Stories V! Paperback – March 29, 2011

I love the sense of magic I get when I read McClanahan's prose. I don't mean magic as in magical happenings, but something more like a sense of wonder that is often blended with sadness and tenderness. I'm probably just babbling, but it's what I think. In any event, these are some great stories.

Scott McClanahan--with an economy of words rarely utilize by younger authors--has produced a great little collection of stories. These short passages all feel honest even when unlikely (sometimes surreal) events are being presented. McClahan makes excellent use of surreal devices and an enviable level verisimilitude--often in the same story.This is the first of McClanahan's work that I have read, and I did so because of the low price (free to borrow from Prime members and very cheap to buy for Kindle) of this collection and his upcoming appearance at Literary Death Match in Washington, DC. I will definitely be back for more. Fiction authors who produce literary work that is so relatable and so rooted in the less explored corners of society (the working class, decidedly not urbane) are hard to come by. I would compare McClanahan to Steve Almond, but there are sadly few well known authors to compare him with. McClanahan's alter ego could have embraced and reveled in the rough edges of society like Bukowski, but his character's softer edges give us a protagonist that is original and easier to relate to and root for, even when he's stealing a dirt bike. The only drawback is how quickly this collection reads, leaving you wanting more confessions, more weird tales of Rainelle, West Virginia and Razy's brood.I look forward to seeing McClanahan's self deprecating wit and penchant for truth and confession on display in person and reading his other collections in the very near future.

scott mcclanahan's writing reminds me of the late great larry brown's short stories. if you liked 'big bad love' or 'facing the music' then you'll probably like this book as well. every one of the stories in 'Stories V' is a dark, funny, blue collar masterpiece.. i can't recommend this book highly enough. i wish he'd release his early stories in kindle format so i could read those as well. thanks for writing, scott. "the world needs stories." tobias wolff wrote that.

I did not want to let myself read this book too fast because it was so funny. I only let myself read one chapter a night until I was done. I do not remember the last time I did not just try to read a book as quickly as possible so I could move on to the next one.

Keeps you turning the page!This book matches the attention span of our time period. There all stories you can relate to and leaves you in a stimulated state thinking about life.Haven't had a book like this in a while. I was so stoked on it I passed it on to another kid on campus!

This a collection of fine stories, mostly funny, some more serious. I especially liked the one concerning college terrorists and the one about the tomcat. Scott McClanahan displays a real feel for his region--West Virginia. His sense of humor is boundless, and he has a deft touch at character building. What dialogue is here tends to be spot-on. Humor seems to be is specialty.

You just can't go wrong with Scott McClanahan. He'll make you laugh, cringe, and then break your heart all at once. So, so good!

confused by the cover, but seriously good stories, and recommend watching video of Scott McClanahan reading, if you can't get to them in person