If You Lie With Dogs: Stories

by Camille McCarthy

A book of four short stories of realistic fiction that focus on life in the modern world. "Kambucha in the Afternoon" involves a young adult woman harassed by an older man in a restaurant; "Cafe Car Crash" shows the events of an aspiring writer's afternoon; "Lawn Care in the 21st Century" deals with a disgruntled lawn service owner; and "If You Lie With Dogs" follows a young woman who takes a vacation to separate herself from painful memories and self-doubt, only to have the past find her there. Each story captures the emotions and meaning within life's small moments.

Kindle Edition

Reviews

[Majenta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quartet of interesting slices of 21st-century life: "Kambucha in the Afternoon", "Café Car Crash", "Lawn Care in the 21st Century", and "If You Lie With Dogs."

I love the name of "Kambucha"'s main character: "Myrcella." I sympathize with "Café"'s main, Sara, a writer seeking inspiration, as she thinks "This would be the perfect writing atmosphere, if only I could think of something to write" (Location 196)--how many of us have "been there"? "Lawn Care" brings in dogs, at least concern for them, as main character Jake lurches his "beer-induced paunch" around customers' yards (Location 284); this one ends with a lyrical image.

As for the title story, main character Sharon is attempting a getaway break to Myrtle Beach accompanied by her dog Stark. She encounters an older couple "holding hands like high-school sweethearts but looking as if they hated the world and everything in it" (Location 557). She feels like she and Stark have a more companionable relationship! As for her toxic ex-partner...think variations on the expression "sweets to the sweet."

Thanks for reading.

[Jason Navallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Enjoyed the stories!