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Funeral Platter: Stories
From the author of the award-winning novel Buffalo Lockjaw comes a powerful collection of darkly humorous short stories. A young girl uses a burnt log for her ventriloquist act; Franz Kafka and an unnamed narrator cruise a dive bar for women; a grieving couple stage and execute their own funeral; a son brings hot chowder to his caged parents. This stunning collection―packed with moments of violence and tenderness―explores the humor and unease of modern life. Since he first began publishing his fiction, Greg Ames has been praised for his willingness to take risks and the strength and freshness of his voice. Assembled here for the first time, this collection brings together the best work from a brilliant American writer, a playful and innovative artist. In these twenty original short stories, Greg Ames earns his place as one of the best writers of his generation.
In the tradition of Etgar Keret, Greg Ames’ prose style ties together the absurd hilarity and deep anguish of contemporary life. These wildly inventive stories will appeal to readers who thirst for a unique, deeply humane voice.
In the tradition of Etgar Keret, Greg Ames’ prose style ties together the absurd hilarity and deep anguish of contemporary life. These wildly inventive stories will appeal to readers who thirst for a unique, deeply humane voice.
266 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2017
36 people are currently reading
687 people want to read
About the author
Greg Ames
4 books35 followersGreg Ames is the author of Buffalo Lockjaw, a novel that won a NAIBA Book of the Year Award. His work has appeared in numerous journals, magazines, and anthologies, including Best American Nonrequired Reading, Southern Review, McSweeney’s, North American Review, Catapult, and The Sun. He splits his time between Brooklyn and Hamilton, New York, where he is an associate professor at Colgate University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 17, 2017
"Funeral Platter: Stories" by Greg Ames is a collection of twenty short stories. The collection has it all; humor, sarcasm, eccentricity, sadness, longing and a plethora of dysfunction. I loved it!
"Discipline" is a story about a little girl named Cathy who claims that a charred log from her fireplace is her dummy, Marilyn. Cathy imagines herself to be a ventriloquist. A most eccentric child!
"A Domestic Tyranny" describes a new puppy who arrives unannounced and wrecks havoc on a family of four. The neighbors are appalled at the dog's outdoor behavior. The father cooks up a plan which, no doubt, will signal the puppy's fall from grace.
"Quagmire" introduces the reader to Declan and Paige. Although engaged, Declan feels inadequate. He thinks Paige deserves a partner who will adore her and make her happy. To this end, he enlists the help of an old college friend who proposes a Three Phase Plan, one that includes an exit strategy for Declan. The plan snowfalls out of control.
Author Greg Ames has written a debut short story collection that is quirky and most enjoyable. I look forward to his next literary venture.
Thank you Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. for providing "Funeral Platter: Stories" in exchange for my honest review.
"Discipline" is a story about a little girl named Cathy who claims that a charred log from her fireplace is her dummy, Marilyn. Cathy imagines herself to be a ventriloquist. A most eccentric child!
"A Domestic Tyranny" describes a new puppy who arrives unannounced and wrecks havoc on a family of four. The neighbors are appalled at the dog's outdoor behavior. The father cooks up a plan which, no doubt, will signal the puppy's fall from grace.
"Quagmire" introduces the reader to Declan and Paige. Although engaged, Declan feels inadequate. He thinks Paige deserves a partner who will adore her and make her happy. To this end, he enlists the help of an old college friend who proposes a Three Phase Plan, one that includes an exit strategy for Declan. The plan snowfalls out of control.
Author Greg Ames has written a debut short story collection that is quirky and most enjoyable. I look forward to his next literary venture.
Thank you Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. for providing "Funeral Platter: Stories" in exchange for my honest review.
March 26, 2020
When the publisher of Funeral Platter: Stories, written in 2017 by Greg Ames, reached out to me to offer an opportunity to read his collection of short stories, I was honored. I love when that happens, but I had so many in my queue to read, what's a guy to do? I also am not a typical short story reader, but I agreed to read it in early 2018. I just finished it last night on a train ride from NYC to Long Island and gave it 3.5 stars.
At ~250 pages, it's a relatively short read I completed in about 2 1/2 hours. There are twenty short stories, ranging from 5 to 20 pages. Some of the content is more adult-oriented, but many are good for young adults, too. As is usual in a collection like this, many shined; a few fell flat. My favorites happen to be the first three: Chemistry, Discipline and The Life She's Been Missing. In these, the narrator tells the story of couples or families interacting with one another -- both the good and bad sides of life and relationships. He's got a knack for diving right into the bizarre yet totally understandable moments we all face in life. And there are a few where we actually see ourselves as the main character, experiencing the absurdities life sometimes offers.
Quite humorous, very succinct in capturing character profiles. Although I wanted to hit, smack or kick some of the characters, they always made me react with a hearty laugh or a smirk and wink of at least one eye (two would be just weird). In Discipline, a teenager tries to convince his father that they should physically abuse a younger sister to teach her a lesson, but when that doesn't work, he asks the sister if they should attack their father to teach him a lesson! It all ends with the son telling the family dog that he drew the unlucky straw and must be punished. Of course it's humorous, so no need to be alarmed, as it was purely drawing on a minor detail of what the son was really trying to say about life. Same goes for the couple dating in Chemistry. At first, I thought... we've got a nasty mean girl and a cantankerous douche of a guy on a blind date. Slowly, I realized, they have been dating for a while and enjoy bashing one another as part of their foreplay. When it ends with them happily in love, you know I'm like "whaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt??????????????" but in the end, it really makes you laugh!
A few of the stories completely flew over my head. Perhaps I'm not that smart. Maybe you just need a certain kinda understanding about life. Nonetheless, I flipped the pages and ignored the ones I didn't like. That's how it should be... you can't love everything, so enjoy what you can. The author's style is good; it's a fine balance of realistic humor coupled with extreme circumstances of situations. For instance... 'Playing Ping Pong with Pontius Pilate' -- seriously, who would think of something like that? But if you read the story, you'll get a good flavor of Ames' tone. And when you get to the final one, trying to decide whether people did or did not die, you'll find yourself confused and tantalized. But when they climb into the coffin together, your head will do a few new moves!
I look forward to reading more from him. He's got that funky offbeat charm with a bit of old-school approach that reminded me a bit of the flavor you see in Kafka's slice of life. Oh and by the way, there may or may not be a character named Kafka in one of the stories, too.
At ~250 pages, it's a relatively short read I completed in about 2 1/2 hours. There are twenty short stories, ranging from 5 to 20 pages. Some of the content is more adult-oriented, but many are good for young adults, too. As is usual in a collection like this, many shined; a few fell flat. My favorites happen to be the first three: Chemistry, Discipline and The Life She's Been Missing. In these, the narrator tells the story of couples or families interacting with one another -- both the good and bad sides of life and relationships. He's got a knack for diving right into the bizarre yet totally understandable moments we all face in life. And there are a few where we actually see ourselves as the main character, experiencing the absurdities life sometimes offers.
Quite humorous, very succinct in capturing character profiles. Although I wanted to hit, smack or kick some of the characters, they always made me react with a hearty laugh or a smirk and wink of at least one eye (two would be just weird). In Discipline, a teenager tries to convince his father that they should physically abuse a younger sister to teach her a lesson, but when that doesn't work, he asks the sister if they should attack their father to teach him a lesson! It all ends with the son telling the family dog that he drew the unlucky straw and must be punished. Of course it's humorous, so no need to be alarmed, as it was purely drawing on a minor detail of what the son was really trying to say about life. Same goes for the couple dating in Chemistry. At first, I thought... we've got a nasty mean girl and a cantankerous douche of a guy on a blind date. Slowly, I realized, they have been dating for a while and enjoy bashing one another as part of their foreplay. When it ends with them happily in love, you know I'm like "whaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt??????????????" but in the end, it really makes you laugh!
A few of the stories completely flew over my head. Perhaps I'm not that smart. Maybe you just need a certain kinda understanding about life. Nonetheless, I flipped the pages and ignored the ones I didn't like. That's how it should be... you can't love everything, so enjoy what you can. The author's style is good; it's a fine balance of realistic humor coupled with extreme circumstances of situations. For instance... 'Playing Ping Pong with Pontius Pilate' -- seriously, who would think of something like that? But if you read the story, you'll get a good flavor of Ames' tone. And when you get to the final one, trying to decide whether people did or did not die, you'll find yourself confused and tantalized. But when they climb into the coffin together, your head will do a few new moves!
I look forward to reading more from him. He's got that funky offbeat charm with a bit of old-school approach that reminded me a bit of the flavor you see in Kafka's slice of life. Oh and by the way, there may or may not be a character named Kafka in one of the stories, too.
Read
December 16, 2017Not my review yet but the only way I can keep track of these stories.
Chemistry, a first date with a big twist.
Discipline, a young girl, whose mother has left her and her brother, with their dad, carries a piece of burnt wood around to use as a ventriloquists dummy. Brother sent to a strict religious school, seems to be learning and experiencing much that is undesirable.
The Life she's been missing, the risks of online dating, a very strange date.
Chemistry, a first date with a big twist.
Discipline, a young girl, whose mother has left her and her brother, with their dad, carries a piece of burnt wood around to use as a ventriloquists dummy. Brother sent to a strict religious school, seems to be learning and experiencing much that is undesirable.
The Life she's been missing, the risks of online dating, a very strange date.
December 3, 2017
Funeral Platter offers an assortment of short - sometimes really short - stories about life in our often off-kilter modern world where kids fixate on burnt logs calling them ventriloquist's dummies, guys plan complicated exit strategies from relationships before the trap and, where online dating leads to odd relationships and houseguests from hell, where suburban families have family meetings about getting rid of puppies. The characters in these stories often find themselves floating out there, disconnected. Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for providing a copy for review.
January 9, 2018
One of the better single author anthologies I’ve read, and I really quite enjoyed it. The title is very fitting, as this collection really is like a funeral platter, it’s got a little bit of everything. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author. The way he mixes the strange and the familiar together is quite well-done.
Chemistry – A woman has decided that she can tell from a 30-minute coffee date if the relationship has some potential, or if it’s a lemon. A whole relationship basically plays out in 30 minutes.
Discipline – There is definitely some underlying trauma that is going on with the boy in this story, but it isn’t ever really laid out. Rather the author lets you make your own desertions on what is going on in this kid’s mind. Although the whole story revolves around his sister, who insists that burnt log she pulled out of the fire, is a dummy and she’s a ventriloquist, this story is definitely about how he is reacting to the things around him.
A Domestic Tyranny – A dog just walks into a house and takes over. In an attempt to take back his castle, and show who the man/human of the house is, he does some ridiculous things to try and convince his family that the dog is no good.
Is the Vagina Necessary? A bunch of men talking about the new developments of the vagina, and how they can better the “process”. Consequently, there are no women in this conference. Quite the satirical tale of a group of people trying to make decisions for another group of people when they really have no idea.
Benefactor – A man becomes a benefactor to an old homeless artist. This was just crazy weird, and was set up to read like one of those scenarios where you donate $10.00 a month, or whatever, to ‘save a child’. This takes that pathos to an entirely different level.
Quagmire – Man plans a coup to get his fiancé with another man that he believes would be better to for his fiancé, so that essentially, he doesn’t have to get married. Hilarity ensues and the woman ends up with 3 men trying to court her.
The Wind in the Street – A man leaves to pick up beer and ends up living as a nomad for about a year. When he’s done, he returns to his old girlfriend and they both play like nothing has happened.
Playing Ping-Pong with Pontius Pilate – A man goes against Pontius in a ping-pong tournament and listens to him bristle and complain about how he wasn’t forgiven and did everything he could for Jesus Christ. But the man has a lesson to bestow upon Pontius. If they can just get to the end of the Ping-Pong match.
Copy kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Chemistry – A woman has decided that she can tell from a 30-minute coffee date if the relationship has some potential, or if it’s a lemon. A whole relationship basically plays out in 30 minutes.
Discipline – There is definitely some underlying trauma that is going on with the boy in this story, but it isn’t ever really laid out. Rather the author lets you make your own desertions on what is going on in this kid’s mind. Although the whole story revolves around his sister, who insists that burnt log she pulled out of the fire, is a dummy and she’s a ventriloquist, this story is definitely about how he is reacting to the things around him.
A Domestic Tyranny – A dog just walks into a house and takes over. In an attempt to take back his castle, and show who the man/human of the house is, he does some ridiculous things to try and convince his family that the dog is no good.
Is the Vagina Necessary? A bunch of men talking about the new developments of the vagina, and how they can better the “process”. Consequently, there are no women in this conference. Quite the satirical tale of a group of people trying to make decisions for another group of people when they really have no idea.
Benefactor – A man becomes a benefactor to an old homeless artist. This was just crazy weird, and was set up to read like one of those scenarios where you donate $10.00 a month, or whatever, to ‘save a child’. This takes that pathos to an entirely different level.
Quagmire – Man plans a coup to get his fiancé with another man that he believes would be better to for his fiancé, so that essentially, he doesn’t have to get married. Hilarity ensues and the woman ends up with 3 men trying to court her.
The Wind in the Street – A man leaves to pick up beer and ends up living as a nomad for about a year. When he’s done, he returns to his old girlfriend and they both play like nothing has happened.
Playing Ping-Pong with Pontius Pilate – A man goes against Pontius in a ping-pong tournament and listens to him bristle and complain about how he wasn’t forgiven and did everything he could for Jesus Christ. But the man has a lesson to bestow upon Pontius. If they can just get to the end of the Ping-Pong match.
Copy kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2017
This collection of 20 short stories rather defies description. They're sardonic, humorous and dark. Many of them focus on dysfunctional romantic relationships, with disagreements and relationship problems put under a magnifying glass and increased exponentially to the point of being ridiculous, but funny.
I found myself chuckling at things that should probably not be funny, but my sense of humor skews toward dark anyway. Still, things like cutting off your own arm should probably not be funny, and yet... I laughed. If you're curious whether or not you have a sick sense of humor, this book should clear that up for ya!
The pacing was spot on. The stories were short and fast, with the characters developed enough to care about them, but with no extra explanation of things that were unnecessary. Despite the fact the stories were unconnected, I found that one story flowed into the next for me and I kept reading and reading, despite my plan to read only a few stories per day. The best laid plans...
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and plan to seek out Mr. Ames other book as well.
*Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for making an ARC of this book available in exchange for an honest review.
I found myself chuckling at things that should probably not be funny, but my sense of humor skews toward dark anyway. Still, things like cutting off your own arm should probably not be funny, and yet... I laughed. If you're curious whether or not you have a sick sense of humor, this book should clear that up for ya!
The pacing was spot on. The stories were short and fast, with the characters developed enough to care about them, but with no extra explanation of things that were unnecessary. Despite the fact the stories were unconnected, I found that one story flowed into the next for me and I kept reading and reading, despite my plan to read only a few stories per day. The best laid plans...
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and plan to seek out Mr. Ames other book as well.
*Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for making an ARC of this book available in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2019
RATING: 1 STAR
(Review Not on Blog)
I am very picky with short stories. I read Alice Munro's stories as a kid and since then have become a short story snob. The subject matter and writing style was not my style.
***I received a hardcover copy from the PUBLISHER***
(Review Not on Blog)
I am very picky with short stories. I read Alice Munro's stories as a kid and since then have become a short story snob. The subject matter and writing style was not my style.
***I received a hardcover copy from the PUBLISHER***
December 8, 2017
I would like to thank Skyhorse Publishing for sending me a copy of “Funeral Platter: Stories” by Greg Ames in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Greg Ames’s idiosyncratic collection of stories that comprise “Funeral Platter: Stories” is delightful, quirky, and morbid all at once. Featuring twenty short works by the author, the book proves that not only is Ames capable of writing across multiple planes and genres, but he is—remarkably—exceptionally good at it. With some stories, I found myself struggling to keep in my laughter, yet in the next story I might find myself contemplating past relationships. I am amazed that one man is capable of so much diversity in his writing.
While not every story dazzled me, there were many that I could read multiple times. A common thread I found in Ames’s stories is that he wants to make the ordinary extraordinary, and he wants the extraordinary to seem ordinary. A girl with a log for a ventriloquist doll; a woman who accidentally dates a high school boy; a puppy framed for a crime he didn’t commit; a man who tries to find a new love interest for his fiancée—Ames crafted snapshots of lives that were real, yet absurd, yet strangely plausible.
I don’t think these stories will resonate with the older crowd, but I believe readers in their twenties and thirties will regard Ames’s “Funeral Platter: Stories” as being truly exceptional. The concise nature of the stories combined with the varying subject and style matter make the book one that has something for every personality. I look forward to reading more from Greg Ames.
Greg Ames’s idiosyncratic collection of stories that comprise “Funeral Platter: Stories” is delightful, quirky, and morbid all at once. Featuring twenty short works by the author, the book proves that not only is Ames capable of writing across multiple planes and genres, but he is—remarkably—exceptionally good at it. With some stories, I found myself struggling to keep in my laughter, yet in the next story I might find myself contemplating past relationships. I am amazed that one man is capable of so much diversity in his writing.
While not every story dazzled me, there were many that I could read multiple times. A common thread I found in Ames’s stories is that he wants to make the ordinary extraordinary, and he wants the extraordinary to seem ordinary. A girl with a log for a ventriloquist doll; a woman who accidentally dates a high school boy; a puppy framed for a crime he didn’t commit; a man who tries to find a new love interest for his fiancée—Ames crafted snapshots of lives that were real, yet absurd, yet strangely plausible.
I don’t think these stories will resonate with the older crowd, but I believe readers in their twenties and thirties will regard Ames’s “Funeral Platter: Stories” as being truly exceptional. The concise nature of the stories combined with the varying subject and style matter make the book one that has something for every personality. I look forward to reading more from Greg Ames.
December 30, 2017
'Funeral Platter: Stories' by Greg Ames is a collection of odd and provocative short stories. The stories all feature weird plot devices and seem to be about how darkly humorous relationships can be.
From the first story, Chemistry, I was thrown off. A woman meets a blind date in a coffee shop and over the course of a short conversation, their relationship runs the gamut from raw lust to fierce hatred. From there, we meet a young girl who uses a piece of charred wood as a ventriloquist dummy and a group of men who gather in the restroom for a ritual dance. A new puppy joins a family and a husband sees it as a threat. A man sponsors an odd artist to make his life more complete.
At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the stories. They are contentious and often uncomfortable. They are also unusual and sometimes humorous. The stories are unpredictable and avant-garde and I enjoyed this collection immensely.
I received a review copy of this book from Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much for allowing me to review this book.
From the first story, Chemistry, I was thrown off. A woman meets a blind date in a coffee shop and over the course of a short conversation, their relationship runs the gamut from raw lust to fierce hatred. From there, we meet a young girl who uses a piece of charred wood as a ventriloquist dummy and a group of men who gather in the restroom for a ritual dance. A new puppy joins a family and a husband sees it as a threat. A man sponsors an odd artist to make his life more complete.
At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the stories. They are contentious and often uncomfortable. They are also unusual and sometimes humorous. The stories are unpredictable and avant-garde and I enjoyed this collection immensely.
I received a review copy of this book from Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much for allowing me to review this book.
August 16, 2019
This is certainly a collection of short stories like no other, and although quite a few of its very dark, grotesque narrative left me perplexed and often saddened, I praise Ames’ originality of narrative. He deals with themes which are often uncomfortable such as domestic violence, homelessness, mental health issues, unrequited love and sexuality in all its nuances; frequently, his narrative voices are those of minorities, which this provide a unique perspective. Despite myself, I did at times laugh out loud at the absurdity and the unexpectedness of these short stories. I was, at times, disappointed in the unclear endings, although I gather this is a trait of the author’s.
If you are looking for one-of-a-kind short stories, this is definitely worth exploring.
My favourite works in the collection were: A Domestic Tyranny, Love Letter, Is The Vagina Necessary, Family Album and Quagmire.
If you are looking for one-of-a-kind short stories, this is definitely worth exploring.
My favourite works in the collection were: A Domestic Tyranny, Love Letter, Is The Vagina Necessary, Family Album and Quagmire.
June 2, 2024
my creative writing prof’s book!! loved the writing style and it made everything we learned in class make sense lol. the plots for some of the stories were a little out there for me and hard to wrap my head around but all very well communicated. i also thought the order of the stories was apt. my favorite stories were “the life she’s been missing”, “family album”, “quagmire” and “before the burial”.
December 10, 2017
My favorite genre is short story collections, and the edgier the better. However, I am not really sure where the author is going with his writing. There are bursts of brilliance such as Men's Room, where the rhythms make me wonder if the author is a musician and other stories that are just uncomfortable to reach. If he wants to write like Fight Story, there have to be certain truths found in the weirdness. Thanks to Sky Publishing for the review copy. I would like to read more of this author's work.
June 9, 2021
Bizarre, yet... intriguing and thought-provoking? No idea how to review this one. Picked it up as an ebook deal when it said "for fans of George Saunders". It definitely had a similar "out there" and "I've never ready anything like this" vibe. A case where I need to read all kinds of reviews afterward to understand some of the hidden meanings....
December 12, 2017
Funeral Platter by Greg Ames was a bit of a palate cleanser for me. I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction and biographies lately, so this collection of funny, odd and heartbreaking stories brought some lightness to my reading.
A few standouts: “The Life She’s Been Missing” and “Hallie Bang” - both modern relationships full of every day things that most relationships deals with. There’s political satire, there’s the above mentioned relationship dramas, there’s a little girl who uses a log as a ventriloquist dummy.
Greg Ames write with a wry voice and I am here for it. All of it.
Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for sending a copy of this book.
December 2, 2017
I never connect with all the stories in a collection, but many of these were outstanding. They overflowed with sharp dialogue, kinetic narration, and what I can describe only as sweet fruit from the chaos tree. I mean, some of these stories are bizarre enough to be baffling, and that just makes them better. They reminded me a lot of the stories of Jacob Appel--that is, if Appel with jacked up on meth and writing as he barreled down the Interstate at about 120 mph. The first story, "Chemistry," was a personal favorite. The intense, unexpected banter turned a simple first-date story into something profound and exciting. As for the stories I didn't connect with, it might've been because those were the few pieces where the author slowed down to catch his breath. In any case, this book is a fun journey.
December 6, 2017
First just let me say that short stories are not typically what I read as novels are my go-to genre. But when Skyhorse Publishing offered me this book to review, I couldn't pass it up and I was more than pleasantly surprised! I'm a fan of dark and quirky and these stories are all that and more! Some made me laugh out loud and some made me cry, but all of them were thought-provoking, offbeat, and unusual. This is definitely a book that I will share with my short story-reading friends!
December 10, 2017
Unsettling stories that spark your imagination, sometimes in a crude way.
This is not a book for fast readers that seek soothing through a mindless composition with a plain plot that is easy to follow. I had to reread some of the stories and even ask another person's opinion to steady myself in the chain of thoughts.
The stories are well conceived and definitely carry a message bordering on weird frightful situations that may seem ordinary and common.
I think each story may have a different interpretation depending on the reader's point of view.
This is not a book for fast readers that seek soothing through a mindless composition with a plain plot that is easy to follow. I had to reread some of the stories and even ask another person's opinion to steady myself in the chain of thoughts.
The stories are well conceived and definitely carry a message bordering on weird frightful situations that may seem ordinary and common.
I think each story may have a different interpretation depending on the reader's point of view.
November 1, 2017
The thing I love most about short stories is that they're so easy to put down and pick up as life allows. Greg Ames didn't make that easy though. I found it hard to put Funeral Platter: Stories down when life called me to do the adulty things that life likes to make me do.
Funeral Platter: Stories takes life's mundane experiences and infuses them with dark humor. I found myself laughing as well as uttering "whaaaat" throughout my reading experience. This one definitely satisfied my dark and twisty side.
I received my copy of Funeral Platter: Stories via Goodreads giveaways. This review is my honest opinion.
Funeral Platter: Stories takes life's mundane experiences and infuses them with dark humor. I found myself laughing as well as uttering "whaaaat" throughout my reading experience. This one definitely satisfied my dark and twisty side.
I received my copy of Funeral Platter: Stories via Goodreads giveaways. This review is my honest opinion.
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December 8, 2023This is a really funny, incredibly off-kilter collection of short stories. It’s hard to categorize the stories themselves because they all involve a level of absurdity and playfulness and involve such a wide variety of subjects. The defining feature is that most if not each story takes a moment of absurdity or an absurd convention or conceit, and just lets it keep playing out. And then lets it go on longer. The opening story involves a blind date in which each participant plays out the shared language of failed relationship and project all past trauma onto the other with comic intensity. In another, a child’s wish to becomes a ventriloquist cannot be thwarted by her dummy simply being a charred block of wood. In another, a young professional frustrated in love accidentally starts dating a high school student.
The easiest way for me to think about how these stories function is like taking Donald Barthelme stories and displaying them writ large. So that the effect is that they’re allowed to go to their logical conclusion.
The easiest way for me to think about how these stories function is like taking Donald Barthelme stories and displaying them writ large. So that the effect is that they’re allowed to go to their logical conclusion.
January 30, 2018
** I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway. **
The stories in this book were interesting. I didn't love them. I'm not sure I even liked most of them. However, I didn't hate them and I actually enjoyed reading them, even if I can't say I enjoyed the stories themselves. The author appears to enjoy leaving you with absolutely no idea as to what it is you just finished reading and while this could be annoying in full length novel, it was surprisingly enjoyable in the short stories contained in this book. Definitely not for everyone but if you enjoy having your mind messed with, give these stories a try.
The stories in this book were interesting. I didn't love them. I'm not sure I even liked most of them. However, I didn't hate them and I actually enjoyed reading them, even if I can't say I enjoyed the stories themselves. The author appears to enjoy leaving you with absolutely no idea as to what it is you just finished reading and while this could be annoying in full length novel, it was surprisingly enjoyable in the short stories contained in this book. Definitely not for everyone but if you enjoy having your mind messed with, give these stories a try.
May 21, 2018
I really enjoyed Greg’s writing style, it was as if he was talking with you, just retelling a story that he thought was worth repeating. I found some of these short stories entertaining, some of them came off to me as a matter-o-fact message and for others, I just didn’t understand them at all.
The stories I found entertaining were:
Benefactor: Parker is sitting at home watching an informercial on TV for starving artists. Parker decides to sponsors one. He learns from his correspondence that his artist makes art from stolen supermarkets. This artist has struggled with drugs, alcohol, and suicide but has since gone through rehab. They ask Parker for more monies for his artist and since Parker feels he is making a difference, he okays the charges. Through mailed updates, Parker feels a deep connection to this artist and he almost becomes obsessed with him. Parker decides he wants out of this commitment, but can he? Did he really read the contract?
I Feel Free: A man takes his new date home to his apartment and soon she begins taking over his home. Her old boyfriend becomes a regular guest. Why he put up with her for as long as he did, I didn’t understand but he sure had patience. He finally wises up and what he did, put a smile on my face.
A Love Letter: A young teen falls in love with the crossing guard who helps them cross the street for school. The few seconds they spend together is monumental.
There were some stories inside this novel that were sexual in nature which were interesting but nothing that made them stand out. Other stories caught my attention but they didn’t stir anything inside me, they were just great written stories. I read a few stories that I thought were wonderful but the ending just didn’t seem to fit and I was confused. I just don’t think this novel was cut out for me.
I received a copy of this novel from a Goodreads Giveaway, thank you Skyhorse Publishing and Goodreads for this novel. This review is my own opinion of this novel.
The stories I found entertaining were:
Benefactor: Parker is sitting at home watching an informercial on TV for starving artists. Parker decides to sponsors one. He learns from his correspondence that his artist makes art from stolen supermarkets. This artist has struggled with drugs, alcohol, and suicide but has since gone through rehab. They ask Parker for more monies for his artist and since Parker feels he is making a difference, he okays the charges. Through mailed updates, Parker feels a deep connection to this artist and he almost becomes obsessed with him. Parker decides he wants out of this commitment, but can he? Did he really read the contract?
I Feel Free: A man takes his new date home to his apartment and soon she begins taking over his home. Her old boyfriend becomes a regular guest. Why he put up with her for as long as he did, I didn’t understand but he sure had patience. He finally wises up and what he did, put a smile on my face.
A Love Letter: A young teen falls in love with the crossing guard who helps them cross the street for school. The few seconds they spend together is monumental.
There were some stories inside this novel that were sexual in nature which were interesting but nothing that made them stand out. Other stories caught my attention but they didn’t stir anything inside me, they were just great written stories. I read a few stories that I thought were wonderful but the ending just didn’t seem to fit and I was confused. I just don’t think this novel was cut out for me.
I received a copy of this novel from a Goodreads Giveaway, thank you Skyhorse Publishing and Goodreads for this novel. This review is my own opinion of this novel.
December 19, 2017
Funeral Platter is quirky, edgy, and grotesque and I liked it. Did I love it? Not particularly but that's how it goes when stories are unusual and thought-provoking. Sometimes they land on fertile ground with the reader and sometimes they are a dud for that individual.
When it comes to short story collections, I keep a running tally of the ones I enjoyed and didn't. "Family Album" and "Quagmire" were far and away my favorites but I also really liked "Hallie Bang", "The Wind in the Street", and "The Life She's Been Missing" to name a few. As far as the tally goes, it was split into thirds of what I really enjoyed, what was just okay for me, and ones that I didn't like due to my own notions.
However, even in the stories that didn't make it on my 'love' list, they were still intriguing, staying with me after I closed the book and went about the day. That was something I really enjoyed about the whole collection as a single experience. I hope this isn't the last collection we see from Ames!
Note: I received a free hardcover edition of this collection from the publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to do so.
When it comes to short story collections, I keep a running tally of the ones I enjoyed and didn't. "Family Album" and "Quagmire" were far and away my favorites but I also really liked "Hallie Bang", "The Wind in the Street", and "The Life She's Been Missing" to name a few. As far as the tally goes, it was split into thirds of what I really enjoyed, what was just okay for me, and ones that I didn't like due to my own notions.
However, even in the stories that didn't make it on my 'love' list, they were still intriguing, staying with me after I closed the book and went about the day. That was something I really enjoyed about the whole collection as a single experience. I hope this isn't the last collection we see from Ames!
Note: I received a free hardcover edition of this collection from the publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to do so.
October 12, 2020
I love absurdism, so this collection was very much my cup of cerebral tea. I also found the absurd themes really compelling because of the emotional context woven in. Several of the stories tend to follow the same, consistent pattern. Strangely, I felt a lot of the stories were also about revealing the emotional layers of masculinity.
But the ones I loved, I'll list below:
1. A couple who hate each other to the point of getting back together (the opening story)
2. A boy whose parents start living in a cage in Buffalo winters
3. A trash-collector who starts writing Haiku to impress his girlfriend and ends up finding mentorship
4. (My personal favorite) a group of talented writers from Buffalo, NY take it upon themselves to chronicle a very normal woman because they believe she is an unrecognized Artist™.
5. A woman who ends up trying to date out her league and finds herself with a teenager.
6. A commitment-phobe who endures life-threatening situations in order to get his girlfriend to break up with him.
7. A couple who plan their funeral and celebrate at their own gathering (the closing story)
But the ones I loved, I'll list below:
1. A couple who hate each other to the point of getting back together (the opening story)
2. A boy whose parents start living in a cage in Buffalo winters
3. A trash-collector who starts writing Haiku to impress his girlfriend and ends up finding mentorship
4. (My personal favorite) a group of talented writers from Buffalo, NY take it upon themselves to chronicle a very normal woman because they believe she is an unrecognized Artist™.
5. A woman who ends up trying to date out her league and finds herself with a teenager.
6. A commitment-phobe who endures life-threatening situations in order to get his girlfriend to break up with him.
7. A couple who plan their funeral and celebrate at their own gathering (the closing story)
March 6, 2019
This well-written collection of twenty short stories will make you laugh at least once. An eclectic collection that contains black humor and the absurd, Funeral Platter is a quick read. Stories are of varying lengths and Ames maintains a clear and inviting voice, which makes them very readable. Themes vary across the board, including matters from art, addiction and aging to dating, destruction and death. The breath of topics makes it likely for a reader to enjoy several of the stories. The book is good way to pass the time more than a thought provoking, memorable read. It would be great for readers wanting a quick laugh or distraction in short story form.
I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author/publisher for participating in the giveaway.
I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author/publisher for participating in the giveaway.
January 17, 2018
**An ARC was provided by Skyhorse Publishing for an honest review**
Be prepared to have an interesting sense of humor while reading this collection of short stories from Greg Ames. While I did laugh at some, I found others to be head scratching, crude, and off color. However, I found Funeral Platters to be fresh and offbeat which in my opinion is often difficult to find. There were some stories I was glad to be over with, but others I wanted to have a full book on. If Mr. Ames' goal was to leave you wanting - whether it was less or more - he achieved it spectacularly.
Overall I liked the book, but I'd say you have to know your audience before recommending it to others.
Be prepared to have an interesting sense of humor while reading this collection of short stories from Greg Ames. While I did laugh at some, I found others to be head scratching, crude, and off color. However, I found Funeral Platters to be fresh and offbeat which in my opinion is often difficult to find. There were some stories I was glad to be over with, but others I wanted to have a full book on. If Mr. Ames' goal was to leave you wanting - whether it was less or more - he achieved it spectacularly.
Overall I liked the book, but I'd say you have to know your audience before recommending it to others.
December 17, 2017
Thank you Skyhorse Publishing for my beautiful hardback copy of this book in return for an unbiased review...
I enjoyed reading this book with all of the quirky and thought-provoking short stories. As standard with short story collections, some were much better than others. I particularly enjoyed Discipline, Hallie Bang, Punishment, Quagmire, and Nothing to Do with Me.
The main reason I didn't give this a higher rating - while I enjoyed each story while reading them, I forgot most as soon as I moved on to the next story. So I suppose this collection is not that memorable.
I enjoyed reading this book with all of the quirky and thought-provoking short stories. As standard with short story collections, some were much better than others. I particularly enjoyed Discipline, Hallie Bang, Punishment, Quagmire, and Nothing to Do with Me.
The main reason I didn't give this a higher rating - while I enjoyed each story while reading them, I forgot most as soon as I moved on to the next story. So I suppose this collection is not that memorable.
December 14, 2017
(Thank you to the publishing company for this ARC in exchange for an honest review)
This is not normally the type of book I read. I will say, however, Funeral Platter is well written. Filled with dark humor that conceals underlying truths, albeit to a certain extreme. I found the stories to be "in your face" in one form or another, even shocking. Mr. Ames proves that it is the quality of the short story that matters. Whether it be two pages or twenty pages. He excels! Bravo!!!!
This is not normally the type of book I read. I will say, however, Funeral Platter is well written. Filled with dark humor that conceals underlying truths, albeit to a certain extreme. I found the stories to be "in your face" in one form or another, even shocking. Mr. Ames proves that it is the quality of the short story that matters. Whether it be two pages or twenty pages. He excels! Bravo!!!!
December 28, 2020
A good collection of short stories that offer unique perspectives, and absurd situations. I would give this 5 stars but the opening story, "Chemistry," didn't really hook me. The story was so unappealing to me I NEARLY put the book down and called it quits. However, the more stories I read, the more charmed I was by the unique circumstances of each protagonists.
February 5, 2018
Ames is a hoot! So many goofy stories, that you can't help but think that in reality they mean something quite different from what the words on the page. A incredibly creative writer, whose mind wonders into unexpected territory.
April 12, 2018
Some of the stories in this recent book have stayed with me while others are forgettable. Overall, I liked this collection and will always be a Greg Ames fan. Give it a try if you're looking for some kooky stories.
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