Western Taxidermy

by Barb Howard

Roadkill stuffed and presented as art, an OB/GYN appointment gone horribly wrong, and government spies with a weakness for salmon bagels and Timmy Ho's.Tender, satirical, and occasionally absurd, Barb Howard's new story collection Western Taxidermy is a perfect introduction to one of Western Canada's most high-spirited literary voices.In these sixteen stories, Howard effortlessly balances wry social commentary and prairie gothic, pairing humans and animals in clever and unexpected ways.

Genres: Short Stories

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2012

Reviews

[Haley Sembaluk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of short stories. Something I'd definitely come back to and take a closer look at.

[b · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diminishing returns on forced, literary endings (lotta transparent stand-in metaphors where parents worry about their children, or lovers about their lovers, etcetera), but overall, really tight, strong and quick prose. This was a real treat to read. Not sure billing it as “gothic” is at all appropriate, but that has nothing to do with the book and everything to do with the advertising. I hope to read more of her short fiction in the future.

[Bruce Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In succinct stories that range from humorous to poignant, Calgarian Barb Howard’s Western Taxidermy shows a sharp wit and sure eye for human (and animal) behaviour. Whether portraying the ‘burbs or the back country, Howard’s taut prose and crisp dialogue captures an utterly contemporary Alberta. Highly recommended.

[Josee Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and rediscovered my love of short stories. Every story is expertly told with heart and wit, each more quirky than the other.