The Half-Mammals of Dixie

by George Singleton

This second collection of short stories by a bright star in Southern fiction showcases a town so tiny it missed the map, the gleefully off-the-wall Southerners who refuse to be pigeonholed, and a South far removed from big-city Atlanta and proper Charleston. As the author says of his characters, "They're regular people just trying to get by." Among a boy whose reputation is ruined when he appears in a head-lice documentary; a lovelorn father who woos his third-grader's teacher with creative show-and-tells; and a former pharmaceuticals salesman who waits for the word of God to tell him what to paint on next the "primitive" canvases he sells for big bucks to an art dealer.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Southern, Humor

312 pages, Paperback

First published August 12, 2002

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best short story collections I've read in a long time - I've actually read it a total of 4 times - and I highly recommend it! Singleton is unique among writers that he doesn't have a distinct "George Singleton" voice; his stories are written in the voice of his characters, so each story in this collection is disctinct from the rest. His characters are vibrant and unique, both funny and heartbreaking at the same time - they leap off the page, so real and familiar that they could be your crazy neighbor down the block. (Most of Singleton's characters would be your crazy neighbor in real life!)

It is rare to find a book that makes you laugh and cry in equal measure, and this is one of those books. Writing this review and thinking about The Half-Mammals of Dixie makes me want to go back and read it for a 5th time, right now.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but if you're really wanting a good collection of stories from the South, read Tim Gautreaux's Welding with Children.

[Wampus Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not every story within is a five star story, but there are three (at least) that are some of the funniest and best written pieces of prose I’ve ever read.

[Kathy (Bermudaonion) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Half-Mammals of Dixie by George Singleton is a collection of short stories centered around the fictitious town of Forty-Five, South Carolina. These are tales of the South, but not the stereotypical South (genteel and racist) so many people love to read about – these stories are more of the “good ol’ boy” South variety. I generally stay away from short story collections, because I usually don’t think there’s enough character development in them, but after reading this collection, I’ve decided that I was probably reading the wrong collections before – these stories are simply a hoot!

As you would suspect with a collection of stories, I enjoyed some of them more than others. My favorites (and the ones Carl had to hear about) are:

* Show-and-Tell – is the story of Mendal Dawes. When his mom deserted the family, his dad began calling himself a widower. Mendal’s third grade teacher is one of his dad’s old girlfriends, so in an effort to woo her, Mendal’s dad gives him all kinds of crazy things to take to school for show-and-tell, like a love letter written by a famous person that contains the line, “That guy who wrote that “How Do I Love Thee” poem has nothing on us, my sugar-booger-baby.” The way Mendal and his dad end up handling this potential relationship is priceless.
* Public Relations – tells the story of V.O., who loses his job when he proceeds to tell a potential client his theory of the decline of the American educational system at a business dinner. He has a crazy theory of how the women’s movement has ruined the schools in this country and, as you can imagine, it doesn’t sit well with the female client his company’s trying to lure.

The Half-Mammals of Dixie is a solid collection of short stories with lots of quirky characters that readers will delight in. I think those who live in, or have a love for, the South will enjoy these stories the most.

[Meen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is Catherine's, but it's been at my house for years now. I don't know if she gave it to me or just loaned it to me or just left it at my house. Catherine, I have your book... :)

Update: Catherine says she gave me this book for my birthday when we were roommates, but I totally don't remember that. Gawd, I'm going senile.

Final update: I'm really sorry I waited this long to read this short story collection. The stories were occasionally appalling and almost always hilarious. Very much like living in the South. (Except there's a lot more appalling in real life.) The language was spot-on backwoods Southern, and I love it when writers can get it right. And as with all good Southern writers, there were lots of little humorous and wise word gems:

"Dorn wore enough Vitalis to keep a shotput afloat." (from "Fossils")

"I don't believe in measurements. Measurements cause wars, ultimately. I won't have anything to do with that."
"The bleak shall inherit some mirth." (from "When Children Count")

"Duvall said, 'I don't have to be a prawn in your little game.' I swear to God. He might've known the difference between whitefish and scallops, but put him at a chessboard and shrimp get taken." (from "Public Relations")

"Right away I knew that South Carolina wouldn't be a place to think up decent ideas."
"Whenever people start preaching to me about inalienable rights and the Second Amendment I normally nod in agreement and hope that someone shoots them." (from "Impurities")

[Tisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Singleton is a master at humorous storytelling. He will keep readers laughing and cringing at the hilariously clever situations that must be based on truths because “you can’t make this sh*t up.” He understands human nature and what makes us vulnerable, as well as what lengths we will go to to deceive one another, only to end up caught in the act. He’s considered a southern writer because he hails from Spartanburg, SC, and many of his stories are set in that deeply southern town. However, his people and situations should be read and appreciated by readers everywhere. Treat yourself to some George Singleton stories as soon as you can.

[Maryjo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes a two - Sometimes a four. Full of pathos and humor, cliche and caricatures. It might be acceptable to laugh at red-neck fobiles if you are from the rural south but being from the metropolian north it felt indecent. Yet, I did laugh. I also shook my head and even shed a tear. I would put it down because I do not like satirizing a culture, only to pick it up again and find it delightful.

[Mskarla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love George Singleton. The show and tell story alone is worth the price of the book.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting slice-of-life stories that mostly take place in and around a small town in South Carolina. Many involve customers and sellers at local flea markets. These tales tell stories about interesting characters that inhabit the environs of this small-town as it grapples with the modern world. Some stories are thought provoking but some leave the reader wanting more. Character sketches are interesting, but sometimes they are not enough to hold the reader's interest.

[Alyssa Blalock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved reading all the different perspectives of the people who love in forty-five. The book was a collection of sad, happy, funny, and anti-racists stories which were my favorite. Some stories were more boring than others bit overall a well written collection.

[Ronn · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3 1/2 stars. Quite enjoyable if not exactly compelling collection of short stories set in and around a small town in South Carolina. The characters are inter-related in a 'six degrees of separation' kind of way.

[Matt Kelland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good stories, with a nice mix of tragedy and comedy.

[Theunis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of depressing marriages. But real.

[lazyjazzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although these are relatable human stories, needs a southern or American upbringing to understand the sarcasm or the wit. Couldn't finish although a persistent reader in general.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard this guy on the radio and laughed extremely hard when he read his stories. Bought the book, and am very reluctant to let it go entirely. It's been a while since I read it, and I am sure that I'll re-read it again, at some point, just to get a good cleansing chuckle (czukle?) out of the foibles of the South.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
This second collection of short stories by a bright star in Southern fiction showcases a town so tiny it missed the map, the gleefully off-the-wall Southerners who refuse to be pigeonholed, and a South far removed from big-city Atlanta and proper Charleston. As the author says of his characters, "They're regular people just trying to get by." Among them: a boy whose reputation is ruined when he appears in a head-lice documentary; a lovelorn father who woos his third-grader's teacher with creative show-and-tells; and a former pharmaceuticals salesman who waits for the word of God to tell him what to paint on next the "primitive" canvases he sells for big bucks to an art dealer.

[Bones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Singleton's collection of short stories centers around the fictional small Southern town of Forty-Five, South Carolina, which he populates with a medley of quirky characters. As if the book, like the town, is too cramped to hold everyone comfortably, characters are often popping in and out of different stories. Makes for a fun read and ties everything together nicely.

Singleton's tone is often a bit sarcastic in his describing the lives of characters who spend their days in flea markets, fishing holes, and trailers, but never mocking. His affection for small town living seems genuine.

Overall an enjoyable read. I'm thinking 'Carl Hiasson meets Larry Brown'.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

a friend gave me this book some time last year and had i suspected how wonderful these stories were i never would have waited so long to read it. all the stories feature characters who live in, are passing through, or have escaped from the small town of Forty Five, South Carolina, and together they create an oddball world that is charming and creepy, hilarious and heartbreaking, and altogether Southern. Singleton's voice is original and razor-sharp.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite short-story writers, and he delivers some amusing offerings in this collection. His first was a bit more unified in theme, but this is just as good as he widens his scope. I didn't love every one of the stories, but the bulk of them I did, especially the one about a third-grade student whose Dad pranks his show-and-tell presentations. The head-lice actor and a couple of the flea-market related stories were fun as well.

[Brook Finlayson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't read much contemporary fiction. This book came highly recommended. This is why I don't read much contemporary fiction. Maybe it's not fair to compare this southern fiction with O'Connor or Faulkner, but I do and I expect more..what? I live in the South. Perhaps the South has lost its distinction, but I don't recognize this place. Dumb title. This is humor?

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Singleton is a great short story writer. His style is witty and as subtle as it is blunt, which is a tough act to pull off. All the stories in this collection have a particularly Southern backdrop but not in a way that is offputing for non-southerners. It's also a good pick-up-put-down collection for filling the gaps between reading larger novels.

[Sirdarksol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the rating I gave the book, I strongly suggest reading it. It's a collection of loosely-strung-together short stories, and while some of them aren't all that great, some are inconceivably funny.

Even better, while entertaining, most (if not all) of the stories have deep-reaching societal messages, as well.

[Jan C]

I can't get into this. I forgot that I don't especially like anthologies. Especially by unknown authors.

Cover says it is hilarious and that it keeps the humor volume on high. Well, that may come later in the book. It certainly didn't occur up until page 62.

[Siri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off strong, and it's fun to see the characters come back from different perspectives from one short to the next. Did not enjoy the little excursion to Ironyville in the middle, although that was perhaps the most memorable story.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singleton is irreverent and brilliant. His stories capture everything that is hilarious, desperate, and REAL about the human condition. Many time throughout this read I didn't know whether to laugh or cry and for me - that's as good as it gets. Read Singleton!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wacky southern short stories. Made me laugh out loud a few times.

[Sara Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

hilarious

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read a couple of shorts copied from this book but the point is that this guy is sharp. I met him and he puts it all out there and you'll find the same quality to his stories

[kvinroot · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Singleton is one of the funniest writers of all time. This book of short stories is hilarious!

[Tanyadee Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that this is the best short story collection written by Singleton.

Three words: this itches y'all

[Charles White]

Really enjoying these stories.