Rhymes with Useless

by Terence Young

In 13 unforgettable stories, Terence Young examines the frailty, and bravery, of that most hapless of millennial institutions-the modern family. Simultaneously warm and chilling, Young's characters shuffle between uncertainty and memory in scenarios too real to be a hippie's close encounter with an undiscovered Joni Mitchell; a single father's obsession with an impending bee invasion; a teacher testifying against colleagues accused of pedophilia; a German boy's vengeance against his wheelchair-bound father; a professor credited with encouraging a former student's sex change. This collection is both a litany of human foibles and its sensible antidote; regret and forgiveness, suppressed desires and unleashed lust, dislocation and homecoming.

Genres: Canada, Short Stories

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[PeachyTO · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of short stories, as I often feel inadequate in my comprehension of what it is the author is really trying to convey. On more than a few occasions I've finished a story and thought, “Did I miss something?” This is not a question that I enjoy asking, nor does it help with my literary confidence. I then will take a step back and process the details, making sure to point out that writing is art, and it can be interpreted in a million different ways by a million different people. In the end, I try to convince myself that I am just a person who requires a lot of information and character development to actually get it.

Rhymes with useless was a little less harsh on my ego, but there were still a few moments where I felt I’d missed the boat. Nonetheless, Terence Young has compiled 13 stories that accent honest characters, living day-to-day, with real issues. From a child’s perspective of her parents’ failing relationship; to a teenager’s first experience with love; to a young couple settling into the doldrums of a marriage; to a middle-aged woman’s struggle with her faith, and to an elderly man’s evaluation of his years, the whole spectrum of individuals was represented. Amidst the feelings of remorse and regret, the thoughts of revenge, the hidden desires, as well as the sometimes revolting truths that surfaced as a result of people just honestly being people, it is apparent that Young has an astounding sense of the common man and his/her idiosyncrasies. Those who favour short stories will surely not be disappointed by this Canadian talent.