Mouth

by Kerry Donoghue

In MOUTH, Kerry Donoghue’s provocative debut, the ways we consume—from the drinks we can't put down to the lovers we can’t resist—reveal deeper hungers we often keep hidden. A competitive eater, a rodeo clown, a pearl diver, and a mermaid-in-training are just a few of the outsiders in this collection, each grappling with their own consuming desires. Whether through alcohol, infidelity, or chasing perfection, these characters are forced to confront what they’re truly starving for—and who they become when they can't fill that void. MOUTH when our appetites define us, how do we survive the hunger?

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 2025

Reviews

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could describe this collection of short stories, I would say that it reminded me of growing up in the Midwest. The suburbs, specifically. All the time I spent in malls or by pools or just wandering around aimlessly.

I would tell you that it made me think about drugstore make-up and chipped, glittery nail polish, and going to the gas station only for Arizona iced teas.

There is a layer of grit and grime to every page. Depravity, resilience, humor, and a deep, never-ending sadness.

And, in the rarest but highly coveted reading experience, not a single story in this collection was a skip. I was invested from start to finish.

You MUST pick up Mouth this summer. I myself will be revisiting it.

[Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was put off by the narrator’s robot voice. Was it AI? Also put off by the lack of resolution to the stories. They suddenly stopped just when they got interesting.

[Mary Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE MOUTH
By Kerry Donoghue
Reviewed by Mary Paula Hunter

Kerry Donoghue’s collection of short stories entitled The Mouth is smart, funny, and something more. These unlinked tales draw you in and not just because the narratives are well constructed and so authentic you think you’re listening to a good friend relay a recent experience she couldn’t keep to herself. What catches your attention and won’t let go is Donoghue’s cast of unique but oddly recognizable characters. Folks you may have dumped and then regretted dumping. Like they’re the weird bestie you had no time for in the busy days of becoming an adult and then contemplate calling many years later when you realize no one else quite measures up. Indeed, you will miss them, like you’ll miss this book once you’re done.
The situations are loopy. Donoghue gives us bullfights, Monopoly contests, over eating as a career, and a guy who hocks goods on one of those dumb cable TV shows specializing in ripping off the gullible.
My favorite story however could take place anywhere and centers on an ordeal in a doctor’s office we recognize and dread. Doctors dashing away after an examination to get a second opinion can’t be good and Camille, the star of the fantastic yet relatable “Birds of a Paradise,” lying with her feet in stirrups, fears the worst.
“Birds of a Paradise” is an ironic title for a tale of hope set in a dying landscape (Los Angeles) and centered on the dashing of a dream. However, as Camille watches her dream slip away, she refuses to let go and like many of the characters in this unforgettable collection, she appears to prevail as a crazy twist, somewhat a kin to the twist at the end of Robert Harris’ Conclave, provides her with a version of this dream. Donoghue’s characters often resort to their imagination to get what they want, a recognition of life’s performance---the artist in each one of us.
Read The Mouth for fun and to linger with folks balancing reality with a yearning for the fantastical or perhaps for simply more than they wake to each morning.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and to the point, this collection of ten short stories is a collection of hunger. Each steps into a working-class character just on the edge of failure, hungry for something more, and willing to make a huge mistake to get it. They're grimy, desperate, but deeply humane, and often funny. Which makes it all the worse when so many of them choose to hurt someone they love to keep what they think they need. I particularly enjoyed the rodeo clown afraid of getting left behind in 'Ovation' and the over-the-hill TV network presenter struggling to keep the shine in "Casualties of the Vainglorious". The pain these characters feel is visceral, especially the women, all the more because there's a hint of happiness there they refuse to accept. If there were one complaint, it's that so many of the stories in Mouth shared a very similar arc. However, Donoghue has a great eye for character and an ear for voice. I look forward to seeing more from her down the line.

[Darci Schummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mouth is a carefully crafted, highly cohesive collection of stories imbued with tenderness and humor. Donoghue renders Its outsider characters with compassion and clarity, and we are quickly and deeply drawn into their lives and plights. Setting is also expertly employed in this collection, which contributes to each story's unique color palette. Some highlights from the collection for me were "Fever," which explores a troubled sibling relationship after the loss of parents; "Birds of Paradise," a story about stony female grief; and "Jenny," a first-person dive into the mind of a woman who wants to be a mermaid. I strongly recommend this collection; it is one you will continue thinking about long after you finish the final story. It will leave you wanting more.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting and heartbreaking, the stories in this incredible collection will leave you aching. With humor, pathos, unflinching empathy, and figurative language that sings, you feel for each of these characters on the fringe. Each situation seems more desperate than the last, staying with you long after you’ve finished. The short form does the stories - snapshots of lives, really - justice, leaving you wanting more. The settings are characters themselves; landscapes offering rich context and a deep sense of place to each story. Bravo to this debut. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Kerry Donoghue!

[Keilah Villa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story anthologies can be hard to review. One must look at each story individually and how they work together as a whole. With that in mind, I love the theme of this collection. Hunger encompasses more than just a desire for food. The author does an excellent job demonstrating other types of hunger that people experience, whether that be a hunger for love, a hunger for purpose, a hunger for dreams to come true. I enjoyed most of the stories. A couple didn't interest me at all, but almost all of them made me feel something deeply. If you like short stories, I recommend this collection.

[Alyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I really appreciate about this collection of short stories is how they approach some of the really ugly aspects of human nature. Some of these stories were straight up uncomfy (“Refrain” comes to mind) but they felt authentic. I felt like the style was a bit formulaic from one story to the next, and I found myself craving some harder-hitting endings in some cases. Overall, though, I enjoyed the grittiness and surprising levity in these narratives.

[Laura Gaddis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those short story collections that demands your attention. The common thread of consumption in humanity is a fascinating way to tie together the different stories and characters. Donahue's writing is so engaging and lovely that I felt like I just fell into each new story and met the characters right where they were. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys reading bite-sized stories that fulfill a huge mission.

[Josh Rank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read that explores the various ways people are driven by desire to get what they want, even when it's not actually good for them. It does a great job illustrating a life in a few pages, which is damn hard to do in short fiction.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5ish

A mixed bag. The stories I enjoyed I LOVED. The others, I didn’t really care for.

[victoria marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

definitely took my time finishing these as each story is so unique & wonderful!! probably my favorite short story collection of the year! cannot wait to read more by this author (& press)!

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I REALLY DIDNT UNDERSTAND MOST OF THE STORIES. I LIKED SOME.