Not So Perfect, But Close Enough

I am rather fond of the short short story. As I get older I seem to prefer the shorter form of everything. Short novels (two of my top ten books of last year barely scraped 100 pages), haiku and other tiny poems, and stories of just a few hundred words. Or even less.

A writer who can convey what they need to in a handful of words rather than a vast novel is OK in my book.

For some superb examples of the short short story I would recommend Anthropology by Dan Rhodes (101 stories of 101 words) and The Dog of the Marriage by Amy Hempel (seemingly whole novels distilled into a page or two).

And I can now add to that list Not So Perfect by Nik Perring. The stories collected in this dinky, CD-size volume are by turns funny, moving, clever, surreal and incredibly powerful.

A schoolboy who finds himself walking home with a live grenade; a young wife who keeps vomiting up small mammals; love at first sight on the supermarket checkout; the house covered in post-it notes; a man who discovers old women birdwatching in his garden.

I was reminded of Rhodes and Hempel while reading these stories, which are easily their equal, as well as occasional glimpses of Murakami, but I mostly kept thinking back to Sarah Salway. Salway is probably the best short story writer in the UK at the moment and she had better watch out because Perring is (albeit very politely, I am sure) on her tail.

Not So Perfect by Nik Perring is a bit special. It is published by Roast Books who are a small independent so I wouldn't be surprised if you struggle to find it in the high street chains. Try online or your local indie bookshop instead.

Nik will be a guest blogger here tomorrow so do please pop back. I have set him the challenge of summing up each story in the collection in six words or less/fewer*.

Delete as grammatically applicable.

Comments

[DJ Kirkby]

I'm looking forward to reading my copy of this book and to reading Nik's post tomorrow. That's quite a challenge you've set him...

[Steph]

I can't wait to read it. I am getting it on Thu at Nik's evening (the Simply Books one). And it's funny that you mention how good 'short' is. I threw an emotional fit with my publisher at the end of last year when I saw the first proofs of my book clocking up at 80 pages. It was an IS THIS IT?!?! moment. I even stomped my feet for a foreword and an introduction and some other crap to add at the beginning and the end. I am so glad more people are professing their love for short stuff because I think that most authors really sweat over length (or lack thereof).

[Stephanie]

I love this book. Utterly. It's living in my handbag because I can't yet bear to put it on my shelves.

[Kelly]

I too am a fan of this. I think the simplicity of language (by which I mean simple in a clever way...) coupled with the complex, imaginitive themes really works. This is what reminds me of Murakami...and yes a fair bit of Aimee Bender too (which I know Nik will be delighted by).

I am only just coming round to the power of short stories and this has been my favourite collection so far.

Great review.

Kelly

[Rachel]

Funnily enough, I had to issue a plea on Twitter over the weekend about Amy Hempel's The Dog of the Marriage. I'd had it bookmarked to buy in paperback but then lost it, and couldn't remember what it was called. Had to trawl two and a half years worth of Guardian reviews with 'dog' in them to re-find it... I should have just waited.

[Nik Perring]

Thanks everyone!