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Between Wrecks
There’s a place just down the way where a trip to the salvage yard reveals infidelity and theft. There’s another where an unlicensed entomologist celebrates his freedom with a compulsive liar while a manhunt ensues on the streets outside. Places where a con man and his nephew sell stolen parachutes to veterans in case the ground beneath them should suddenly give way and where Chuck Norris’s face graces only the walls of the finest trailers. A place where tongues get left in rental cars and a place where everyone insists an absolute stranger is your boyhood friend.
Between Wrecks takes readers on a raucous bar crawl through an America both startlingly familiar and hilariously absurd, examining paranoia, fear, relentless “truths,” longstanding personal habits gone awry, and what it means to look toward a horizon that may or may not be a mirage.
George Singleton is the author of two novels and five short story collections, including Stray Decorum. A 2013 SIBA Book Award finalist, his work has appeared in Atlantic Monthly, Harper's Magazine, and Playboy. A former Guggenheim Fellow, he was awarded the Hillsdale Award for Fiction by the Fellowship of Southern Writers in 2011. He holds an MFA degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and currently teaches writing at South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. He lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Between Wrecks takes readers on a raucous bar crawl through an America both startlingly familiar and hilariously absurd, examining paranoia, fear, relentless “truths,” longstanding personal habits gone awry, and what it means to look toward a horizon that may or may not be a mirage.
George Singleton is the author of two novels and five short story collections, including Stray Decorum. A 2013 SIBA Book Award finalist, his work has appeared in Atlantic Monthly, Harper's Magazine, and Playboy. A former Guggenheim Fellow, he was awarded the Hillsdale Award for Fiction by the Fellowship of Southern Writers in 2011. He holds an MFA degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and currently teaches writing at South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. He lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
- GenresShort StoriesSouthern
300 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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211 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 25, 2015
It seems that many readers have enjoyed the last story in the group -- "I Would Be Remiss." Actually, that was the one that fell a little flat for me. The stories that preceded it were fascinating, quirky, and funny. I've never been a great fan of the beating-a-dead-horse style of humor, and "I Would Be Remiss" just carried on for way too long -- despite some hilarious details, it was a tedious slog that left a sour taste in my mouth. At any rate, the rest of the book was quite enjoyable. I plan to further explore Mr. Singleton's other work in the future.
May 13, 2014
This is a fabulous collection of Southern humor essays. I laughed through most of it, but especially I Would Be Remiss. I think it helps that I met George Singleton in January, so picture a middle-aged gentleman from South Carolina offering you some bourbon from inside his jacket as you're reading this. It keeps it all in perspective.
May 29, 2014
I'm making the rare exception here and stopping at only 33%. I thought from the blurb that I would love this, but I was wrong. I slogged through a few of the stories hoping to find a gem, but eventually I gave up. I didn't find the promised wit or humor, but my tastes seem to be vastly different from those of this author.
February 27, 2019
A great collection of stories where character is everything, and plot, if it exists, takes a back seat in one of those huge Plymouths. Almost like a transcript of an ancient culture with an oral storytelling tradition, the South is brought alive colourfully and mendaciously. I loved the humour and I love the trivial tone throughout.
I probably could have done without the novella-length story that ended the collection. I like repetition for humorous effect as much as the next man, but holy shit this dragged.
But overall, a great collection that will appeal to many readers who love left-field, transgressive characters and comedic writing.
I probably could have done without the novella-length story that ended the collection. I like repetition for humorous effect as much as the next man, but holy shit this dragged.
But overall, a great collection that will appeal to many readers who love left-field, transgressive characters and comedic writing.
June 30, 2017
I laughed out loud throughout the First 2 stories, but the rest just didn't appeal to me. I gave up during "I Would Be Remiss".
February 1, 2018
Almost finished it but found it not going anywhere but in a circle of words.
July 28, 2014
Before you read my review, put on the playlist based on these stories as posted by Large Hearted Boy on his blog.
I received a review copy of this from NetGalley, and I kind of feel guilty about it. At this point I've met George twice and I've purchased two of his books, but I had yet to sit down and read anything. I suppose getting a review copy forced my hand and now I can't believe I waited so long. George is very funny in person, but a type of funny that doesn't make everyone comfortable. I hear all of these read in his dry, sarcastic tone and that makes them more funny.
George captures southern life very well in his stories. It is hard to tell how fictional these are, because if you have lived for any time in the south, you can picture these people and situations as only slight exaggerations on the truth. I also suspect that Mr. Singleton has pursued a low-residency master's degree program in southern culture studies, as that gets mentioned a lot.
George Singleton does not write novels, or at least he would beg you not to read the few he has published. His best work is found in his stories, and if you haven't read any, you are missing one of the best living voices of the south.
A few additional thoughts on some of the stories, or little bits I liked, most of the time because I was laughing:
No Shade Ever
"Normally I would know what to say to a man who liked to be called Freebird. I'd lost my touch."
"It's true that I have a phonographic memory."
"Because I'd not lived long enough with car cigarette lighters in my possession, I didn't connect the sound with that of lighters being thrown hard and ricocehting off of Bobby Suddeth's forehead, the cash register, windows.
Traditional Development - This was also in the Summer 2014 issue of the Oxford American.
...
Bait
"For most of that particular summer, those three guys talked about neighborhood cats."
This story has a great ending, but I won't put it here.
Tongue
This little observation was perfect because I was in the airport on the way to visit my parents and their opposite viewpoints:
"Here's what I've learned about people who give visiting relatives books: They want the receivers to change their ways. These books are almost nonfiction, and they're either written by left-wing politicians or right-wing radio commentators.... I save up all my books and donate them to the literacy society once a year."
Ha. Plus our local literacy society has an amazing book sale. Good call.
...
I Would Be Remiss - This very long list of acknowledgements is probably the best window into Singleton's tone and writing, as different as it is. It is long enough to pull the reader through exasperation and marvel.
I received a review copy of this from NetGalley, and I kind of feel guilty about it. At this point I've met George twice and I've purchased two of his books, but I had yet to sit down and read anything. I suppose getting a review copy forced my hand and now I can't believe I waited so long. George is very funny in person, but a type of funny that doesn't make everyone comfortable. I hear all of these read in his dry, sarcastic tone and that makes them more funny.
George captures southern life very well in his stories. It is hard to tell how fictional these are, because if you have lived for any time in the south, you can picture these people and situations as only slight exaggerations on the truth. I also suspect that Mr. Singleton has pursued a low-residency master's degree program in southern culture studies, as that gets mentioned a lot.
George Singleton does not write novels, or at least he would beg you not to read the few he has published. His best work is found in his stories, and if you haven't read any, you are missing one of the best living voices of the south.
A few additional thoughts on some of the stories, or little bits I liked, most of the time because I was laughing:
No Shade Ever
"Normally I would know what to say to a man who liked to be called Freebird. I'd lost my touch."
"It's true that I have a phonographic memory."
"Because I'd not lived long enough with car cigarette lighters in my possession, I didn't connect the sound with that of lighters being thrown hard and ricocehting off of Bobby Suddeth's forehead, the cash register, windows.
Traditional Development - This was also in the Summer 2014 issue of the Oxford American.
...
Bait
"For most of that particular summer, those three guys talked about neighborhood cats."
This story has a great ending, but I won't put it here.
Tongue
This little observation was perfect because I was in the airport on the way to visit my parents and their opposite viewpoints:
"Here's what I've learned about people who give visiting relatives books: They want the receivers to change their ways. These books are almost nonfiction, and they're either written by left-wing politicians or right-wing radio commentators.... I save up all my books and donate them to the literacy society once a year."
Ha. Plus our local literacy society has an amazing book sale. Good call.
...
I Would Be Remiss - This very long list of acknowledgements is probably the best window into Singleton's tone and writing, as different as it is. It is long enough to pull the reader through exasperation and marvel.
August 11, 2014
This selection of stories by Singleton was fairly entertaining although it was somewhat repetitive in theme and style, these stories would probably be more entertaining taken singularly then in a package, Singleton is humorous but he is not Sam Lipsyte and not Barry Hannah no reason to take that as overly critical response but probably explains the three stars
March 20, 2016
This is a solid, enjoyable, and at times laugh-out-loud-able collection of short stories....almost.
The last--and wouldn't you know it, the longest--story is stupid--and not in a good way, more in a what-the-frick-is-this-doing-here sort of way. Supposedly the acknowledgements, this mess was so tedious and silly that I am deducting an entire star from my rating just because of it.
The last--and wouldn't you know it, the longest--story is stupid--and not in a good way, more in a what-the-frick-is-this-doing-here sort of way. Supposedly the acknowledgements, this mess was so tedious and silly that I am deducting an entire star from my rating just because of it.
December 1, 2016
Read a story by him in 'One Story' and it was great. Thought t I'd explore him a little more. Big mistake - rambling, with cliches galore. Had to quit at 1/4 of the way thru, which really goes against my reading habits.
June 2, 2014
I think George Singleton and I have the exact same sense of humor. Also, this deserved a better cover.
May 31, 2014
George Singleton never fails me. "I Would Be Remiss", the last and longer story in this collection allowed me to laugh just that much longer. Well done!
May 8, 2016
There did not seem to be a connection between the stories. The last one was a spoof on acknowledgements but it was about 80 pages long.
July 7, 2014
Without question his best collection since Half Mammals of Dixie.
September 7, 2014
Hilarious collection of (mostly) related southern stories
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews