Things Not to Do

by Jessica Westhead

Jessica Westhead's follow-up to And Also Sharks, a Globe and Mail Top 100 Book of 2011 and Finalist for the 2012 Danuta Gleed Literary Award.

Things Not to Do is a collection of stories that seeks to examine—through humour, wit, empathy, and honesty—the dark side of ordinary people. We know them; sometimes we are them. A man attends a gathering on the coattails of his new, zealously empowering friend. A woman helps her husband build an escape room to free him from working for a hated boss. A veteran wedding DJ imparts wisdom, and more besides, to a new recruit. The father of a teen pop sensation gathers with his fans in the wake of a controversy. The actions of these characters, for good or ill—and there is light in their lives, as often as there is dark—stem from the same place, and Westhead cuts right to the heart of that place. They aren't scheming supervillains; they're folks trying to make the most of what they think they have—even if that sometimes means stepping on someone who doesn't deserve it.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2018

About the author

JESSICA WESTHEAD is a Toronto writer and editor, and one of the short-story-loving masterminds behind YOSS (Year of the Short Story). Her fiction has appeared in major literary journals in Canada and the United States, including Geist, The New Quarterly, and Indiana Review. Her novel Pulpy & Midge was published in 2007 by Coach House Books. Her short story collection And Also Sharks, published by Cormorant Books in 2011, was on the Globe and Mail’s Globe 100 list of the best books of 2011 and was a finalist for the 2012 Danuta Gleed Literary Award. She was shortlisted for the 2009 CBC Literary Awards, and one of her stories was selected for the 2011 Journey Prize anthology.

Reviews

[Kerry Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Jessica Westhead's work just gets better and better.

[Rebecca Rosenblum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and funny but packs an emotional punch as well. Reminds me a bit of George Saunders.

[Rachel Laverdiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across Jessica Westhead in PRISM International--"Things Not to Do"--and was dazzled. I've thought about that story many times since I read it--I devoured her entire collection in less than a week. This will be a "to re-read" book for me.

I recommend this to collection of short stories to anyone who loves contemporary short stories and/or disillusioned characters who still manage to make it.

[Debra]

The "fat side-kick" kidnaps a kid. The creepy DJ gives a lesson. Relationship stories whose favourite word is "sexy". The surreal take on Conrad's lunch break. Celebratory events that fail at celebration. This collection of short stories will put you off-kilter, and you will leave with unfamiliar voices in your ear and lives you never imagined. I look forward to reading more of Westhead's work.

[Agnes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found I could not relate to the characters in this book, which is a good thing, as they were all pretty awful. I didn’t find the humour in the stories, and it just made me feel sad to read about all these terrible people. I didn’t feel like I got the stories, so many of them were just boring.

[Sonal Champsee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Westhead--funny, awkward characters written with deep empathy and heart. A great collection of stories.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica has written another excellent witty & weird collection of stories. The only downside to this book is that it ends! :)

[Katelynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and hilarious, in a way that makes you identify with the worst parts of people. I loved it

[Will O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good! The Lesson, The Opener and Prize were my favourites.