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Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story
This anthology of short, personal essays brings a vibrant oral tradition to the page through the work of 2nd Story, a Chicago-based collective working to build community through storytelling. These original, unpublished essays are adapted from the group's monthly events, which fuse page, stage, and sound to deliver a unique, live literary and theatrical experience. Contributors include Sam Weller, Patricia Ann McNair, Eric Charles May, and Randall Albers.
- GenresEssaysShort Stories
227 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 9, 2012
SO SO GOOD.
It was hard to put one shelf. On the one hand, I've already read it. On the other hand, I'm going to read it all over again.
The title story made me cry. Half of the stories made me cry. The other half made me laugh. They all made me think.
It was hard to put one shelf. On the one hand, I've already read it. On the other hand, I'm going to read it all over again.
The title story made me cry. Half of the stories made me cry. The other half made me laugh. They all made me think.
October 29, 2012
Touching, engaging and entertaining
I rarely read personal essay writing, or anthologies, so I wasn't really sure what I would get with Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low Flying Duck. Certainly the title was enough to grab my attention. The introduction explained that the stories inside had been read out loud to live audiences as part of the group 2nd Story's live story-telling events, which are designed to get people talking about similar events in their own lives, and thus build community through shared experience.
What I was not expecting was that this book would be the page-turner that it was. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. Every story in it grabbed my attention within a few sentences, and pulled me through effortlessly. The stories where all fascinating for very different reasons. Each one touched on a slice-of-life moment that was highly relatable, whether it was about love, family, death, loss, childhood, personal struggle, hopes and dreams, sex and sexuality, personal awakenings, growing up, or self-empowerment. Even when some of the stories were about topics that were foreign to me, I could connect with the humanity involved in every single one. The authors all poured their hearts onto the pages of this book. All of the stories were intimate and honest, entertaining and engaging. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes exciting, all of them were marvelous.
We've all heard the saying that "truth is stranger than fiction." In this case I want to say that truth is more interesting than fiction. Once you have read enough fiction, their tends to be that faint whisper in your head reminding you it's all fake. In the case of the stories in this book, that voice was not there. I could feel what these real, living, breathing people have felt in the course of their own lives. The mission of the 2nd Story group was carried through into this book. I want to give a heart-felt thank you to all of the contributing authors for sharing their life stories so openly.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has grown tired of mainstream fiction and wants something with more substance. You will not be disappointed.
I rarely read personal essay writing, or anthologies, so I wasn't really sure what I would get with Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low Flying Duck. Certainly the title was enough to grab my attention. The introduction explained that the stories inside had been read out loud to live audiences as part of the group 2nd Story's live story-telling events, which are designed to get people talking about similar events in their own lives, and thus build community through shared experience.
What I was not expecting was that this book would be the page-turner that it was. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. Every story in it grabbed my attention within a few sentences, and pulled me through effortlessly. The stories where all fascinating for very different reasons. Each one touched on a slice-of-life moment that was highly relatable, whether it was about love, family, death, loss, childhood, personal struggle, hopes and dreams, sex and sexuality, personal awakenings, growing up, or self-empowerment. Even when some of the stories were about topics that were foreign to me, I could connect with the humanity involved in every single one. The authors all poured their hearts onto the pages of this book. All of the stories were intimate and honest, entertaining and engaging. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes exciting, all of them were marvelous.
We've all heard the saying that "truth is stranger than fiction." In this case I want to say that truth is more interesting than fiction. Once you have read enough fiction, their tends to be that faint whisper in your head reminding you it's all fake. In the case of the stories in this book, that voice was not there. I could feel what these real, living, breathing people have felt in the course of their own lives. The mission of the 2nd Story group was carried through into this book. I want to give a heart-felt thank you to all of the contributing authors for sharing their life stories so openly.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has grown tired of mainstream fiction and wants something with more substance. You will not be disappointed.
December 28, 2014
Loved this book. Some of the stories were stronger than other, but taken as a whole you really get a sense of the diverse and wide-spanning Chicago experience. It's a great anthology to check out some of the strongest writers you don't know in Chicago, and standouts like "Why I Hate Strawberries" and "Running On Empty" and "A Cautionary Tale?" really got me excited to get up and get writing myself. Great anthology, everybody check it out.
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February 1, 2021Like a gift.
November 5, 2012
"Our actual Mission is to use stories to build community. It's not just about creating good stories; it's about employing those stories to connect people to one another." ~ Amanda Delheimer Dimond, in Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck
The collection of stories within the pages of Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck were originally told to a live audience on the 2nd story stage in Chicago. While there is something quite powerful about listening to a story read out loud - about the effect of the words as they circle the air and settle into our ears, our mind, our hearts - the stories in this anthology carry as much weight as I imagine they did on stage.
As Dimond says in the quote above, stories serve to connect us. Pick up this book and find yourself in the pages: in a moment between father and daughters that doesn't go according to plan but unfolds in perfect succession; or at a funeral when everyone knows the truth but no one speaks a word. One of my favorite stories, written by Patricia Ann McNair, speaks to the power of place, how, whether we leave a place whole or broken, memories settle deep within us and urge us to return.
Likely, you will want to return to these stories again and again.
The collection of stories within the pages of Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck were originally told to a live audience on the 2nd story stage in Chicago. While there is something quite powerful about listening to a story read out loud - about the effect of the words as they circle the air and settle into our ears, our mind, our hearts - the stories in this anthology carry as much weight as I imagine they did on stage.
As Dimond says in the quote above, stories serve to connect us. Pick up this book and find yourself in the pages: in a moment between father and daughters that doesn't go according to plan but unfolds in perfect succession; or at a funeral when everyone knows the truth but no one speaks a word. One of my favorite stories, written by Patricia Ann McNair, speaks to the power of place, how, whether we leave a place whole or broken, memories settle deep within us and urge us to return.
Likely, you will want to return to these stories again and again.
November 21, 2012
I think we would have a lot more talented writers in this world if they were forced to read their work out loud for an audience. Hearing honest laughter, intense silence, or halfhearted boredom as a direct reaction to your work must do wonders. The short stories of Briefly Knocked Unconscious By a Low-Flying Duck are the result of fine-tuning, hard work, and a true appreciation of the audience. I was genuinely enthralled by each story - and they were all VERY different. Well done to the authors/performers, as well as their editors and directors. My only complaint is very small - most of the stories start with a funny statement that takes place in the middle of the story to grab your attention, then back up to explain it to you from the beginning. I don't mind this as a literary device at all. It was just used often enough that I noticed it. Regardless, I highly recommend this as a read. I'm from Chicago and I can't believe I've never heard of 2nd Story. You can be assured I'm looking up their upcoming performances now.
November 21, 2012
This is a fantastic book. It really captured that unique, hard to describe, vibe of listening to someone tell a story in Chicago. I was concerned that that intangible live performance whatever-it-is wouldn't translate to a written collection of essays, but they nailed it. The essays are well balanced and all deliver that necessary punch, whether it's laughter or a tear. They never stray into diary-like material, but are extremely well told. "Push Kick Coast" practically knocks you over. I enjoyed every single story. It's a very big win.
January 13, 2013
Review based on ARC.
Unfortunately for me, the title story was the first story, and I didn't like it. I imagine if you liked that story, then the whole book is set up for you. But for me, it was kind of going nowhere, kind of depressing, kind of just blah. I've heard so many of that story, from so many perspectives, and this one fell flat for me. I say unfortunately because it made me avoid reading (altogether) for a while, because I didn't want more of "that."
When I finally DID pick the book back up and bear down to geterdone, I was very pleasantly surprised. No, I did not love all the stories - I felt that some were self-gratifying.. "look how RAW I am" kind of tone. But on the whole, there was a lot of good stories, a lot of good telling, and some pretty good writing.
I particularly liked Push Kick Coast because it accomplished the "raw," harsh reality, without being so self-aware. It was just. So. Well. Done. Loved it.
And Why I Hate Strawberries... Well, I hated the story because of why she hates strawberries, but it was well told and I appreciated her courage.
Overall, I was pleased with the opportunity, but it felt a bit weighty to be put all together like that... I know that not all of the stories were sad, but they were all dark, weighty, lessoned.
I also enjoyed being brought back to Chicago -- having lived there for about a decade, the stories brought me back to my first adult home, and I enjoyed the nostalgia.
Overall, 3 1/2 stars (4 here because it's a little closer to 4 than 3) because some were just excellent, some were okay, and a couple were really blasé. (if you would like the full review, including a reaction-blurb of each individual story, see my blog at http://theirstoriesmythoughts.blogspo...)
Unfortunately for me, the title story was the first story, and I didn't like it. I imagine if you liked that story, then the whole book is set up for you. But for me, it was kind of going nowhere, kind of depressing, kind of just blah. I've heard so many of that story, from so many perspectives, and this one fell flat for me. I say unfortunately because it made me avoid reading (altogether) for a while, because I didn't want more of "that."
When I finally DID pick the book back up and bear down to geterdone, I was very pleasantly surprised. No, I did not love all the stories - I felt that some were self-gratifying.. "look how RAW I am" kind of tone. But on the whole, there was a lot of good stories, a lot of good telling, and some pretty good writing.
I particularly liked Push Kick Coast because it accomplished the "raw," harsh reality, without being so self-aware. It was just. So. Well. Done. Loved it.
And Why I Hate Strawberries... Well, I hated the story because of why she hates strawberries, but it was well told and I appreciated her courage.
Overall, I was pleased with the opportunity, but it felt a bit weighty to be put all together like that... I know that not all of the stories were sad, but they were all dark, weighty, lessoned.
I also enjoyed being brought back to Chicago -- having lived there for about a decade, the stories brought me back to my first adult home, and I enjoyed the nostalgia.
Overall, 3 1/2 stars (4 here because it's a little closer to 4 than 3) because some were just excellent, some were okay, and a couple were really blasé. (if you would like the full review, including a reaction-blurb of each individual story, see my blog at http://theirstoriesmythoughts.blogspo...)
March 17, 2014
Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck is an excellent collection. The stories reflect the humor, sorrow, and unexpected events that characterize the brief, exciting period between life and death. The selections are brief, so this is a perfect book for people traveling or visiting family. The reader can finish a story in one sitting and put the book down and pick it up again with losing continuity. The voices contained in this collection reflect the rich diversity of the city in which they were originally performed (Chicago, IL, USA) but readers everywhere will recognize the distinct tones of hope, fear, triumph, and sorrow the writers have rendered so authentically. Buy this book for yourself and buy a copy for a friend.
February 17, 2013
There are some interesting and poignant personal stories in here, though I have the feeling that there's something lost in translation from their original, live-storytelling format. Since they are personal to such an extreme degree, I would think that hearing them directly from the author's mouth, in person, where you feel a more direction connection, would be an important part of the experience. As a collection of printed stories, the self-centered nature of all of them starts to feel relentless and a little irritating.
May 13, 2013
This book has essays from a wide variety of people and thus has a large variety of topics and voices. Originally told orally, they go by quickly, but leave an big impact on the reader. You'll find yourself within some of these essays, some of the scenarios are ones you've lived before but you'll experience anew. Though I was not a fan of every story, it was overall a very pleasant experience.
January 23, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, the concept is a neat idea and the stories they chose for the anthology are a broad spectrum of life experiences. I found the selections to be a good mix of humorous, touching, and thoughtful.
I love the idea of community story telling and hopefully people who read this book will start something similar in their community.
I love the idea of community story telling and hopefully people who read this book will start something similar in their community.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews