The Dust Collector
By Jennifer Lash
 

         Lash's next novel, The Dust Collector, also takes place in Ireland and is the story of an old man who literally collects dust in any containers and boxes that he can find.  Regarded as crazy, he is accidentally accused of child molestation and is passed between priests, jails and mental institutions -- eventually attaining a sort of local celebrity status.  Though Patricia Craig of the New Statesman found Lash's symbolism overused -- "attempting to show us altogether too much in a handful of dust" -- reviewer Emma Fisher praised the novel in the Spectator.  Fisher found that simply describing the plot of this story "is not only unfair but unilluminating," and pointed out other strengths in the novel, such as Lash's consistent use of the present tense and her perfect rendering of the Irish town.  She added, "The people are utterly particular, their Irish dialogue perfectly caught, and the author manages the quality of her writing to maker the reader revel in their particularity, without elevating this unifying idea to didactic boredom or repetitiveness."  Peter Kemp of The Listener reviewed the novel similarly and stated that even though Lash has tried to create what he calls an anti-novel, her talent comes through regardless and she "is so gifted at evoking place and personality and weaving a compelling story that she really defeats her own intentions."