You Are Not the One : Stories

by Vestal McIntyre

You Are Not the One : Stories [paperback] McIntyre, Vestal [Jan 09, 2005] …

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, LGBT, Anthologies

325 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2004

About the author

Vestal McIntyre was born and raised the youngest of seven children outside Nampa, Idaho. He attended Tufts University, and has lived in Boston and New York City.

Lake Overturn: A Novel was published by HarperCollins in April, 2009. The Washington Post said, "In Lake Overturn, McIntyre has created a vast, intricate lattice of relationships, reminiscent of the novels of Richard Russo....Here is an author capable of handling even the most noxious elements when he stirs his American backwater." And Out Magazine said, "Richly imagined and fully realized, Overturn has given us what we didn’t know we were waiting for: the next Great Idahoan Novel." Lake Overturn was named a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, a Washington Post Best Book of 2009, won the Grub Street National Book Award 2010 and a Lambda Literary Award, and was nominated for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award and a Ferro-Grumley Award.

Vestal has been awarded fiction fellowships from the NEA and the New York Foundation for the Arts. His collection You Are Not the One: Stories was named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and won a 2006 Lambda Literary Award.

His stories have appeared in Tin House Magazine, Open City 11: Octo Ate Them All, Open City 22, From Boys to Men: Gay Men Write About Growing Up, Between Men: Best New Gay Fiction, and several other anthologies.

Vestal now lives in London, where he is working on a second novel and a collection of stories based on his years in New York City.

Reviews

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book jumped out at me in a charity bookshop in Edinburgh and at £2.50 it had to be mine. Every story in this collection is a winner and reflects my literary sweet spot blending the weird and sad with the profound and insightful. Brilliant!

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

That these stories aren't in print and unavailable in any of the various new formats like kindle etc. says way to much that is embarrassing about publishing and current reading habits for my taste (written in February 2023 and if I am wrong I apologise most specifically to Mr. McIntyre).

This is a wonderful witty, sharp, far sighted and just generally brilliant collection of short stories. I have read it three times and own a copy. What more can I say? These are stories, and this a writer, you need to read.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a new writer who is going to become something big, look no further. Vestal writes so movingly about children and loss and disability; but is also a witty, bawdy writer in equal parts when it comes to gay men and life in the city. He is all heart without saccharine. Truly, he is the best kind of observer: involved and passionate, but also patient and thoughtful. I strongly recommend you find this book and try not to cry on the subway.

[Frank Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

these stories are very much a mixed bag. Some (Octo, Dunford) are excellent and kept me entertained and interested. Others (Binge and Sahara) I did not care for at all, and, given that these were the first two in book, I almost gave up on it after reading them. The rest are OK. I am glad I read the book.

[Jo P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drawn to the writing style but struggled to get through the first story. I couldn’t help being irked by a Caucasian author shoehorning racist language into the first story for no contextual reason. Perhaps, just to seem edgy. Either way, turns out this wasn’t one for me.

[Ewan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read short stories - and when I do it's usually a horror collection. So this was an odd, (but enjoyable) read for me, I kept expecting the stories to take a sinister turn.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories were very amusing, I loved them! I hope this guy comes out with more eventually because I'd love to read whatever he puts out. He captures moments in time in his character's lives, amusing things that happen in their day and etc. Some of the stories in this book didn't have a clearly defined resolution, but then again, when funny things happen to us in real life, do they always have a concrete "ending?" I don't think they always do, but in reading, we're trained to look for a traditional ending. The humor of his stories isn't always laugh-out-loud, but it is all very familiar, if you know what I mean.

[Tal Goretsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of short stories convincingly told from widely differing viewpoints and steeped in wholly original and hilarious scenarios. My favorites include "Binge", about a middle-aged wife who attends a very hip party where she abandons herself to cocaine and drink to frolic with the young bohemians. "Octo" is an incredibly sensitive story told from the point of view of a little boy who's parents are dead-set on eliminating his most beloved posssession - a giant pet octopus.
And "ONJ.com", a decadently funny story about a pair of young advertising co-workers who fall into a quick roller-coaster friendship of party-crashing and obsessing over Olivia Newton-John.

[Jerry Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you are traveling from Chicago to Turkey you want to make sure that your book will keep you company. It needs to be smart, maybe funny, with believable, honest characters who do surprising things. You can't take a chance on getting bored with 10 hours of the flight left so I spent time with my book choice and it was time well spent.

McIntyre's short stories are full of people you want to listen to and get to know. The stories don't always go where you think they are headed - they are too original for that and too much like real life. Perhaps somewhat of a quirky life, but real nevertheless.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggle with short stories – they need to be exceptional for me to really feel engaged. There have been some fantastic short story authors around in recent times and while I would rate highly several of the stories within this book, there were also several that were a lot weaker in nature and less palatable. The more enjoyable stories are quirky, sensitive and humorous, the less interesting were dull with no strong characters or plot. If you like short stories or are interested in a book that you can easily take up and put down this may be a book for you.

[Javier Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was captivated from the very first story and then they just get better and better. These stories are like you are thrown in the middle of a movie and you are like what is going on. Some are funny and some are sad but if you do pick up this book I recommend the one about the Octopus or Octo. Attention to detail is simply wonderful and the little boy trying to protect his octopus is just hilarious. What an amazing storyteller.

[Djrmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

these are some of the best contemporary short stories I've read in a long time. All are linked by the theme of people looking to fill a hole in their lives, and each story is told in a very different voice. I can't wait to see what else Mr. McIntyre writes.

[Gary Cheetham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these short stories really connect and impress and leave you wanting more, but others were just a bit too flat for me.

The authors prose is fantastic though and I will definitely be reading his full length novel 'Lake Overturn' in the future.

[Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to "Time Out New York" for this recommendation! If you love great short stories, you'll love this collection.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vestal's stories are delightful - as is the person! -- but some of the endings are just ever so slightly unsatisfying....

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite short story collections from recent years.

[Lucinda Mcintyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and eclectic sampling of my talented bother's writings.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short stories, some stronger than others.

[David Driver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vestal is my friend but even if he weren't I would love this book. And I don't generally read or enjoy short stories! So smart and engaging and unexpected. I absolutely recommend it.

[Jas Deol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! The stories were quirky and hilarious! And so raw. Good writing!

[Michelle King · Rating 1 out of 5]

Somewhat lackluster short story collection.

[Anne Frisbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really entertaining short stories where you get something out of the insanity and reflect on life.

[Patrick Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these sometimes edgy, always moving, and beautifully written stories.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories written by a wonderful storyteller. They're smart, funny, and follow a collection of beautifully flawed and relatable characters. Loved it.