In a world of obscene women, perfect crimes, and a man with just a little too much time on his hands, one wrong move can send him reeling over the edge-very quickly. Just don't miscalculate the "rubbing out" of a little mistake and the labyrinth of secret thoughts.

James Thurber's The Catbird Seat focused on the quintessential mundane man-soft-spoken and lifelong devotee to "wearing a look of studious concentration" and to, of course, nothing other than filing cabinets. Mr. Martin's the man with nary a vice to his name, the one person people thought they had all figured out. But how much about him did anyone really know? Never underestimate the lengths a man like Mr. Martin would take to preserve the quiet monotony that had been managed for so long. For when Mrs. Barrows, a loud, "braying" woman-just the kind that would upset the delicate balance of a commonplace existence-nosed her way into the picture, the quiet man furtively plotted his revenge; but it's not quite what you thought. Instead, echoing the futile cries of Mrs. Barrow, it's really too perfect!

Thurber thoroughly expounded upon the details of a character-the little touches that make a fictional being seem real. But instead of merely telling, he let actions speak for themselves. We learned more about Mr. Martin from what he didn't do than by direct personality descriptions alone. And from Mrs. Barrows' loud-mouthed laughter, we heard the beginning strains of a revolutionary tune. The Catbird Seat is meant for the audience that can infer and think for themselves-there was no preaching from James Thurber in this story. He respected his readers far too much.

So, are you sitting in the catbird seat? Are you tearing up the pea patch? Well, you most definitely aren't doing either of those unless you've read this gem of a story. Don't say I didn't warn you: You'll be hollering down the rain barrel-for joy-when you find out that good people, even in a world of obscene women and perfect crimes, do win out-in very unexpected ways.

Reviewed By Laura Fong
© 2004