Greenberg, Joanne (Goldenberg) - Hilma Wolitzer
HILMA WOLITZER
The stories in High Crimes and Misdemeanors have a strong connecting theme—spiritual questing and questioning. Men and women consider not only the existence of a deity, but their own existential purpose, their own capacities for good and evil. Greenberg pursues this theme with startling invention and with an effective blend of mischief and melancholy….
In "Flight Pattern," a temporarily earthbound malakh (angel) longs for the "appetites and surprises" in the life of his human companion, Ben. "'Don't envy us,'" Ben advises. "'We are usually very lonely.'" And adds later, "'Don't you know that we can't shut our ears to sound or our minds to a constant bombardment of thoughts and wishes, good and bad, fantasies, old songs, bad jokes? How can you want that? It isn't free will, it's free whim!'" Eventually the malakh spreads his wings and escapes such mortal misery.
Characters in other stories work their magic,...
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