Don't Make Me Stop Now

by Michael Parker

These eleven arresting, comic, and moving stories by acclaimed writer Michael Parker testify to the driving force of love, the lengths to which we’ll go to claim it and pursue it, the delusions we’ll float to keep it going, the torment that goes part and parcel with it. And despite all of the above, the absolute necessity of it, no matter its consequences.

Whether it’s a college student undone by the boy who leaves her, or the boyfriend intent on leveling old scores from high school for his lover, or the husband who discovers—in the grocery store—the woman he should have been with all along, every character, no matter how off track, wants to believe in debt and credit and payback and making the messy world—and the messy world of love—turn out neatly.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

MICHAEL PARKER is the author of five novels – Hello Down There, Towns Without Rivers, Virginia Lovers, If You Want Me To Stay, The Watery Part of the World and two collections of stories, The Geographical Cure and Don’t Make Me Stop Now. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in various journals including Five Points, the Georgia Review, The Idaho Review, the Washington Post, the New York Times Magazine, Oxford American, Shenandoah, The Black Warrior Review, Trail Runner and Runner’s World. He has received fellowships in fiction from the North Carolina Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Hobson Award for Arts and Letters, and the North Carolina Award for Literature. His work has been anthologized in the Pushcart, New Stories from the South and O. Henry Prize Stories anthologies. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia, he is a Professor in the MFA Writing Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His website is www.michaelfparker.com

Reviews

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story, "Hidden Meanings, Treatment of Time, Supreme Irony, and Life Experiences in the Song 'Ain't Gonna Bump No More No Big Fat Woman,'" is exactly as wonderful as I remembered.

[Colette Walters Walden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of dark stories featuring characters who are struggling. You'll find more sunshine in other books, but life itself isn't all fluffy white clouds and lollipops. The author has the guts and gall to reveal the depravity of humankind. If we see a sliver of ourselves here, it's time do a little self-improvement; a personal inventory of how we treat others.


Here is a quote from one of the short stories in this book:
"Once I heard a teacher say that a sure way to change things is to honor opposite impulses. See where they take you. "

[Henry James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid writing as well as solidly entertaining. A great insight into the male mind. Highly recommended reading!

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patchy overall, but it's high points are excellent.

[Pauln · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, somewhat dark stories.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heard about it on NPR, that it was a collection of stories about breaking-up, strange relationships, etc. Started reading it but then I started to move on/make progress so I stopped reading it so as not to make myself feel badly again. But I've since picked it up and read it sporadically, skipping around depending on my mood. Some parts are funny, others kind of flat.

Ok, I've decided I can't finish the last story or two left. My interest waned as my mood improved and I decided that, as much as I don't like not reading every last word, it won't help my mood to force myself to do so. I just lost interest. Still interesting overall, though, and gives you very different perspectives/tales of relationships gone awry...worth reading fresh after a break-up.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a collection of stories about (mostly broken) relationships. I had trouble getting into it as some of the stories/characters did not hold my interest very well, and despite the title of the book, I contemplated stopping bothering to read it. However a few of the stories were quite good like "Muddy water, turn to Wine" and "The Right to Remain."

[Faythe Swanson]

Thought this book might be good to read during Valentine's Day, but unfortunately, it didn't really live up to my expectations. Some of the short stories in here were good & thought-provoking, while others just didn't do anything for me. This book was just....okay. Nothing to write home about - that's for sure.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as I'd hoped. Interesting stories, but not on the same level as other short story writers (David Sedaris et al)

[Golda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the broken relationship stories especially Muddy Water, Turns to Wine.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

he's a pal...and a good writer.

[Jesse · Rating 1 out of 5]

gave it up after a few stories. more work to read than pleasure.

[Terry Perrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some day grad students will study the stories of Michael Parker, one of our country's finest writers. My question is: why not sooner than later? Why not now?

[Sarah Honenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'll read anything he writes. A true master.