Tales for Late Night Bonfires

by G.A. Grisenthwaite

Curious, uncanny tales blending Indigenous oral storytelling and meticulous style, from an electric voice in Canadian fiction These are stories that are a little bit larger than life, or maybe they really happened. Tales that could be told 'round the campfire, each one-upping the next. Tales about a car that drives herself, ever loyal to her owner. Tales about an impossible moose hunt. Tales about the Real Santa(TM) mashed up with the book of Genesis, alongside SPAM stew and bedroom sets from IKEA. G.A. Grisenthwaite's writing is electric and inimitable, blending meticulous literary style with oral storytelling and coming away with a voice that is entirely his own. Tales for Late Night Bonfires is truly one of a kind, and not to be missed.

Genres: Indigenous, Short Stories, Canada, Fiction

232 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2023

Reviews

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a number of factors playing against this book for me, specifically its use of non-linear poetic structure and a truck load of vernacular that left my head spinning (newsflash: I didn't enjoy those aspects). That said, there is also a loopiness to these stories that makes it charming -- an anti-Stephen King collection. The highlight for me are the stories featuring the sentient 60s car Hazel, who leaves Stephen King's Christine in her sweet dust.

[Karen Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story collection that immersed me in the characters' worlds. I had to slow down through some f the stories to figure out who was who, but that's my crappy memory, not the writer's fault.

[Evan King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Get past the first sorry of “this kid” this and that. Roadkill was memorable to me. All good stories but the first story is a let down and I think based on many reviews many called it quits after it

[Matthias Grey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had a lot of trouble getting through this one. It just seems so forced. Some repetitive phrases--"that kid, the boy"--were just plain irritating.

[Chris Kuriata · Rating 4 out of 5]

While dog sitting in an isolated old house, I've spent my last couple late nights reading TALES FOR LATE NIGHT BONFIRES. Perfect environment. Just as the afterwards suggests, these stories create the biggest bang when you read them out loud, even just to yourself. The final novella, GRAMPS VS THE REAL SANTA (TM) is the inventive, biblical, romantic, dirty-minded, sci-fi, folk tale I most look forward to re-reading this Christmas season.