely assumed Jess Walter was a woman (the name fooled me), and I have to admit, he writes a pretty convincing female perspective for a straight guy. That’s something! Not that an author’s gender has any real bearing on the quality of the story, of course. It just made me chuckle at my own assumption.