Creatures of Habit

by Jill McCorkle

Jill McCorkle's new collection of twelve short stories is peopled with characters brilliantly like us-flawed, clueless, endearing. These stories are also animaled with all manner of mammal, bird, fish, reptile-also flawed and endearing. She asks, what don't humans share with the so-called lesser species? Looking for the answer, she takes us back to her fictional home town of Fulton, North Carolina, to meet a broad range of characters facing up to the double-edged sword life offers hominids. The insight with which McCorkle tells their stories crackles with wit, but also with a deeper-and more forgiving-wisdom than ever before. In Billy Goats, Fulton's herd of seventh graders cruises the summer nights, peeking into parked cars, maddening the town madman. In Monkeys, a widow holds her husband's beloved spider monkey close along with his deepest secrets. In Dogs, a single mother who works for a veterinarian compares him-unfavorably-with his patients. In Snakes, a seasoned wife sees what might have been a snake in the grass and decides to step over it. And, in the exquisite final story, Fish, a grieving daughter remembers her father's empathy for the ugliest of all fishes. The success behind Jill McCorkle's short stories-and her novels-is, as one reviewer noted, her skill as an archaeologist of the absurd, an expert at excavating and examining the comedy of daily life (Richmond Times-Dispatch). Yes, and also the tragedy.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Short Story Collection, Southern

257 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2001

About the author

Five of Jill McCorkle's seven previous books have been named New York Times Notables. Winner of the New England Booksellers Award, the Dos Passos Prize for Excellence in Literature, and the North Carolina Award for Literature, she has taught writing at the University of North Carolina, Bennington College, Tufts University, and Harvard. She lives near Boston with her husband, their two children, several dogs, and a collection of toads.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jill McCorkle's third short collection follows the span of human lives and introduces readers to a host of quirky characters living in a small town in North Carolina in 1970. The themes explored in the dozen stories include the ups and downs of marriages especially the nightmare of infidelity, the fears that are associated with childhood and with old age, and the kinship that humans have with animals. A short story collection that highlights the maturity and quality of McCorkle's writing.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a good short story collection & this is a good one. McCorkle is a favorite Southern writer of mine. These stories are funny & sad, biting & beautiful. She manages to work in the subject, or mention of, animals, in each of the stories which adds to the cleverness of them.

[Charles Michael Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every story here is a gem and combines humor with tragedy magnificently. "Billy Goats" (BASS), "Starlings," and "Hominids" are standouts. I love McCorkle and the entire Alongquin/Shannon Ravenel catalogue from the 1980s through early 2000s.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some stories were better than others but overall, the entire book had a dark outlook. Not the best to read before bed.

[olivia bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 out of 4 — hominids was incredible

[Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for my Southern Lit class, it was one of the least traumatizing works I had to read for this class. Jill McCorkle has a really interesting and specific way of evoking the nostalgia of a childhood in the South but in a non-gimmicky kind of way.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I guess like a lot of short story collections, I thought some were a lot stronger than others. I did like how interwoven they were, though

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is a master of the short story. Each one of these are re-readable, enjoyed again and again for how real these characters and premises are.

[Sarah Duwelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep all of my short story books around and Jill McCorckle never disappoints. I love her writing style in all of her books-one of my favorite Southern writers.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75

[JustCallMeClint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starlings - An interesting tale about how race and ruthless upbringing can strip a person's empathy, or desire for change. A different voice from the rest of the stories and done well. Strong symbolism of the starling bird with Mary: each enjoy causing distress to those who do the same to them, but at the end, it implies Mary's refusal to admit she's no different from a mad dog or a racist. 4/5
Fish - Eh. A bit generic, if you'd asked me. 2.5/5

[Lynn Pribus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed seeing this writer at one of Charlottesville's FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK events a couple years ago. She and another Southern writer, plus two locals, presented an evening of music (with guitar) interspersed with readings by the two authors.

This book presents small-town short stories, all very Southern, people of various ages. Polished, subtle writing.

Saving book to give to great-granddaughter Taylor (born on my BD, actually) who has written some remarkable short stories herself. She's going into second year at Virginia Commonwealth University studying writing and already has remarkable insight into the human condition, so I believe she will only improve with age.

[Amalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. This is the kind of writing that I enjoy most. McCorkle has a talent for turning the mundane movements of life into rich and engaging stories. I'd say that her stories made me feel nostalgic, but when I stepped back, I was often startled to realize that I wasn't feeling nostalgic for my own past, but for my mother's past, or for my future past (if that makes any sense). I would describe her writing as smooth, thick, and warm--the kind of prose you want to snuggle into and have a good cry.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are beautifully written, with vivid voices that spring to life, and endings that made me blink back a tear more than once – they are consistently moving and tender but without being cheesy. ‘Hominids’ has some fantastic reflections on femininity and breasts, and I loved ‘Toad’ with its brilliant portrait of a silent, almost inhuman man who mystifies the family he lives with; both have stunning endings.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a collection of short stories about characters in North Carolina. It was well written and some of the characters were sad, some were happy, some had problems. Each story had an animla title and the animal was somehow involved in the telling of the story. A quick and enjoyable read.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of Jill McCorkle that I have read and their something in her writing that feels comfortable and homey. The character is each story live in the small town. It reminds me that everybody has a story, and each story deserves a chapter. And collectively, these stories make up us.

[Bikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great short story book by Jill McCorkle. I really enjoyed how the some (maybe all if I had been paying closer attention) wove together if you were paying attention. A fairly quick read in a crazy week, but well worth the time.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last story is magnificent.

[Halley · Rating 5 out of 5]

she's so great.
read "hominids"

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCorkle is a natural storyteller & this collection is wonderful!

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these stories really stick with you, and each narrative voice is a distinctive surprise.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad collection of short stories. She can come across as a bit bitter in some though.

[Bibliomama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each story was my favorite, until I read the next one. This is a wonderful collection cf stories. Highlights for me were Starlings and Hominids. They broke my heart. But that's life.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest I just could not gets into book at all, so the one star review is because I couldn't finish it :-/

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

While her stories are definitely well written, I didn't really enjoy this book. I just found several of the stories really depressing.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of essays that were OK but not much more.

[Hafeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful