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Elephant: Short Stories and Flash Fiction
In this debut collection of stories, Jim Breslin explores the soul of suburbia; the disenfranchised and the desperate. The characters in these twenty-one stories struggle to mend relationships and find redemption. A man is tempted by memories when his drunk ex-wife pays a surprise visit. A couple wrestles with their fruitless attempts to have children. An eccentric homeowner issues a series of comical concerns to his lawn care company. A husband tests the reciprocity of his wife’s love only to find himself in the throes of a dangerous free fall. Sometimes funny, often sad, the unsettling stories in Elephant portray the suburban landscape of loneliness and hope.
168 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2011
2 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Jim Breslin
8 books33 followersJim Breslin is a writer and former TV producer who worked at QVC for seventeen years. His first novel, SHOPLANDIA, which draws back the curtain on the working lives of show hosts, producers and crew at a home shopping network, came out in May, 2014. His debut collection, Elephant: Short Stories and Flash Fiction, was published in 2011. Jim's fiction has been published in Turk's Head Review, The Molotov Cocktail, Think Journal and Metazen. Jim's first published pieces were even shorter, his tweets were included in the book, The World According to Twitter, which was edited by NYT columnist David Pogue. Jim is the founder of the West Chester Story Slam and the Delco Story Slam.
He lives in West Chester, PA.
He lives in West Chester, PA.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 6, 2012
Today’s review is brought to you by the letter “S” as in “Short Story!” And…in keeping with the theme of “Short & Sweet” let’s just get right down to business. (Ok, maybe it’s less “theme” related and more “there’s a pizza waiting for me in the other room” related.) Anyways…
“Elephant” by Jim Breslin
In this debut collection of stories, Jim Breslin explores the soul of suburbia; the disenfranchised and the desperate. The characters in these twenty-one stories struggle to mend relationships and find redemption. Sometimes funny, often sad, the unsettling stories in Elephant portray the suburban landscape of loneliness and hope.
A man is tempted by memories of his past life after his drunk ex-wife pays a surprise visit. A couple wrestles with their fruitless attempts to have children. An eccentric homeowner issues a series of comical concerns to his lawn care company. A young woman discovers her boyfriend has placed a Craigslist ad seeking a three-way. A husband tests the reciprocity of his wife’s love only to find himself in the throes of a dangerous free fall.
Short stories, (unlike novels) take a very distinct “brand” (I guess you can say) of author to write them. (The same (if you are curious) can be said for the people who read (and enjoy) them.) Why? Because short stores are written as if strapped to a time bomb. While “novels” are laced with hundreds (if not thousands) of pages filled with adjectives, short stories are chopped, condensed, and (more often than not) offered up on a very blunt serving platter.
Does this mean that cohesion, (and enlightenment) cannot be achieved with so few words? Of course not, if just takes a master of manipulation to do so successfully.
Who here has watched the film “The Adjustment Bureau?” How about “Keith?” Did you know that both of these movies were based on short stories? No? (Yay me for teaching you something today.)
These are just 2 examples of short story brilliance, AND…evidence to the fact that it does not take a million words to tell a good story. It simply takes focus.
This is the problem I had with Mr. Breslin’s stories. No focus. While some of them were good (for example: Elephant, and We’re Not Dog People) others felt like interrupted thoughts. Not all authors are the same (I’m no where near stupid enough to believe this) and each has their own unique writing style, but I think it is very important for authors not to get too wrapped up in their own prosaic thoughts when trying to get a point across. (Hmmm, that sounded a bit harsh. Let me try again.) Though the writing was good, (even impressive in parts) and yes…the stories did indeed make you think, (which I believe to be Breslin’s main initiative in writing them to begin with) overall they were a tad TOO abstract. Which (I’m sorry to say) may actually have an adverse reaction and PUSH “causal readers” away instead of drawing them IN.
If you are going to tell a story, even a short one, you must make sure it is still a story.
Now, before you get your La Perla panties in a wad, let me make one thing very clear. I am NOT opposed to short stories. I am not opposed to literature that evokes reflection, or appreciation of self-worth. What I’m not keen on is the illusion of plots.
So, here is where I stand… I have read better, I have read worse, but if it were up to me… I would fill my lunch hour with something more filling and less fluffy.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Sometimes good things come in small packages and sometimes it’s just a pair of socks from your Aunt Hilda.
“Elephant” by Jim Breslin
In this debut collection of stories, Jim Breslin explores the soul of suburbia; the disenfranchised and the desperate. The characters in these twenty-one stories struggle to mend relationships and find redemption. Sometimes funny, often sad, the unsettling stories in Elephant portray the suburban landscape of loneliness and hope.
A man is tempted by memories of his past life after his drunk ex-wife pays a surprise visit. A couple wrestles with their fruitless attempts to have children. An eccentric homeowner issues a series of comical concerns to his lawn care company. A young woman discovers her boyfriend has placed a Craigslist ad seeking a three-way. A husband tests the reciprocity of his wife’s love only to find himself in the throes of a dangerous free fall.
Short stories, (unlike novels) take a very distinct “brand” (I guess you can say) of author to write them. (The same (if you are curious) can be said for the people who read (and enjoy) them.) Why? Because short stores are written as if strapped to a time bomb. While “novels” are laced with hundreds (if not thousands) of pages filled with adjectives, short stories are chopped, condensed, and (more often than not) offered up on a very blunt serving platter.
Does this mean that cohesion, (and enlightenment) cannot be achieved with so few words? Of course not, if just takes a master of manipulation to do so successfully.
Who here has watched the film “The Adjustment Bureau?” How about “Keith?” Did you know that both of these movies were based on short stories? No? (Yay me for teaching you something today.)
These are just 2 examples of short story brilliance, AND…evidence to the fact that it does not take a million words to tell a good story. It simply takes focus.
This is the problem I had with Mr. Breslin’s stories. No focus. While some of them were good (for example: Elephant, and We’re Not Dog People) others felt like interrupted thoughts. Not all authors are the same (I’m no where near stupid enough to believe this) and each has their own unique writing style, but I think it is very important for authors not to get too wrapped up in their own prosaic thoughts when trying to get a point across. (Hmmm, that sounded a bit harsh. Let me try again.) Though the writing was good, (even impressive in parts) and yes…the stories did indeed make you think, (which I believe to be Breslin’s main initiative in writing them to begin with) overall they were a tad TOO abstract. Which (I’m sorry to say) may actually have an adverse reaction and PUSH “causal readers” away instead of drawing them IN.
If you are going to tell a story, even a short one, you must make sure it is still a story.
Now, before you get your La Perla panties in a wad, let me make one thing very clear. I am NOT opposed to short stories. I am not opposed to literature that evokes reflection, or appreciation of self-worth. What I’m not keen on is the illusion of plots.
So, here is where I stand… I have read better, I have read worse, but if it were up to me… I would fill my lunch hour with something more filling and less fluffy.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Sometimes good things come in small packages and sometimes it’s just a pair of socks from your Aunt Hilda.
July 10, 2012
The short stories in this collection are succinct and subtly moralistic. The characters are failed lovers, battered women, children with abusive or inadequate parents, honest people who are disappointed by dishonest people.
Some of the strongest stories are about the consequences of not giving yourself completely to your relationship. In “Coffee”, a husband comes to understand that love requires work when his wife moves out. In ‘The Pullback”, Jack - misinterpreting his wife’s depression - feels rejected because she never initiates sex, and decides to distance himself from her until she makes the first move.
My favorite stories both have a religious bent.
“Dear Lawn Care Co.” is a powerful allegory about being ready for the Second Coming. It’s in the form of letters exchanged by Walter and the company that fertilizes his lawn, regarding a rep that interrupted his dinner. The Lawn Care Company represents God, the rep is Jesus and Walter is the Biblical “man without a wedding garment” or one of the five foolish virgins. This is a prime example of Breslin’s ability to do a lot with very few words.
In “We Are Not Dog People”, The Johnsons let their dog run free, oblivious to the distress this causes their neighbor Evan. The story is about how people need to believe that there is justice in the universe, that there is a benevolent God who sees their suffering.
Maybe it’s because I’ve read a lot of fantastic and supernatural fiction lately that the ordinary lives of the characters in this book seem depressingly bleak by contrast. I’d recommend this book to anyone who isn’t already bummed.
This book was a Goodreads giveaway.
Some of the strongest stories are about the consequences of not giving yourself completely to your relationship. In “Coffee”, a husband comes to understand that love requires work when his wife moves out. In ‘The Pullback”, Jack - misinterpreting his wife’s depression - feels rejected because she never initiates sex, and decides to distance himself from her until she makes the first move.
My favorite stories both have a religious bent.
“Dear Lawn Care Co.” is a powerful allegory about being ready for the Second Coming. It’s in the form of letters exchanged by Walter and the company that fertilizes his lawn, regarding a rep that interrupted his dinner. The Lawn Care Company represents God, the rep is Jesus and Walter is the Biblical “man without a wedding garment” or one of the five foolish virgins. This is a prime example of Breslin’s ability to do a lot with very few words.
In “We Are Not Dog People”, The Johnsons let their dog run free, oblivious to the distress this causes their neighbor Evan. The story is about how people need to believe that there is justice in the universe, that there is a benevolent God who sees their suffering.
Maybe it’s because I’ve read a lot of fantastic and supernatural fiction lately that the ordinary lives of the characters in this book seem depressingly bleak by contrast. I’d recommend this book to anyone who isn’t already bummed.
This book was a Goodreads giveaway.
September 27, 2013
I received this book from a goodreads giveaway some time ago and just now got around to reading it. I don't know what held me back, though, because this book was amazing.
I will admit some of the stories were a little hit or miss for me, but the majority are really great. I find there's a shortage of good "short fiction" and whenever I find a writer who is proficient at it, they automatically get added to my watch list.
I will definitely be recommending this book to friends and fellow readers.
I will admit some of the stories were a little hit or miss for me, but the majority are really great. I find there's a shortage of good "short fiction" and whenever I find a writer who is proficient at it, they automatically get added to my watch list.
I will definitely be recommending this book to friends and fellow readers.
August 22, 2011
This is a really strong collection of short stories - most of them deal with the everyday life and experiences of 'normal' people, and work towards some quiet epiphany. The influence of Raymond Carver seemed strong, although most of Breslin's characters seem slightly more middle-class and contented. But despite this there are fault-lines in their lives, and these stories expose them with great skill. The writing style is strong and varied, moving between realistic dialogue and poetic imagery easily. It's always a sign of a good writer when you find yourself rereading individual lines of proses because they're so good, and I did that frequently here.
For me, the only slight flaw in the collection as a whole is that maybe the stories are too similar in theme and tone - some of the best stories, like 'Elephant' itself are those where Breslin seemed to expand his technique slightly, adding an nice edge of surrealism to the realism. But this is a small gripe, and readers who like their collections of short stories to have a strong feeling of belonging together would probably disagree with me. And there is an agreeable sense here of reoccurring themes and a distinct vision across all of these tales.
Very much recommended. Short stories as they should be done.
For me, the only slight flaw in the collection as a whole is that maybe the stories are too similar in theme and tone - some of the best stories, like 'Elephant' itself are those where Breslin seemed to expand his technique slightly, adding an nice edge of surrealism to the realism. But this is a small gripe, and readers who like their collections of short stories to have a strong feeling of belonging together would probably disagree with me. And there is an agreeable sense here of reoccurring themes and a distinct vision across all of these tales.
Very much recommended. Short stories as they should be done.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews