Final Vinyl Days

by Jill McCorkle

A collection of quirky short stories follows the fortunes of a woman who throws funerals for people before they are dead and a music store employee who cannot accept that vinyl is dead, among others. Reprint.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Southern, Contemporary, American, Short Story Collection, Female Authors

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 1998

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

[Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this short story collection! Full review to follow.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 but rounding up because of how much I loved the story "It’s a Funeral! RSVP."

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Random thoughts on Final Vinyl Days by Jill McCorkle:

- Purchased at my local library's book sale.

- My history with short story collections is mixed. This is one that I really wanted to like, as most of the stories included music in them in some fashion. Unfortunately, I found most of the stories lacking... something.

- There are nine stories in the collection. The first three are about relationships and the beginning of them. Meeting a spouse, the birth of child, and rediscovering the meaning in your marriage. They were fine, but I felt like there was not (or I just missed) the larger point of the stories. They seemed a little like "slice of life" stories but in that regard I did not find them very interesting.

- The second three stories deal with loss. A record store employee with a love of classic rock and vinyl records watches as CDs come into vogue; a childless Aunt thinking about lost opportunities; a divorcee taking her son to an amusement park. The first of these, "Final Vinyl Days," is one of the two better stories of the collection, though I may be thinking that because of the music references.

- The final three stories are more of a hodge-podge. The best of these is "It's a funeral! RSVP." This story is about a woman who makes a business of throwing funerals for people who are still alive so that they can hear what their friends and family have to say about them and in turn, deliver messages to their friends and family. This actually sounds like an incredible business idea, but the idea is again, better than the execution.

- As with most writing, there are gems to find in the words. My favorite line in the book was this description of the divorcee's home: "The house was so small it barely held her half of the marriage."

- Unfortunately, there was not enough meat here for me to give it more than two stars.

[LisaMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

SO not my cup. Don't remember where It was or who I was when I thought this might appeal to me enough to put on my list. (The mention of vinyl?) Tried the first one, got immensely bored at a wedding and left. Then as is my usual with short story collections I tried the title story. Annoying left interesting in the dust after a few pages of that couple's dialogue.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

The same Jill McCorkle style, but these were not as good as the short stories in Going Away Shoes.

[Teddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This woman can't quit, she knocks it out of the park every time.

[Caffers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short stories are not my fave, unless they are done really well. I wouldn’t put this in the all well done category. The stories, for the most part, were wordy and slow so it was easy to lose interest.
I started, but wasn’t impressed with the first story, so starting skipping around. I hit on a good one, which compelled me to try another, and then actually read them all from back to front. Who knows why but that worked for me. A game that got me to finish the book. I enjoyed 3 out of 9.
I had read in a review that it was quirky. I like quirky. This really wasn’t. So, I was disappointed in that respect too. Not a long book though, so no real harm done.

My faves, if you happen to have the same tastes as me:
1. Your Husband is Cheating on Us
2. A Blinking, Spinning, Breathtaking World
3. Life Prerecorded

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are nine stories in this book. I liked a few parts of a few stories, but not any more than that. There wasn't even one complete story that I really liked. Most of them seemed pointless. A few seemed like the author had a point in mind, but couldn't quite execute it.

[MB Shakespeare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories of loss, nostalgia and life. Loved it. Fave quotes: "I had that same odd feeling that I get from time to time, the feeling that maybe I can pick up the phone and call…my grandmother at those memorized numbers long disconnected." "First, you recognize what was wrong… then you accept it. This does not meant that you agree with it, just that you say, yes, that is what happened. And then you walk off and leave it there; it is not your mess to clean up." "I had also performed numerous rectal exams, that I had just that minute done one and found him to be the biggest one I'd ever encountered."

[Christopher Renberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

My late father always hounded me to read McCorkle. He had moved to North Carolina in '91 and quickly became a fan of her and other area authors. I read The Cheerleader and had read a story here and a story there but this is the first collection I went through cover to cover.
Glad I did! I recognized some of her characters from those who inhabit my life. Her story ideas are entertaining and her style riveting. All nine of the stories here are gems. To my father I say thank you for the tip and sorry I was a little late to the party recognizing her fine work.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this collection of short stories. I wasn't sure in the first few pages, I cared for the writing style but by page 5 I was hooked and actually mourned the end of each story like you mourn your youth. I especially loved the last story, about the Priest which has haunted me since I finished it. I read it all in one afternoon, in one big gulp, unable to set it down. Thanks for a thought provoking read that has me playing my old vinyls in my head.

[Ally Rey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The First three stories were interesting and provided insight and perspective into parts of life I have not/will not have. Within these 3 though and much more so in the fourth short story, there is way too much casual sex just thrown around. Even if it doesn't give in the moment details and discusses the idea of it before or after the fact, it is distasteful.

Because of this, I abandoned the book once I reached page 116, nearly through the fourth story. I didn't feel the need to finish it.

[Cynthia Vengraitis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An uneven and unmemorable collection of short stories.
They are probably better written than they seemed but all sounded rather similar, mostly told by narration (by what seemed like the same voice whether male of female.)
Each story sounded like someone you don't want to get caught in a long conversation with, rambling on. Luckily a short volume.

[Michael Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Any 212-page book of short stories with the number of bad typos this one has (I gave up counting at ten) needed a better proofreader. These stories for the most part were dull and populated by very unlikable characters. Two stars.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't care for this book of short stories at all. I didn't relate to or connect with the characters. The stories were disjointed and I didn't care for the writing style at all. I'm scratching my head wondering how on earth this was a New York Times Notable Book.

[Katherine Rothschild · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is still one of my all-time favorite books of short stories. I love Jill's novels, too, but this one is so great to pick up and read a bit from when I feel empty of creative spirit.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous writing and stories that grab your attention. Made a day of traveling for us go by very tolerable

[Jacob Haert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kind of book I probably wouldn’t have read if I wasn’t bored at my parents, but still an excellent one that I’m glad did.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jill McCorkle is one of my favorite authors. I felt an immediate connection to her through her characters.

[Peg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book by one of my new favorite Southern writers. See my review of Ferris Beach for details re author.

"Nine Fabulous New Short Stories... all of them about characters traveling off the beaten path. ..story Final Vinyl Days about a guy who graduated (some time ago) with a 3.7 in English Lit who plans to keep clerking in a vintage vinyl shop forever. .....It's a Funeral! RSVP! about a woman who plans what she calls Going-Out Parties. Her clients aren't the survivors, but the soon-to-be deceased themselves. ...frank and funny , novel-worthy McCorkle characters you won't forget."

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

More great short stories from Jill McCorkle, starting with one of my favorite first lines: "When Adam met Eve they were standing in the champagne line at Missy Malcolm's wedding in Southern Pines." If you want to sample McCorkle's style, check out her fantastic story "Intervention" on the Ploughshares website.

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading a review for this book years ago in Rolling Stone magazine. The reviewer praised this book so highly that I put it on my
"Want To Read Wishlist."
Now, years later, I happen to run across it at the library and so I check it out.
There were a couple of somewhat good stories in this book but most of them were pretty lame.
I would not recommend it to anyone.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCorkle creates some really interesting characters. Some down on their luck, stuck in a groove, or just plain out there. It is a pleasure to get to know them and see how they cope in the wild and wacky world in which they occupy. Told with the authenticity of a real Southerner.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last two stories made me bawl like a baby whose binky's been stolen. Both are brilliant reminders of how to Live. There are some less interesting stories, but most of the shorts in here are perfect little layered slices of character.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I believe I enjoyed the later stories better than the beginning stories in this book. But as other books I have read by her, I started and read anytime I had a free moment and it took me only a couple of days to finish.

[Frank McGirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, I didn't read all the stories, just the first and the titular.

But that was enough. Not terrible. Would be okay in small doses, but really not my thing.

The record store piece was pretty lame from a music lover's perspective.

[Karenbike Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters in these short stories are real, complicated and funny. I usually don't read short stories finding that I need more development of the plot and characters but it was not true for this book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought McCorkle's stories were great. This is a collection of short stories and each one is interesting. I liked all of them, some more than others. I don't usually read short stories, but I was glad I tried this author out.

[Cardee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Carolina Moon, once you start this you can't stop, it's so crack. Better than crack. Its heroin.

[michelle]

11/22/06