Ball: Stories by Tara Ison

by Tara Ison

Ball is the thrilling and emotionally provocative debut collection of short fiction by the acclaimed author of the novels Rockaway and A Child Out of Alcatraz and the essay collection Reeling through Life .Ball explores the darker edges of love and sex and death, how they are intimately and often violently connected, with bright, vivid stories set mostly in contemporary Los Angeles. In “Cactus,” a young girl comes to fear the outside world following the freakish, accidental death of her adventure-seeking, naturalist boyfriend in the California desert; in “Wig,” a woman must help her best friend face life-threatening cancer while covering up an unseemly affair with her friend’s husband; in “Fish,” the narrator sits watch over a dying uncle, trying to pay for past sins while administering to his final needs, but distracted by the ravenous fish in the Koi pond near the hospital; and in the collection’s stunning title story, the bonds of friendship and pet ownership collide in the most startling and unexpected ways.With a keen insight into the edges of human behavior and an assured literary hand, Ball is the new book by one of the West’s most provocative stylists.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Feminism, Horror, American, Book Club, Adult Fiction

Paperback

First published November 10, 2015

About the author

Tara Ison is the author of the short story collection BALL, the novels THE LIST, ROCKAWAY, and A CHILD OUT OF ALCATRAZ, a Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Awards. Her essay collection REELING THROUGH LIFE was the winner of the 2015 PEN Southwest Award for Creative Nonfiction.

Her novel of WWII Vichy France, AT THE HOUR BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF, will be published in February 2023.

Her short fiction, essays, poetry and book reviews have appeared in Tin House, BOMB, Salon, O, the Oprah Magazine, The Kenyon Review, Nerve.com, Black Clock, Publisher's Weekly, The Week magazine, The Mississippi Review, LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune, the San Jose Mercury News, and numerous anthologies. She is also the co-writer of the movie Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead.

She is the recipient of a 2008 NEA Creative Writing Fellowship and a 2008 COLA Individual Artist Grant, as well as multiple Yaddo fellowships and Pushcart Prize nominations, a Rotary Foundation Scholarship for International Study, a Brandeis National Women's Committee Award, a Thurber House Fiction Writer-in-Residence Fellowship, the Simon Blattner Fellowship from Northwestern University, and a California Arts Council Artists' Fellowship Award.

Ison received her MFA in Fiction & Literature from Bennington College. She has taught creative writing at Washington University in St. Louis, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Goddard College, Antioch University Los Angeles, and UC Riverside Palm Desert's MFA in Creative Writing program. She is currently Assistant Professor of Fiction at Arizona State University."

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured these short stories.... They are gutsy and surprising!
The characters lives are impacted by fears, betrayal, sexual attraction, sexual degradation,
distrust, fantasies, abuse, death, emptiness, abandonment, upsets, anger, horror,
punishment, with always a sexual undercurrent.
These stories are a little strange, thought-provoking, and inventive.

...In *Catus*....Holly lives in Los Angeles and has not left her apartment for nine months.
I didn't once know where this story was going. Her current boyfriend Paul has
tried to convince Holly she needs ultraviolet rays, and Vit C. He pleads, cajoles, pouts,
but in the end...he will take her lists....and bring back anything she needs.
Holly's former boyfriend, Josh, - (a very outdoorsy guy)- tried to get Holly to embrace her
fears, with their adventure in the Mojave Desert.
THIS STORY WAS NOT EASY TO ROLL OFF MY SHOULDERS. (unforgettable...left me still thinking about it).

...In *Ball*....( the title story), ...the voice of the narrator examines her dogs vagina- is obsessed
with control - steaming angry at her dog for being manipulative - being too interested in playing ball. She has a boyfriend named Eric - examines Erik's penis the same way she does her dogs vagina- she is angry at him too. She wants to control them both.
Find out who gets the narrator heart ( the dog or Eric).... ( both or neither)

...In *Bakery Girl*.... Expect to read a nasty -naughty- freaky-story!

...In *Wig*....The narrators best friend has cancer. They go wig shopping together.
She's a great friend.... and 'ha'.... a little 'too' much of a good friend with her husband.

There are several other stories: "The knitting story", "Staples", "Needles", "Apology",
"Fish", "Musical chairs", and "Multiple choice". All held my attention...

I like Tara Ison's stories and her writing. I'd read this author again in a second.
They grab ya by the balls! ( quick 'fresh' & entertaining )

Thank You Perseus Publishing, Edelweiss, and Tara Ison for the opportunity to be an early
reader! I fully enjoyed these stories!

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, intensely flawed characters, like all the secret things we hate about ourselves have been captured in a series of short stories that are disturbing and perfect because they somehow ring true.

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did actually finish this collection of short stories but it was a near thing. I almost put it down several times. There was absolutely nothing about these stories that felt genuine or sincere. Even if I'm reading about a race of lizard-aliens floating through space or a story of bravery among rabbits there should be a hint of the real so that I can forge a connection. There was no connect here. The stories were all dark with no respite, which is not a bad thing in itself but there was such a disconnect between all of the elements of the story that nothing rang true. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters, and it's always infinitely more disturbing when I relate to a psychopath than when I just feel distaste for them (a la Dexter Morgan). It felt contrived as a means of being shocking just to shock. Not for me.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Margaryta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Soft Skull Press for providing me with an egalley copy of the book to review.

Initially I wasn’t sure what to make of the collection. The summary sounded promising and I wanted to read something raw, dark, and genuine for once, to take my mind off the required readings I had for class. The first story, “Cactus”, was probably the tamest of all the stories, now that I think back to it. It explains the reason why I felt so confused after finishing it, wondering if the rest of the collection would go in the same direction. It was at that point that I began to slightly fear where the collection was going.

Then came the title story, “Ball”, and admittedly it was after reading it that I put the book down and debated my reaction, trying to figure out which of the two was stronger: my anger at how ridiculous and disturbing the narrator was, or the dark, equally disturbing fascination I felt. In the end the later won out, and it is after continuing with the rest of the stories that I understood that was the better reaction.

This short story collection is not for everyone. It isn’t for people who want an answer to some of the twisted, and frankly stupid, actions that some of the characters make throughout the collection. But it is beautiful for that very same reason, for the ridiculous actions that make you wonder why or how, in almost every case then making you instantly want to know what’ll happen next. It had a dark power over me while I read, and after much mauling over of the information I realized that ‘Ball: Stories” provided me with the very experience I had been looking for. There was a naked ugliness to these characters and stories that isn’t necessarily easy to love but is easy to feel fascinated with. They elicit many reactions from the reader and there was only one story – “Needles” – that I had genuinely not understood or related to. But other than that I enjoyed this collection very much, it a rather unexpected but nonetheless pleasant way. It is a worthwhile read for those that aren’t the faint of heart, who do not fear seeing the truly grim parts of human nature with all its twisted ways.

[Leslie Lehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Ison ties your hands behind your back and makes you look. Where lesser writers pull punches, Ison gives you a black eye that will feel tender for weeks. Her characters are real, flawed, and unforgettable. They do what we dare not and Ison shows it all in close-up. Despite the temptation, don't read these straight through; allow the discordant notes of her careful word choice to echo in your ears. Beyond the heart wrenching, there is humor and yes, even a little hope - but to tell you which is which would ruin the surprise. While the style and tone varies, all of Ison's endings are as spare as the one word titles, and their O. Henry-type twists will lodge deep in your heart. I especially enjoyed seeing what publications first showcased these stories. Go ahead and do that - it may soften the sharp edge, but not much. This book requires Band-aids.

[Marie-Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Uneven but still very striking collection of stories. Ison has a real gift for the grim and gritty. While frequently leavened by a mordant sense of humour and made real by a keen eye for detail, these are generally dark and uncomfortable tales. Occasionally, a plot turn will seem manipulative, the story just a little too groomed, too fussed over, but then the next will be truly heart-felt and shockingly deep and misgivings are forgotten. My favourites (which appear to be the opposite of a number of reviewers here) include: the title story, 'Fish', 'Musical Chairs' and 'Multiple Choice'.

[Tessy Consentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these short stories! They were weird and truthful. Kind of expresses what people think but don't say. Neat to see that the author, Tara Ison, is the the associate professor of fiction at Arizona State University.

[шш · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truly terrible. For anyone who is familiar with "The L Word," it's as though Jennifer Schechter wrote these stories. The titular short story reads like a half-assed text-based role play.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inventive stories by an up and coming author who impressed me at last year's Tucson Festival of Books.

[A. D. Paventi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. If you are a fan of short-story compilations, you won't be disappointed! With the exception of the final story, which is in multiple-choice format (and is titled Multiple Choice), each one kept and held my attention.
If you have a hard time reading about animal euthanization which borders on cruelty, you will want to skip the second story entitled "Ball." There are also some child-molestation triggers, FYI.

[Michael Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. All the crazy emotions we are supposed to suppress are laid out here in plain text.

[Julia Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and I enjoy Tara’s voice. However some stories were so deeply disturbing it’s difficult to justify a positive review (triggering topics such as underage molestation, animal abuse, incest). However what I find she nails is just the dark hungers we experience and the setting of gritty LA for these stories was perfect for that. If I had to compare this to any other book or recommend something similar, I would say Difficult Women by Roxane Gay captures this darkness in the thrilling, mysterious format of the short story

You can read more of my first impressions here: https://juliamrichardson.wordpress.co...

[Tarah Fedenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So creative, poet, shocking, suspenseful, and dark.

[Taylor Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

BALL and BAKERY GIRL are surprising, gutsy, delicious stories. Others in the collection felt uninspired.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of eleven short stories is uneven, but predominantly good. The narrators are young women living in Los Angeles and most of the stories are written in the first person. They universally have dark themes with plots that start normally but progress to the unusual with shocking twists at the end. Ison’s protagonists all seem to have painful relationship problems involving rejection, betrayal, suffering, wounding, revenge, etc. They have needs to please, control, punish or seek companionship (including sex). By the end of the stories, each narrator seems to make a weird and stupid decision through twisted logic. Although it is uncomfortable to follow these characters, it is difficult to turn away.

The best stories are CACTUS, BALL, BAKERY GIRL, WIG, FISH, APOLOGY and STAPLES. The protagonists in these stories are more or less damaged by some relationship issue and make unusual choices to resolve them. In CACTUS, a woman grieves for an environmentalist lover who perishes in a freak accident. She seeks to resolve her painful guilt feelings regarding forcing him to transplant a cactus from its natural desert environment to her backyard in a most unusual way. BALL’s protagonist falls in love with an adopted dog that expresses a neurotic need for affection by constantly seeking to play fetch. When she is forced to choose between her dog and her boyfriend, this woman settles on a strange and shocking solution. BAKERY GIRL is a pre-adolescent who is exposed to more worldly people in her part-time job at a bakery. She fantasizes about growing up but becomes disillusioned by the coarseness and degradation she experiences from her co-workers. WIG tells of a young woman whose longtime friend is having chemotherapy and has lost her hair. While lovingly supporting her decisions regarding the choice of a wig, she is also betraying her. In FISH, a young woman is the only family member who visits a dying uncle. We learn that she has ulterior motives related to a childhood experience with her uncle and that she is fantasizing about a strange way to dispose of his remains once he passes. An unfaithful wife who seeks forgiveness from her betrayed husband narrates APOLOGY. Her fruitless apology takes on bizarre manifestations. In STAPLES, a young man nurses an Internet dominatrix who is addicted to esthetic plastic surgery procedures. Throughout he maintains a relationship with his girlfriend, who provides him with the support he needs.

The less successful stories are not as compelling, have more contrived plots (if that is possible) and weaker character development. These include KNITTING, NEEDLES, MUSICAL CHAIRS and MULTIPLE CHOICE.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Ison's stories are raw, strange, outrageous and difficult to forget. If we find humor or arousal (there is a lot of sex), we're probably going to feel bad about it by story's end. Her lead characters (invariably female) are not generally likable, but they are relatable as they amplify the least admirable aspects of ourselves. The men are not much better. And when there is a twist (and there are some great ones), it usually involves a character sinking even lower than we imagined. When it comes to darkness and perversity, Tara Ison makes Flannery O'Connor seem like Beverly Cleary.

My favorite story, "Ball", is about a woman who enjoys an intense sexual relationship with a man, but prefers the companionship of her dog the rest of the time. Eventually even the demands of her dog prove a bit burdensome, and you just have to read it to see what happens. To give you an idea of Ms. Ison's writing, here's the story's opening:

My sweet little dog, Tess, is what they call "apricot." She has tiny blue eyes, almond-shaped and set close together like Barbra Streisand's, and the prettiest little dog vagina. I spent twenty minutes examining and marveling at it once with my best friend, Dayna, before she had a boyfriend and we spent a lot of our time together appreciating Tess. Dayna is a biologist, which gave the experience a legitimizingly clinical spirit. It's a tidy, quarter-inch slit in a pinky-tip protuberance of skin, delicate and irrelevant and veiled with fine, apricot hair. Tess rolled over and spread out happily, trustingly, for us; she lives almost pathetically for love, for attention, like a quivering heroine from some 50s romance novel. She also lives for food and naps, but mostly for Ball.

This is both high quality and highly bizarre writing.

You'll know pretty quickly whether or not this book is for you, as the collection leads off with four of the best stories of the bunch. There were a couple of stories I just didn't get - "Needles" was one of them - but for the most part these stories are staying with me for a while.

[Kady · Rating 3 out of 5]

First things first: I would not recommend this book unless you are alright reading graphic, sexual works. I often find 'provocative' is just a code word for 'borderline pornographic' - not that that's a problem, but it can be misleading for those not expecting it. These stories showcase abusive relationships, dubious consent with a minor, animal abuse, and intensely flawed individuals in a myriad of relationships.

That being said, 'Ball' is a gutsy debut. I was immediately drawn in to the world of the stories and their complicated, violent, terrified characters. The people that Ison portrays feel real, even if their scenarios or reactions seem almost dreamlike. I can't see myself doing a lot of what these characters do, but I sympathize with them. I know how much luckier I am than they are.

Sex and relationships are undercurrents throughout the collection. You will feel ashamed for the characters, and you'll question your own fascination in their ridiculous, disturbing lives. They don't make smart or rational decisions - but that's not the point. They're human, and they're responding to scenarios in that very human way of 'this doesn't totally make sense, but this is how I rationalize it'.

My favourite stories were 'Cactus', 'Musical Chairs' and 'Multiple Choice'. If you read anything, read the last story. The other stories give it more impact, but I really feel it still stands on its own as a type of feminist manifesto. It's by far the most female-positive. Avoid 'Bakery Girl', 'Ball' and 'Apology' for the reasons above; they're shock for the sake of being shocking. 4/5

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ball is a collection of eleven dark, creepy short stories by Tara Ison.
Contents include:
Cactus: a young woman's boyfriend dies in a freakish accident
Ball: a young woman adopts an ugly dog who likes to play ball
Bakery Girl: a teen works at a bakery
Wig: a woman cares for her dying best friend while having an affair with her husband
The Knitting Story: a woman knits and knits...
Staples: a boyfriend's other, older, rich girl friend gets a face lift
Needles: a couple leave Iowa and stay in a Motel 6 in Needles, AZ.
Apology: a woman resorts to self mutilation to win back her husband
Fish: a woman plans to feed her uncle's remains to some fish
Musical Chairs: a man cheats on his fiance
Multiple Choice: a woman has a boyfriend who requires choices that need to be made

The collection is well written, but the themes of several stories were not very appealing, including the titular Ball, and they were a bit too disturbing. This was a so-so collection for me.

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Soft Skull Press for review purposes.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ison's fiction debut is a fiercely impressive and remarkably consistent set of stories that explore the seamier side of sex and emotional violence. Most of them feature some kind of twist ending and the general voice stays similar throughout, but they each carve out their own bizarre identity; it's always a good sign when I can look back at the table of contents and remember each story specifically. One of the best story collections I've read in a long time.

Choice cuts: "Apology," "Bakery Girl," "Ball," "Wig"

[Robert Morgan Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a LOT of short story collections. This is topnotch. Best twist-endings I've ever come across. Ison is a master of what short story writers call "the sting in the tail." It is exceedingly difficult to pull off. It usually fails and the reader rolls their eyes. Not BALL--not at all. Every story is a gem and at the end I found myself saying: "Did NOT see that coming."

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars is more accurate. This collection of short stories was everything I like in fiction- dark and a woman's perspective. These stories were bleak and sexy. Unfortunately, after a few they began to seem a little too similar for my tastes. They were good and I might check out some of her other writing.

[Octavia (ReadsWithDogs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this sweet-slightly-sadistic book in one day! I could see myself in nearly every character in each story with almost chilling accuracy.
to sum it up; freaky and there is no pleasure without pain.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a random selection, I was not well versed in her work ahead of time. All the stories were great experiences, though there was not a great number of sparks throughout. Bakery Girl is probably the most challenging, and the title story, Ball, one of the most intriguing.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just wow! This book was awesome. Only left me wanting more.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these stories. Edgy, dark, startling, human, deeply moving, with some of the most elegant, pitch-perfect sentences I've ever read.

[Holly L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ball" and "Wig" are two of the best short stories I've ever read.

[Travis Spier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, twisted, and oddly comical at times. The characters are flawed, unnerving, and believable. The style of writing was confident, quick, and truly amazing.

Read this if nothing else.

[Jenny Garone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a mixed bag. The writing was very good. The subject matter was often highly disturbing, shocking, horrifying. A few of the stories I just didn't get.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grotesque and discomfiting but compulsively readable.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully fucked up. Reminds me of Gillian Flynn's writing, but more realistically disturbing. If that makes sense.

Twisted stories about women I hope to never meet. Loved it.