It’s been a while since we read the underrated genre of short story collections, so that is what I offer for next month (see descriptions below and poll as well). We’re a little behind on setting a time and place for the next meeting–I offered up my place, but am reconsidering since it’s still on the market and we want to avoid large cleanup episodes. Derick, Paul or Jason–interested in hosting in early Nov? I’ve included another poll for best date to hold it.
PICK #1: “Volt” by Alan Heathcock
Eight killer stories revolving around a fictional western town called Krafton. Somewhat like Cormac McCarthy in the barenaked, rough west genre, but imminently readable prose that draws you in from the first sentence. Some praise: “…through [Krafton's] street and farms and minds spin questions about civilization and wilderness, lawkeeping and lawlessness, faith and faithlessness.” – Anthony Doerr. “Alan Heathcock doesn’t so much write stories as fire them like bullets–they speed into the reader’s consciousness and zip toward an impact that feels both stunning and irreversable. These are stories that arrive fast, hit hard, and linger.” -Keith Lee Morris.
An excerpt from the story about a guy who can take any punch from any man: “Two young men waited outside. One wore a thin beard and smoked against the stoop rail. The other had an upturned nose, like a snout, and eyes that didn’t blink. Winslow stepped down by Ham. The pig man balled a fist. Winslow instinctively tightened. The punch cracked like a dry branch, and the man ran in circles with his wrist between his thighs, dropped to the dirt like an animal shot. Ham hugged Winslow’s neck. ‘Told you my boy’s a rock,’ he cackled into the night. ‘A goddamn human rock.’”
Just 207 pages. $10.95 at Amazon
PICK #2: “Full Dark, No Stars” by Stephen King
Yes, THAT Stephen King. You know, we haven’t done any of the horror genre, and these are less of the supernatural, UFO-type King fiction, and more of the dark, human tales. He’s a good writer, even though I think he’s a bit of a mainstream biotch. Some praise: “Full Dark, No Stars is an extraordinary collection, thrillingly merciless, and a career high point.” —The Telegraph (UK). “The man ain’t whistlin’ Dixie. Returning to the novella—possibly his brightest canvas—King provides four raw looks at the limits of greed, revenge, and self-deception.” -Daniel Kraus.
An excerpt: “She marched across the yard, raising dust with her dainty town shoes, went into the house, and slammed the door. Henry turned to look at me. There was blood at the corner of his mouth and his lower lip was swelling. The rage in his eyes was of the raw, pure sort that only adolescents can feel. It is rage that doesn’t count the cost. He nodded his head. I nodded back, just as gravely, but inside the Conniving Man was grinning. That slap was her death-warrant.”
576 pages (that typically turn quickly), $9.99 on Amazon
PICK #3: “Mothers and Sons” by Colm Toibin
No fantastic trickery with language here–just really good storytelling. Toibin is an Irish author of several award-winning novels, and this collection of nine stories is intelligent and satisfying. Some praise: “These nine tales read like miniature novels; they are so assuredly paced and plangent in tone that it is no exaggeration to compare them to Joyce’s classic Dubliners.” – John Freeman. “Everything we’ve come to expect of Toibin: chilled, sharp prose revealing complex, contradictory feelings, and an equally acute eye for the way character and environment trigger action … A beautiful, seamless, affecting piece of writing.” -The Seattle Times.
An excerpt from the story about an everyday thief who stole a collection of art including a Rembrandt: “Everyone in the dormitory remained still; no one made a sound. It did not stop. Finally, when the two boys opened the door and tried to make their way to their beds in the darkness, the silence became even more intense. As they lay in bed crying and sobbing, the other boys did not make a sound. He wished he knew the names of the boys who had been punished and wondered if he would know them in the morning, if they would look different because of what had happened.”
Just $288 pages, $11.70 at Amazon
