Three Short Stories

Title:  Stay Up With Me

Author:  Tom Barbash

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Stay Up With Me, 2013

Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  Book

(ss) Yearly Count:  50

I liked the writing, but didn't feel like the story went anywhere.

Title:  Puppy : The New Yorker eMagazine

Author:  George Saunders

Genre:  Short Story

Published:  The New Yorker, 2007

Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  eStory

(ss) Yearly Count:  51

A family is out looking to buy a new puppy.  This was interesting at first, but turned weird.  It didn't leave me with good feelings.

Title:  Adams : The New Yorker eMagazine

Author:  George Saunders

Genre:  Short Story

Published:  The New Yorker, 2004  

Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  eStory

(ss) Yearly Count:  52

A neighbor comes into the house and stands in their kitchen facing the children's rooms.  Another weird story that left me feeling ick.

THE POLKA DOT DRESS (4 of 21)

Author: Warren Adler

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: New York Echoes 2, 2011

Personal Rating: 3/5 (just okay)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count:  18

A man walks through Central Park daydreaming about a girl in a polka dot dress.

There was nothing really interesting here, just a walk through the park with a writer's thoughts.

BAD PATCH (3 of 21)

Author: Warren Adler

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: New York Echoes 2, 2011

Personal Rating: 3/5 (just okay)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count:  17

An older man reflects on his "bad patch" and discovers it's time to let it go.

Another short story that kept my attention, but didn't cause me to reflect or have any real thoughts on the subject.

THEY ALWAYS HELD HANDS (2 of 21)

Author: Warren Adler

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: New York Echoes 2, 2011

Personal Rating: 3/5 (just okay)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count:  16

The last surviving parent has passed away and the two adult children reminisce about their lives.

This one had a surprise ending, but I didn't necessarily care for it. I did enjoy the author's style, though.

THEIR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT (1 of 21)

Author: Warren Adler

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: New York Echoes 2, 2011

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count:  15

A husband is throwing a surprise birthday party for his wife, and their son is having a difficult time understanding either of them.

This was my first introduction to Adler's work. I found it to be an easy flowing read and one that made me curious as to how it was going to end.

UGLY TO START WITH

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

Format: eBook

Yearly Count:  16

From Goodreads:

Jason Stevens is growing up in picturesque, historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia in the 1970s. Back when the roads are smaller, the cars slower, the people more colorful, and Washington, D.C. is way across the mountains—a winding sixty-five miles away.

Jason dreams of going to art school in the city, but he must first survive his teenage years. He witnesses a street artist from Italy charm his mother from the backseat of the family car. He stands up to an abusive husband—and then feels sorry for the jerk. He puts up with his father’s hard-skulled backwoods ways, his grandfather’s showy younger wife, and the fist-throwing schoolmates and eccentric mountain characters that make up Harpers Ferry—all topped off by a basement art project with a girl from the poor side of town.

Ugly to Start With punctuates the exuberant highs, bewildering midpoints, and painful lows of growing up, and affirms that adolescent dreams and desires are often fulfilled in surprising ways.

This was a difficult collection to read.  It was filled with heartache after heartache, and it hurt to watch a childhood blowing in the wind being whipped around in a tornado.  I suppose the author's ability to bring Jason alive to me is to be praised; however, I wish there were some good moments shared as well.  Maybe there were some for Jason, but as a parent -- it was all bad.  It definitely made me think, and I always wanted to get back to reading more about him.  Again, kudos to Mr. Cummings.  He's a fine, vivid writer.  I would not hesitate to read more of his work, IF it were not so gloomy.

The following titles are listed in the order in which I read them.  In other words, out of order.  It worked out for me, but they should be read in order to avoid spoilers.


The World Around Us


Ugly to Start With


Mountain Wake


The Wallet


Rusty Clackford


The Fence


John Brown the Quaker


Two Tunes


We Never Liked Them Anyway


Carter


Indians and Teddy Bears Were Here First


The Scratchboard Project


Generations   




My thanks go to the author, John Michael Cummings, for sending me the PDF file of this collection for reviewing.

GENERATIONS (13 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 13

Jason's father takes him on a road trip.

The dysfunction of this family never ceases, and that is so very disappointing. I am choosing to look at the last of these connected stories as if there is a glimmer of hope for Jason. Otherwise, I would be extremely annoyed.

THE SCRATCHBOARD PROJECT (12 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 12

A school art project lands Jason in a neighboring black community.

This story opened the doors of another poor family. And, oddly enough, there were some bits and pieces (mainly the mention of clothing, hair and the general attitude) that I could relate to due to the fact that I work with many poor students. I enjoyed the descriptions and process of Jason's drawings.

INDIANS AND TEDDY BEARS WERE HERE FIRST (11 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3/5 (just okay)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count:  11

Jason seeks out attention from his granddad that he hasn't seen in over a year.

Obviously, I decided to finish the collection. I'm still angry about the previous story and hate that Cummings added it to this book, but I want to still visit with Jason.

Jason's need for approval isn't satisfied with this visit, but options for a better life were brushed upon. 

CARTER (10 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 1/5 (don't bother)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count:  10

Jason is se*ually abused.

I should not have read this story. Absolutely appalling. I'm really angry and don't know if I'm going to finish the book.  

WE NEVER LIKED THEM ANYWAY (9 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3/5 (just okay)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count:  9

Jason and his mom find out some disturbing news about their Superintendent, so Jason tries to find out more information as he hangs out with the Superintendent's sons.

I didn't like this one as much, because I didn't like how Jason acted.  There's really nothing else to say.  

TWO TUNES (8 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 8

Two Rangers make a visit to Jason's home.

Hmmm. Seeing another side of Jason's father was interesting, as was seeing the inside of the house.

JOHN BROWN THE QUAKER (7 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 7

Jason joins his immediate neighbors in a community play that practices in a neighboring home.

Oh my. I felt like I was in the house with this group of people. It, also, brought back a childhood memory of an old, small town we stopped in when visiting relatives in Canada. Cummings is a very descriptive writer, and I love the images he creates in my mind, as well as the emotions.

THE FENCE (6 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 6

Jason wants a break from working on the property, so he asks to go see his friend (girl) that lives nearby.

I've realized that my lack of enthusiasm with these stories has everything to do with my inability to relate to these people. Sometimes, okay - most of the time, I just don't understand their thought process. However, there was an unexpected turn in this story that had me intrigued, and I thought the ending sent quite a message.

RUSTY CLACKFORD (5 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 5

Jason visits Rusty in hopes of selling him a magazine subscription.

This was a peek into the life of a man living in the mountains. A sad and peculiar peek, but a peek nonetheless.

THE WALLET (4 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 4

A friend of Jason's mom is temporarily staying with them due to the friend's violent husband. One morning he comes to the house for a visit.

This short story was very good. It kept me captivated and curious as to how the story would end. I was pleased with the irony.

MOUNTAIN WAKE (3 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 3

Jason and his family go to a wake in a mountain home.

Another not so pleasant topic; however, this time I was able to get a glimpse of Jason's siblings.

UGLY TO START WITH (2 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3/5 (just okay)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 2

Jason and his family adopt a stray cat. Their emotions change as the cat changes.

This story is difficult to comment on because it touches on feelings that made me very uncomfortable. And, just because it makes me feel something, doesn't make it a good read.

THE WORLD AROUND US (1 of 13)

Author: John Michael Cummings

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ugly to Start With, 2011

Personal Rating: 3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 1

Picturesque West Virginia, in the 1970s, is the home of Jason Stevens who has dreams of becoming an artist.  On their way home from town, Jason spots a local artist walking along the road and persuades his mother to stop to give him a ride.  A conversation ensues.

I was drawn into this story immediately.  The language was very real, and I felt like I was there.  The problem was it didn't go anywhere.  It had an ending, but it needed more oomph.  I'm not sure what I was supposed to take away and hope the rest of the stories in this collection of connected stories will fill the void.

ONE NIGHT ONLY (3 of 65)

Author: J. A. Konrath

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: 65 Proof:
An Omnibus Collection, 2011

Personal Rating: 3/5 (just okay)

Format: eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 52

Again, straight from the Funny Stuff section comes this story about a man who is obsessed with watching the basketball playoffs and ends up suffering for it.

After making a vocal sound of disgust, I decided that I really didn't like this story. However, I liked the fact that I was surprised - maybe shocked would be a more fitting adjective.