The Half-Mammals of Dixie by George Singleton
I can’t do it! I’ve tried, I really have. But this book is unfinishable.
I’m only 80ish pages away from finishing it, but I have no desire to do so. The Half-Mammals of Dixie is a collection of short stories that take place in or around the town of Fourty-Five, South Carolina. George Singleton was recommended to me by a teacher after I told him that I was a big fan of George Saunders. While Saunders offers up social satire, Singleton offers irrelivant short stories of people. What holds this book back is that it is a collection of short stories. The characters in it are interesting but can never be fully developed because they end after a couple pages. Maybe I would enjoy one of his novels. But after this book I don’t think I’ll be looking in to his books again any time soon.
You could also see what people who managed to finish the book have to say about it though:
October 25th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I never like short story collections for just that reason. As soon as I start liking a character they're cut off and I have to start all over with someone new. Why not just develop your characters and give me a fully formed book?
October 25th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I tend to like short story collections. Since they are short they have to cut out all the filler and get right to the point.
October 26th, 2008 at 5:25 am
I never like short story collections for just that reason. As soon as I start liking a character they're cut off and I have to start all over with someone new. Why not just develop your characters and give me a fully formed book?
October 26th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I tend to like short story collections. Since they are short they have to cut out all the filler and get right to the point.