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Better Than Bad

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These are the stories that populate your peripheries. Stories carried by strangers on the street. Stories of ordinary people dealing with impossible circumstances. Stories that cannot possibly be real because they are not your stories to tell.

These transient strangers will tell you the story of an abandoned brewery that sends ripples through an entire town, the story of a mass murderer having one of those days, the story of an ancient god unable to tie his shoes, the story of an influencer who cannot influence herself, the story of a guilt-stricken widow watering her plastic plants, the story of a fanatical priest finding a python between the decorations, the story of psychedelic virtual reality rebranding the world, the story of a crashing plane whose passengers must decide which safety procedures to trust, the story of a man determined to unravel his existence in a day.

Stories satirical and cynical. Stories comic and chaotic. Stories improbable but not impossible. These are stories spilling from the peripheries. Stories carried by strangers it is time you got to know...

508 pages, Paperback

Published December 21, 2019

2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read

About the author

Jack Hunter

2 books6 followers
Jack Hunter is the author of three novellas and two short story collections. Jack released his first book, Better Than Bad, in 2019. Yes, that 2019… Better Than Bad was described as ‘turning a satirical lens on controversial issues ranging from politics to influencers [it] illuminates the dark comedy lurking within every facet of modern society.’ So, perhaps the timing was somewhat fitting.

Jack’s writing style has been described as ‘a smorgasbord of possibility, an ode to the bizarre contradictions and disorienting tenderness of the human condition that strike when we least expect it.’

Jack’s highly anticipated second short story collection, Pinch, is set for release in late 2023.

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
2 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2020
On closing the back cover of this book, I found myself ruminating on a strange literary creation: the three course dinner chewing gum invented by none other than Mr. Willy Wonka. The premise of this product, of course, is that a single stick of gum can provide a complex, robust meal which includes all of the diverse flavours necessary to leave one slumped in sensory satisfaction. A clumsy metaphor, yes, but this is exactly how I felt about this collection of stories.

Better Than Bad is chicken soup for the cynical soul, but it is more than that - it is a smorgasbord of possibility, an ode to the bizarre contradictions and disorienting tenderness of the human condition that strike when we least expect it. Hunter's anthology is a kaleidoscopic ticket into the worlds that could (and do) exist beyond the bounds of polite conversation. There are grammatical consistencies, and although they are few and far between, they do reduce the immersive quality of his storytelling where they appear. However, these slips are easily forgiven when examining the impressive ensemble cast of imperfect, outrageous, confronting, and all-too-realistic characters that occupy these pages.

This is one of Hunter's (many) strengths: beyond the strikingly beautiful prose peppered throughout his works, he manages to reliably flesh out characters with complexity only inconsistently achieved in the commercial bestsellers that line bookstore shelves. These confronting characters force us to acknowledge the unpleasantries of human nature that are easy to overlook and even easier to ignore outright. The frequent breaks with the fourth wall strangely do not undermine the realism of the characterisation - rather, they underscore the complex experiences of human consciousness that Hunter captures in his works.

Be it a King-esque tale of mystical evil and retribution ('The Pipe That Eats People'), an agonizing portrait of a beloved family member's departure ('Thank You, Charlie'), a philosophical tangle with possibility ('The Problem With Infinite Inevitabilities'), metafictional madness ('The True Story That Never Happened'), a tribute to the brilliance of the interior existence ('Brian's World'), or a confronting portrait of the intoxicating call to the void ('Fast Forward'), Better Than Bad has it all. I laughed. I ugly-cried to the point of a headache. But more often than not, I sat back shaking my head gently and smiling to myself. He's done it. Knocked it out of the park.

Better Than Bad is everything in one brilliant book. Don't miss it.
4.5/5 stars
1 review
July 16, 2023
From Love's Letters Lost, Obesity Crisis to Thank You, Charlie, you are gripped with relativity. Engaging from the minute you pick it up on your morning commute to when you reluctantly put it down on your bedside table of an evening.
P.S Jack Hunter, I am the woman that was on the 5:42pm from Central. I hope you still have my hat.
1 review
February 7, 2020
A truly gripping read. Each short story whipping your brain around before landing you into the next. Composed of tales that envelope the reader with sharp wit, this book is easily devoured page by page. Thoroughly enjoyable, 10/10
1 review
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February 5, 2020
Fantastic book - great read. Expect great things in the future from this new and upcoming author xxxx
1 review
February 5, 2020
Really good little collection of short stories with honest writing. There’s a story for everyone that they can connect with the most for whatever their reason.
Wonderful read!
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1 review
February 5, 2020
Absolutely loved it, the writing was excellent and the vast variety of stories had me constantly hooked.
1 review1 follower
February 13, 2020
A quirky and a very fun book to read. Would definitely recommend (and the book looks pretty good on a coffee table, too!)
1 review
February 7, 2020
Amazing read from a talented author. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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