From the author of the award-winning novel Buffalo Lockjaw comes a powerful collection of darkly humorous short stories. A young girl uses a burnt log for her ventriloquist act; Franz Kafka and an unnamed narrator cruise a dive bar for women; a grieving couple stage and execute their own funeral; a son brings hot chowder to his caged parents. This stunning collection—packed with moments of violence and tenderness—explores the humor and unease of modern life. Since he first began publishing his fiction, Greg Ames has been praised for his willingness to take risks and the strength and freshness of his voice. Assembled here for the first time, this collection brings together the best work from a brilliant American writer, a playful and innovative artist. In these twenty original short stories, Greg Ames earns his place as one of the best writers of his generation. In the tradition of Etgar Keret, Greg Ames’ prose style ties together the absurd hilarity and deep anguish of contemporary life. These wildly inventive stories will appeal to readers who thirst for a unique, deeply humane voice.
About the Author
Greg Ames's debut novel, Buffalo Lockjaw, won the Book of the Year Award from the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA). His work has appeared in the Best American Nonrequired Reading, Southern Review, McSweeney's, Catapult, and The Sun, among others. He splits his time between Brooklyn, New York, and Hamilton, New York, where he is an associate professor of English at Colgate University. He can be found at www.gregames.com.
Praise For…
Praise for Funeral Platter
"In his acclaimed debut novel, Buffalo Lockjaw, Ames explored the tension surrounding assisted suicide with droll irreverence. With the same wickedly absurd lens, his first story collection finds humanity in the darkest and most unexpected places. His is a world filled with precocious but deluded youth; passionate but aimless, sometimes scheming lovers; historical figures misplaced in time; and innocent strivers. . . . Ames’ characters are at once vile and charming; together, their stories humorously capture the angst-ridden, tentative business of connecting with others.” --Booklist
"Darkly funny stories [that cover] the absurdities of modern life--and death."--Buzzfeed
