Fall 2019 EditionAlumni & Friends Magazine
Brides in the Sky
Relationships, especially ones framed by ideas of sisterhood, are at the heart of Brides in the Sky, a new collection of stories by Cary Holladay.
By Jeff Kallet | October 21, 2019
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In the title story, Brides in the Sky , set in 1854, two close sisters become further entwined after marrying two brothers. When this tight-knit group decides to strike west on the Oregon Trail, they form new relationships with fellow travelers, some from other countries, some from other states.
As the wagon train slowly moves west, Holladay reimagines what has become a mythic American journey. At a key juncture in the trip, an unforeseen decision takes place involving a charismatic male leader. It’s an almost casual, spur of the moment action, yet one that will forever haunt one of the sisters.
“The sisters’ trek isn’t just a journey across the continent,” says Holladay, professor and coordinator of creative writing at the University of Memphis. “Their relationship is on a voyage, too, changing under the influence of their new husbands, their fellow travelers, and the struggles on the Trail.”
In another story, “Shades,” we’re in what could be the present day with a completely different notion of sisterhood: a sorority house during pledge week. Again, the story focuses on two young women. One of them, Natalie, also possesses a mysterious air others find attractive. Yet despite the allure, her loyalty is called into question by other sisters, especially Roma, a leader whose life seems consumed by love for the sorority.
The story opens with Natalie picking up barbecue from a restaurant for a major sorority function. She returns not just with food, but—astoundingly—with a young boy and a made-up story about their relationship. Roma, who senses Natalie’s untrustworthiness, realizes the gravity of the situation, but allows the night’s festivities to proceed with the boy still in the house. As with “Brides in the Sky,” a decisive moment threatens to forever alter the life that follows.
“One person can have a seismic effect on others,” Holladay notes. “When I started writing ‘Shades,’ I thought the story was about Natalie’s impulsive decision to kidnap a child. Then Roma stepped in and took over. The story is about what’s in Roma’s heart—her yearning, her powerful sense of what the future will bring. I write to explore these mysteries.”
