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T. Coraghessan Boyle

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If the River Was Whiskey: Stories (Contemporary American Fiction) Kindle Edition

by T.C. Boyle (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.3 38 ratings

Part of: Contemporary American Fiction (14 books)

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In sixteen stories, T.C. Boyle tears through the walls of contemporary society to reveal a world at once comic and tragic, droll and horrific. Boyle introduces us to a death-defying stuntman who rides across the country strapped to the axle of a Peterbilt, and to a retired primatologist who can’t adjust to the “civilized” world. He chronicles the state of romance that requires full-body protection in a disease-conscious age and depicts with aching tenderness the relationship between a young boy and his alcoholic father. These magical and provocative stories mark yet another virtuoso performance from one of America’s most supple and electric literary inventors.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 16 short stories, the author filters a diverse cast of characters through his witty, relentless narrative voice. Notwithstanding a few throwaway tales, "the pleasure of pure storytelling makes Boyle's new collection of fiction a joy to read," opined PW .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Boyle has won praise for his novels, particularly the exuberant Water Music ( LJ 11/15/81), but his stories show him at his versatile best. This third collection ranges widely, from the gently humorous "Sorry Fugu," about a restaurateur's encounter with a food critic, to the horrific "King Bee," a portrait of a spiritual changeling. The only disappointing element is Boyle's frequent disdain for his characters; thus "The Devil and Irv Cherniske" is no more than a sour variation on a tired theme. But then along comes the deeply felt title story, about an alcoholic father and his failed relationship with his son, and all doubt vanishes. For any collection where stories are read.
- Grove Koger, Boise P.L., Id.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AFZ3NRC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (May 1, 1990)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 1, 1990
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 496 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 231 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #854,279 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #542 in Literary Satire Fiction
- #949 in Literary Short Stories
- #3,283 in Romance Literary Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4.3 38 ratings

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T. Coraghessan Boyle

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T. C. Boyle is the author of eleven novels, including World's End (winner of the PEN/FaulknerAward), Drop City (a New York Times bestseller and finalist for the National Book Award), and The Inner Circle. His most recent story collections are Tooth and Claw and The Human Fly and Other Stories.

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4.3 out of 5

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E. Bradbury

Don't hesitate to get this book

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

T.C. Boyle is simply a absolutely must read for lovers of fiction and short stories. Or even if you don't think you like fiction - you will like T.C. Boyle.

3 people found this helpful

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Stephen tucker

Realistic...sorry not warm and fuzzy😎

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed reading this book. Going in to reading stories by Tc Boyle previously I had total understanding that he is a writer who tends to lean towards the darker side of life and is a realist who portrays the world 🌎 as it is even if you don't get a warm and fuzzy after reading on of his beautifully written and descriptive stories/ books.

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2001

This is a nice book with good stories, but I surely won't read it again. It lacks the "depth" that makes you come back to a book you read years before.

2 people found this helpful

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Bonnie Brody

Boyle's Book Boils With Greatness

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2009

Most of these stories are incredibly well-written. The contents are bizarre - - ordinary people caught in their obsessive ambitions - - and the reader looks on with wide eyes at the fiercely funny and tragic lives of the misguided protagonists.

'Sorry Figu' is great. It's about a great chef at the mercy of a cruel, mean-spirited restaurant reviewer.

'Modern Love' is one of my all-time favorite short stories. A woman, obsessed with dirt and germs requires that her lovers wear a a full body condom.

'Peace of Mind' is a wonderful story about a woman who sells alarm systems to upper class folks to ward off intruders. She tells them tales of mayhem that could have been prevented if the household had only had an alarm. The ensuing events are tragic, yet incongruently funny.

'Sinking House' is about an old woman who runs water from ever faucet to flood her house and wash away the memories of her evil husband. Unfortunately, she's started to wash away and sink her neighbor's house along with her own.

'The Human Fly' is about a homeless n'eer-do-well who seeks fame and fortune by becoming the Evel Kneivel of the air - - the human fly. This story examines the atrocities to which we are willing to subject ourselves for a few moments of attention and to feed our own pride.

'The Ape Lady in Retirement' is about a retired anthropologist who is discovered by a young student. The anthropologist returns to her profession for a short while only to be done in by an ape while the idiotic student looks on.

These are some of the wondrous types of stories you'll find in this fabulous collection. I recommend you buy this book and read all the stories, many of which I have not even mentioned.

5 people found this helpful

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BlairBabylon

If the river was whisky -- let me drown!

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2006

Boyle is one of the best short story writers around today. His short stories are enjoyable and varied. This compilation of short stories contains some of the most perfect gems that I've ever read. First published in 1989, none of these stories feel dated. They could easily have been published last year.

So, they're good. They're really good. What's more, this is a great compilation to read if you're trying to write short stories. Many of them, especially the shorter ones like "Sorry Fugu" and "Hard Sell," have similar structure that worthwhile to consider when writing your own short fiction. I'm not suggesting that these are formulaic, anything but. However, if you read several of them, preferably in a row, you get a feel for Boyle's construction, which is that there is a situation with an antagonist, the POV character makes a decision to outflank the antagonist, and then a suggestion of what the outcome of that situation will be.

Stories in this compilation:

Sorry Fugu
Modern Love
Hard Sell
Peace of Mind
Sinking House
The Human Fly
The Hat
Me Cago en la Leche (Robert Jordan in Nicaragua)
The Little Chill
King Bee
Thawing Out
The Devil and Irv Cherniske
The Miracle at Ballinspittle
Zapatos
The Ape Lady in Retirement
If the River Was Whisky

TK Kenyon
Author of Rabid: A Novel and Callous : A Novel

5 people found this helpful

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MJS

Sparkling as the day written

Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2008

Written almost 20 years ago, these stories are still sparkling and fresh. Some of the plots are preposterous, but make you a believer. The human fly ties himself to airplane wings and the undercarriages of semis. The ape lady retires to Connecticut with an unruly chimp. Irv Cherniske meets the devil in the woods behind his house. A widow celebrates her overbearing husband's death by flooding her house.

All of the stories are vigorous and imaginative. And Boyle's prose is crisp and apt. "Sorry Fugu" is flawless in its choreography. What a great mini-play or film it would make.

Not a dud in the lot, though The Little Chill left me cool. It's evident that these are earlier stories than those in Tooth and Claw, but only because the youthful point of view shows through; certainly his writing talent was blazing even back in 1989.

5 people found this helpful

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Adam Roberts

As a matter of justice, I must review...

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2001

...I don't have time to write much here, but the average customer rating is WAY too low for this great book of short stories. In fact, I'm here right now buying it for a friend. T.C. Boyle has such a unique perspective on the world, and I read this book 3 years ago and I still remember many of the stories like I just read them yesterday. Particularly "Sorry Fugu," the unforgettable opening story about a chef and his critic coming together through food. I'll also never forget the story about the adopted kid obsessed with bees. That one will freak you out. Ok, well sorry for not being eloquent here but this is a great book...

14 people found this helpful

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Darrel Drumm

Just plain depressing.

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2009

I suppose many people will like this book of short stories. The writing was good, but the stories were depressing. I suppose life can be like that sometimes, but not always.

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