Letting Loose the Hounds: Stories
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Book Overview
Set in the small towns of Utah and Arizona, most of these stories deal with letting loose--or wanting to--in all its forms. For the family hero in "Buckeye the Elder," this means reverting to a more raucous past. In the title story, under a galaxy-filled sky, there is the eerie thrill of possible revenge. Ansie, in "The Opposite of Loneliness," risks joining a distinctly eccentric family unit despite five failed marriages (her "Purple Hearts"). The young men of "Vernon," home to 800 souls, dream of leaving but settle for the macho euphoria that comes from making loud noises and destroying things. And in "Junk Court," a handyman, not so handy with love, finds himself considering some breakout decisions. These are sad/sweet stories, moving from the familiar to surprising destinations. But even when disaster looms, Brady Udall's fine comic sense keeps bubbling up, sustaining his men and women in their sometimes extravagant efforts to connect and cope. Plunged in the moment, these stories have velocity; they spray gravel as they take off.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:039304033X
ISBN13:9780393040333
Release Date:January 1997
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
Length:224 Pages
Weight:0.96 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 6.1" x 8.7"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
how short stories are worth as many novels
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
Usually I don't like very much short stories. But this book has something new in it: each story is what is called in French a "slice of life" :) B Udall sends us in the very core of an ordinary life, in which appear both the uniqueness of our own small lifes and an immense tenderness for the human struggle for finding a meaning to them. Stories are of Southern ordinary Americans, with their own small dramas, loves, fears and hopes. Progressively the reader ends deeply "attached" to the life of each of the character, and understands what keeps them together in a single book, which appears in the end as a great novel. Udall is young and could become one of the outsanding writers of these times. So much talent so young, and a creation made up with ordinary things the kind of which everyone sees everyday. You'll be jealous...
Letting Loose the Hounds
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
The only problem with Brady Udall's stories is that he hasn't written more of them. Hurry up, Udall, will ya?
Couldn't put it down!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
This book is a collection of touching, amusing and extremely insightful life experiences. The author has a soulful, optomistic outlook tempered by stark reality. Hope there will be many more to follow!
Gritty, true wit
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
One of the best story collections I've read. All the pieces fit--though some of them have been scattered quite far, Udall has confidently traipsed out to the edges and brought them back.
read this book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
The best book of short stories I have ever read. If you like Thom Jones, Denis Johnson or T.C. Boyle, then give this book a shot.
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