Scan barcode
soupgirl9's review against another edition
1.0
yall im so sorry but this book was so damn boring. if I wanted to hear about southern folk's marriage problems id go talk to my neighbors
stephen_coulon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A collection of short stories, all bleak southern grotesques, by Tennessee author William Gay. Gay exhibits an exacting style at the sentence level that sharply outlines the symbolic effect his vulgarly organic southern settings have on characterization and themes. You can smell these stories: sweat, grime, gasoline, barnyards, and nursing homes. His thematics commiserate the grim realities of poverty, ignorance, and aging, especially for society’s helpless. A forbidding sense of fate hangs over every tale. The characters are interesting but certainly not likable; some are outright repugnant, but all elicit at least some empathy under Gay’s hand. The author isn’t a misanthrope, but a realist, a naturalist in Thomas Hardy’s tradition. The best story in the collection is The Paperhanger, first published in 1999. It’s a truly haunting modern southern gothic with an ending that will punch your gut. It’s worth checking out the collection for that story alone.
ryantlabee's review
5.0
What a beautiful, heartbreakingly wonderful collection. I was reading this one slow, savoring each story because they are just that good. William Gay may have just skyrocketed into the top slot of my favorite authors of all time.
toddbert's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
brandonadaniels's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not big on short stories, but William Gay’s prose kept me interested. I listened to this, and I was paying more attention to the prose than the stories themselves. I could tell that some characters appear in multiple stories (at least Bone Daddy), but beyond that, some stories echo others. The first and last stories were my favorite.
the_enobee's review against another edition
5.0
Anyone looking for a doorway to the works of William Gay need look no further. I first read this collection 2 years ago, and the stories and characters have stayed with me. Recently read it again and was just as impressed the second time around. If you've never read William Gay, read this collection and become hooked on an excellent author. RIP WG
mmmelissa1606's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
rocketiza's review against another edition
4.0
Started out a little slow, but the last few stories were masterfully done.
nickel_is_neat's review against another edition
3.0
Some stories were great. Others might have been more appealing to me if I read them alone and not part of a collection of stories where I am anticipating who dies.