Whew. Love.

One thing about these short stories, (eighteen of them) and, a reader might not be aware of this unless they write, but I thought they were written almost like character studies. Each story took off from the first sentence, and then I just sort of hung on for the ride.

While the common thread throughout pinpoints people who are at rock bottom - and if possible - may have sunk even lower - I couldn't help but see each of them, and feel empathy to some degree as they struggled through their decrepit lives. This batch of human misfits were all card carrying members of The Losers Club. At times they were pitiably funny, downright disgusting, or so inept at making a total mess of their relationships, you might wonder how can anyone get into such situations, or act in such a manner, yet, they will also appear as all too familiar. Maybe you'll find yourself recognizing that one family member, friend, or acquaintance, who just can't seem to get their act together no matter what. I was in these scenes with each character, experiencing what they were experiencing, much to my dismay at times. (yuck)

That's what made each of these tiny tales of turpitude so doggone addicting.

Highly entertaining, highly recommend - but not for the faint of heart or the squeamish.

( )

This was a great first novel by Mr. Pollock. If you like the transgressive genre, you will definitely want to pick this up. The method that he joins the townsfolk stories together through time is brilliantly done. The small town of Knockemstiff is a really crappy place! ( )

If possible, I'd give this book ten stars. Five for brilliant writing and storytelling and five for gut-wrenching, head-spinning, brain-exploding imagery. Lord have mercy..... ( )

Little podunk town
chock-full of nasty people
ugly, but sincere. ( )

I've read some crazy, outsider, efftup fiction before, but this was some next-level shizzle. Poverty, despair, drugs, violence, incest, bigotry, drugs again, drive-ins, infidelity, murder and a lot more drugs. And it's funny. Dark, mean, bleak and funny. These connected short stories are not for everyone, but I ate them up like diner pie with extra cream. ( )