Shadows of Men

by Kevin Grauke

Here are long shadows. Cast as inherited notions of what it means to be a man, Kevin Grauke’s Shadows of Men is a defining meditation on maleness, masculinity, and manhood. The fathers, sons, husbands, and lovers of this ambitious first collection occupy a suburban terrain where insecurity, uncertainty, and inadequacy all project a disquieting shade. Their floundering may demarcate the thirteen stories’ humor and poignancy, but a dignified, near-elegiac portrayal of the modern man resonates. The shadows’ reach is long, and these characters may stumble and lose their way, but Grauke’s empathetic clarity sweeps the unsettling land.

Hardcover

First published December 11, 2012

About the author

Kevin Grauke's stories have appeared in such publications as Fiction, The Southern Review, Five Chapters, Hayden's Ferry Review, Story Quarterly, Quarterly West, Blue Mesa Review, and Third Coast, amongst many others. He also regularly reviews fiction for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Born and raised in Texas, he now lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children. He teaches at La Salle University.

Reviews

[Gregory Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read story collections as often as I read novels, but I added this book by Kevin Grauke to my kindle and became transfixed right away. He explores life and manhood, and he does it deftly. I liked how he handled the process looking forward and looking back, with equal, expert skill. Grauke is a reader's writer and a writer's writer. He's the kind of writer who convinces you that you're in good hands. I recommend this book - even if like me you think you can't get pulled into shorter stories. You'll be surprised.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just received my copy of this book a few days ago and could not put it down. Funny, poignant, and authentic writing. You will not be disappointed.

[Michael Noll · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the blurbs for this book claims that the stories in this collection "speak genuinely to what it means to be a man in the world." I agree completely. In fiction that is "about men," you tend to get a lot of the same thing: not-quite-articulate men with good hearts and troubled minds. What makes this book so interesting is that it takes this stock characters and flips it on its head. Grauke writes fully realized characters who I found myself empathizing with, sometimes while cringing. If you like the stories of Richard Ford but would like to find an updated version rather than a carbon copy, this is the book for you.

If you'd like to learn how to write a fight scene, check out this exercise based on Grauke's story "Bullies" at my blog: http://readtowritestories.com/2013/06...

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received "Shadows of Men" in the mail and read it start to finish all in the same day. Each individual story held my interest and fit together as a collection flawlessly. I particularly loved "The Leaves, They Pirouette." It was beautiful, sweet, and sad in a way I don't know how to express. I don't cry often when I'm reading, but -also- "The Fading of Whittier" got to me. As a woman, I was thankful to have a look into the hearts of men when they are feeling fearful, optimistic, determined, confused, frustrated, or all of those things in succession. I honestly loved this book and am hoping there will be more to read from Kevin Grauke.

[Jbf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! One of the best books I have read in years.

[Shana Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of short stories, offering a lot of insights into the lives of men and boys.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look for my review in the next Discover Lansdale magazine.