Anecdotes

by Kathryn Mockler

With dreamlike stories and dark humor, Anecdotes is a hybrid collection in four parts examining the pressing realities of sexual violence, abuse, and environmental collapse. Absurdist flash fictions in “The Boy is Dead” depict characters such as a woman lamenting a stolen laptop the day the world ends; and birds slamming into glass buildings. “We’re Not Here to Talk About Aliens” follows a young protagonist from childhood to early 20s, through the murky undercurrent of potential violence amidst sexual awakening, from first periods to flashers, sticker books to maxi pad art, acid trips to blackouts, and creepy professors to close calls. “This Isn’t a Conversation” shares one-liners from overheard conversations, found texts, diary entries, and random many are responses to the absurdity and pain of the current political and environmental climate. In “My Dream House,” the past and the future are personified as various incarnations in relationships to one another (lovers, a parent and child, siblings, friends), all engaged in ongoing conflict. These varied, immersive works bristle with truth in the face of unprecedented change. They are playful forms for serious times.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Canada, Feminism

270 pages, Paperback

Published September 19, 2023

About the author

Kathryn Mockler is the author of five poetry books and the story collection Anecdotes (Book*hug Press, 2023), which was a finalist for the 2024 Trillium Book Award, the 2023 Danuta Gleed Literary Award, the 2024 Fred Kerner Award, and the 2024 City of Victoria Bulter Book Prize.

She co-edited the print anthology Watch Your Head: Writers and Artists Respond to the Climate Crisis (Coach House Books, 2020) and runs the literary newsletter Send My Love to Anyone.

Reviews

[Anju · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I expected, I did love the anthology of short stories and microfiction with a taped pad on the cover! Kathryn Mockler has a way with her words. Even the shortest stories, draw you in and make you pause and reflect for a moment. "Anecdotes" is the perfect book to keep in your bag and read during pockets of spare time.
There are four section –
"The Boy is Dead" - absurdist fiction
"This Isn't a Conversation" - I loved the way this was presented in the book, white text on black pages, making it physically stand out from the rest of the stories. It has one-liners (anecdotes and thoughts) taken from various conversation
"We're Not Here to Talk About Aliens" - follows the protagonist in various moments of her life from childhood to her early 20s
"My Dream House" - personifies The Past and The Future and creates different relationships between the two


Thank you to Book*Hug Press for the finished copy.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anecdotes released on the 19th. This was a lovely collection of short and flash fiction that's grouped into four distinct sections:

The first part includes strange flash fiction about parks, a personal audience, a murdery job interview, and a laptop that gets stolen on the day the world ended.

The second is a series of interconnected autofiction that follows a young girl manuevering through childhood into adulthood as she deals with first loves and her first period, underaged drinking, creepy professors and blackout sex.

The third section is a collection of cheeky and random one liners.

And the final section is a grouping of flash fiction where The Past, The Present, and The Future are main characters who are constantly caught up in turmoil.

While it's clear Mockler had fun with some of the content, it's also humbling and reflective of today's laissez-faire attitude around politics and climate change, and stingingly honest about some of the dangers we face as young women in a world that is still very much a man's space.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and am glad I requested a copy from Book*hug Press and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for writing that has a powerful sense of voice!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last night I finished reading ANECDOTES by Kathryn Mockler and I really enjoyed these short stories! This book is in four parts featuring flash fiction. I was super engaged the whole time reading and it was fun taking this book around Vancouver with me yesterday. First stop was brunch in the morning with my friend and it was delicious! Then I spotted Anecdotes on the new & notable table at Upstart & Crow already before pub day! This book had some funny moments and some sad moments. I loved the mentions of Canadian settings such as Windsor, Ontario and Dundas Street. I especially enjoyed part two “We’re Not Here to Talk About Aliens” which is autofiction about a young woman dealing with such relatable situations as getting her first period and dealing with predatory men. My fave stories are both from part two: Trading Cards and Burning Schoolhouse.

Thank you to Book*hug Press for my gifted review copy!

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

While trying to think about who the audience is for this book-something I still haven’t made up my mind on, I thought about what I loved about the book and what I liked.

Written in four parts, the book is separated in one writing style for the first two parts and then switches to quotes before finishing in an experimental prose. The first part of the book features short stories that can be shocking or as the publisher calls them, “absurdist.” Many of these stories gripped my attention and had me wanting more. Part two is autofiction. The disconnected stories in this part who feature the same person’s experience are emotional and in many instances show how dangerous the world can be as a female. I was engaged in this section. The third section is interesting in that it is written as white text on black pages and creates space to think about the commentary and quotes about environmental change. This was jarring to say the least after becoming connected to the character of part two but still powerful. The fourth part uses the Present and the Future as characters. I found some of these stories thoughtful but did start to feel like the message was just being repeated over and over again about how humans have damaged our Earth and the bleak future it paints. Not untrue, but this part didn’t hold my attention in the same way.

As a whole I would say I got more from the first two parts and less from the second half. Because I had trouble connecting the two halves, I would have preferred to see these in two exclusive books but then they might not have been long enough.

Thank you to @bookhugpress for an ARC of Anecdotes before it publishes on September 19, 2023. I look forward to hearing other reader’s thoughts on this selection.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking, darkly hilarious, and emotionally charged…

How did the book make me feel/think?

“Anecdotes” by Kathryn Mockler is laced with unconventional storytelling. This collection of stories has indelibly impacted me, even as Mockler delved into challenging themes.

The first story had me simultaneously laughing and questioning my emotional response, highlighting the book’s ability to engage readers on deeply emotional, occasionally uncomfortable levels, even when tackling difficult subject matter. This juxtaposition of humour and discomfort is a central theme throughout the book, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read.

“Anecdotes” is a literary adventure, taking readers to places of wanton curiosity, underscoring its power to draw readers into its world. “Anecdotes” isn’t afraid to confront issues like sexuality, abuse, abandonment, and the struggle to make sense of a chaotic world.

The story “This Isn’t a Conversation” will leave readers wondering about the survival of the planet in the face of pending destiny, adding an intriguing layer to the book’s exploration of existential themes. It’s a testament to Mockler’s ability to blend laughter and pain to keep readers engaged and reflective.

“Anecdotes” bounces between the absurdities of life and the self-inflicted realities of humanity, painting a vivid picture of the book’s themes and tone.

“Anecdotes” is a thought-provoking, darkly hilarious, and emotionally charged read that challenges readers to confront the complexities of existence.

When I finally stop laughing, I must announce that “Anecdotes” is one of my favourite reads of 2023 and likely beyond, as hopefully, my past finally catches up to the future!

WRITTEN: 10 September 2023

[Melly Mel - Shelf_ishly_lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anecdotes, Kathryn Mockler
Pub Date: Sept 19/23

Anecdotes is a collection of juxtapositions - coming of age and then end of times.
“Flash fiction” set against conversational one-liners that are all too real.
The darkness is then met with the understated.
Absurd and satirical, while also poignant.

And I’m here for all of it!

Interwoven are spaces and places that I deeply connected with. Particularly, “My Dream House” and its characters - Past, Present and Future. Their banter was satirically and sharp and very relatable.

[BethK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a pre-release e-book obtained through NetGalley, provided by the publisher
.
I loved this delightfully downbeat collection of poetry and short stories which were filled with dark humor with a touch of post-hope nihilism. Most of these can be read in a few seconds or a few minutes – it’s a good book of anecdotes to keep to get your bearings when things appear too cheerful. Anyone seeking to enjoy their depression rather than suffer with depression should read this book.

[Kim Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and poignant. The coming-of-age stories are so relatable and funny that I fell in love with the young Kathryn. The format of the book is interesting - easy to dip in and out and read in whatever order you like. Highly recommend for those interested in acute observations about the absurdity of modern life.

[Alison Gadsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I learned the cover of A Little Life was a photo of a man mid orgasm, I remember thinking, why don’t all great books do this? Allude to what a reader might find inside the pages with a provocative cover photo? For a reader like me, someone wanting desperately to be moved by words and stories – so I can think about the banal existence we humans share, what we sometimes call life, differently – I seek out books by first looking at the cover and then peeking at some of the words in the middle. I the cover of course, and words that remind me, we are living in a terrifying place where our pasts mean more than our presents, and our futures loom, or desperately try to “LOOM”.

With ANECDOTES by Kathryn Mockler, here’s what you’ll find. A cover that shows a maxi pad taped to a wall, alluding to a story The Pad, which opens with the line: “When I was 10, I stuck one of my mother's unused maxi pads to my bedroom wall.” But there are many stories, auto-fictions, anecdotes, some that refer to the experiences of an adolescent girl, which, as anyone who has had a first period can attest, revolved around the maxi pad, the tampon, and a big red dot on our (never worn) white pants, because those months, years, days before menstruation were fraught.

This novel is not just maxi-pad stories, they are surreal conversations between, PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE; they are overheard one-liners or several-liners that highlight our terrifying earthly existence like: “Everything becomes beautiful when you realize nothing is going to last.” And they are shared stories from a woman who looks different (or the same) trying to fit in; stories of fuck trucks and poetry contests and abusive relationships, and weird dreams about waking up to a world surrounded by born-again Christians. For me, this novel is full of life and I hope a lot of people will read it.

Find out more and subscribe to Kathryn's Newsletter, Send My Love to Everyone at her website wwwDotkathrynmocklerDOTcom

[biz · Rating 3 out of 5]

great collection of short stories with a frequently recurring theme of climate doom. i wish the section “we’re not here to talk about aliens” was published separately as a novella because it was difficult to switch gears after it ended in the middle of the book. overall really good!

[Mridula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. The pieces are evocative and measured with just the right amount of believability + dreamworld. I can't get Human Microphone out of my head and for me it set the tone for the work. A definite must have for readers and writers of flash fiction.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange, bizarre, loopy...although unlike the recent Chuck Palahniuk book I read, I'm not worried about the sanity of the author. That said, she is clearly digging through the darker, unpleasant aspects of life...and it's more exhausting reading this in my middle age than it was in my 20s. My personal favourite section of the book is the collection of stories about The Past & The Future...delirious, sly, and odd...but fascinating.

[K.R. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anecdotes is all over the shop, in the best possible way. Some surrealism. Some flash autofiction. A (literally) dark exchange on the climate crisis. A set of wry scenes between The Past and The Future. You can live a lifetime in these tiny, tidy pieces, and then some.

[Leti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Anecdotes by Kathryn Mockler.

Summary

Overall, 2.5 stars that I rounded up. Anecdotes recounts multiple incidents that are rather tragic and sad in the life of the author. As the title suggests, these are told in an anecdotally manner and don't necessarily connect with each other. However, they all share the common thread of being about the same person.

Pros

Some of the anecdotes are gripping. I particularly liked the opening one. They are like true glimpses into someone's life, and you can't help but feel like you want to know more about them. However, this leads me to the...

Cons

I understand that such book is not supposed to be linear, but sometimes you come out of an anecdote and you absolutely want to know what happens next, just to be surprised with some esoteric one-pager that, to me, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I may just not be in the audience for this book, but often I was just confused and frustrated reading this book.

Verdict

I have friends that would ADORE this book, and friends who would DESPISE it. I think there is no in-between here, hence a 2.5 rating. I rounded it up to a 3 star because I recognize this book may not have been for me, but I truly believe some people will love it.

[Liza_lo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this pretty much blind after it was nommed for two awards (Danuta Gleed and Trillium). What weird, wonderful intriguing writing.

I think Anecdotes is the perfect title for these short, sharp stories that often end with an understated but devastating punch that makes you reconsider everything you've read before.

There are 4 sections which are pretty themed but the opening section, which has the most disconnected stories, was my favourite.

Ripped through this one but will be thinking of it long after.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author Mockler recounts her horrific childhood and young adult years in a series of, as the title says, "anecdotes." Taken as a whole, it's a damning indictment of the systems that are supposed to keep children safe, including family, teachers, and others. That said, I don't understand the hype for the writing, which I found kind of lacking impetus and life.

[Mark Vukovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first three parts were perfect. These short shorts were perfect and ended at just the right time.
The last section was about The Past and The Future as characters and it was not especially meaningful, and tried way to hard to be cute.
However I can not emphasize enough how good the first three sections were especially the stories “I’m Taking Care of It” and “Trading Cards”.

[Jacob Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Yes, it is a very sad story because everyone still things it’s happening to someone else when it’s happening to them.”

[Enid Wray]

Let’s just say I’m not the reader for this and leave it at that?

DNF

[Vitamin THC · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unforgettable and inventive read! Funny, dark, and illuminating stories. Highly recommend!

[D.A. Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding short and flash fiction here. Get reading.

[Deirdre Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it up until “this isn’t a conversation” and all the past future and present chapters that followed.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

adored first two halves (5/5 for both), third part felt half baked/preachy although i liked the way it was all in black paper with white text (2/5), and last part was alright, just a bit repetitive (3/5)