People From Bloomington Summary
Darma, Budi

People From Bloomington Overview

In Budi Darma's short story collection People from Bloomington, seven distinct first person narrators struggle to combat their loneliness while living in the small college town of Bloomington, Indiana. The narrators of Darma's off-kilter narrative worlds are plagued by isolation, curiosity, and obsession. When their personal lives prove dull or entrapping, they become uncannily invested in their neighbors' goings on. Such voyeuristic behaviors lead the narrators to increasingly bizarre behaviors and actions. Although each short story possesses its own stakes, structure, and style, collectively, People from Bloomington explores themes including loneliness, identity, and torment.