You Want More: Selected Stories

by George Singleton, Tom Franklin (Editor)

With his signature darkly acerbic and sharp-witted humor, George Singleton has built a reputation as one of the most astute and wise observers of the South. Now Tom Franklin introduces this master of the form with a compilation of acclaimed and prize-winning short fiction spanning twenty years and eight collections, including stories originally published in outlets like the Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Playboy, the Georgia Review, the Southern Review, and many more. These stories bear the influence of Flannery O'Connor and Raymond Carver, at other times Barry Hannah and Donald Barthelme, and touch on the mysteries of childhood, the complexities of human relationships, and the absurdity of everyday life, with its inexorable defeats and small triumphs.

Assembled here for the very first time, You Want More represents a body of work that showcases the incisive talent that earned George Singleton's place among the great pillars of Southern literature." (New York Times)

Genres: Short Stories, Humor, Fiction

383 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2020

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A word of caution may be necessary regarding the stories of George Singleton; that they are highly addictive, that they are laugh inducing, that you might start thinking about moving to Forty-Five or Callustown or any of the other unique places in this madman's literary vision of the South. Populated by three fingered mill workers, various duffers and layabouts, men that ponder improbable dilemma's such as what is the easiest way to make money without breaking a sweat. If you are looking for something to brighten your spirits, then look no further: George Singleton is the cure for the blues! You Want More is a delightful volume of stories that are guaranteed to make you chortle, speak in non-sequiturs, and give you a brand new literary hero that you can be proud of. No longer do you need to hang your head in shame because everybody down at the local watering hole is bragging about some new bestseller they read, be the first on your block to brag about finding a new voice in Southern Fiction. Say it loud and say it proud: George Singleton is here to save us all and his message is crystal clear: Read this book and enjoy yourself!
Robert Segedy

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singleton is comic genius. This is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time, so achingly absurd and yet realistic and perceptive of people and the South Carolina culture, or at least some aspects of it, that I had to take breathers in between stories occasionally because I could barely stand it. His characters are mutually believable and outrageous. Underneath all the farcical situations and conversations is a deep intelligence of human observation. Where has he been all my life????

[Dawn Major · Rating 5 out of 5]

My synopsis of these short stories go something like this: A travelling aquarium salesman, forced to attend a motivational conference, hooks up with the speaker’s scar-faced, ex-gangster daughter; A former child-star of a statewide lice documentary returns to his hometown and high school reunion and has an epiphany; Pam, a dog-healer (not a veterinarian, but literally a dog who heals), licks away diseases, illnesses, and infection with her tongue; A Halloween miracle occurs when Jesus Christ and his two thieving companions go trick-or-treating; “The Novels of Raymond Carver” (???? If you don’t get it now, you’ll get the joke when you read the story); Richard Petty, who has written the great American novel, delivers his acceptance speech for the National Book Award, and manages to squeeze in every sponsor. According to Aristotle, “No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness.” You see where I’m heading here. Anyone unfamiliar with George’s type of genius--who perchance read my sticky notes--may recommend inpatient therapy. Yet, there’s something grander going on with these quirky stories. “Four-Way Stop” is a masterpiece of balancing comedy and tragedy. In “Richard Petty Accepts National Book Award,” Singleton compares pit-road with the writing industry, which turns out isn’t much of a stretch. And every time I end up in the town of Gruel, like his characters who cannot seem to escape or otherwise get sucked back into Gruel, it’s as if I’m reunited with my own dysfunctional family. There’s Victor Dees, the proprietor of the Army-Navy store. There’s Jeff, the owner/bartender from Roughhouse Billiards. If you are a short story writer, reader, or maybe just want to read literature that won’t induce you to pen a suicide letter, then get a copy of You Want More. Hell, get a copy of all of Singleton’s books. His stories are like the loyal dogs he frequently writes about. They will be waiting for you by the door. If you’re really good, they may fetch you a beer.

Singleton is a first-person point-of-view wonder boy. His third-person point-of-view feels like first-person narration, because it’s just so dang close. There’s even a second-person point-of-view story in You Want More ("What Could’ve Been?”), and that isn’t the easiest thing to accomplish. It’s both funny and not so funny when you put it in perspective. Even though his narration is super tight, occasionally the narrator sort of stops and chats about writing. For any other writer this would come off as an intrusion, but it works and for us writerly folks who ponder the same issues it’s a nod to the craft.

Then there are the classic Singletonian lines that every writer wishes they came up with first: “You’ll have twenty lies, all of which you will recycle the rest of your life." Or, “My team members stared at me as if I piped up about how Jesus was a gay man and couldn’t decide which of the twelve disciples to date.” I’m not giving away anymore Singleton lines for free. Buy your own copy! Buy them all! For what my opinion is worth, Singleton epitomizes what is best in the modern American short story and should be on every syllabus starting in high school. If you’re concerned with language and/or content, I have a friend who teaches “Trombones, Not Magic” from Staff Picks to his AP English high school class. Generally, these are feel-good stories with a moral to the story and it's never force-fed.

I read an article about how Tennessee photographer, William Eggleston, depicted suburban American life like a John Cheever story. I see both these masters in Singleton’s works. If John Cheever was the “the Chekhov of the suburbs,” then George Singleton is the John Cheever of the small Southern town. But if I had to compare Singleton’s stories to another photographer, it would be Chris Verene, who at a young age started documenting his friends and family from his hometown of Galesburg, Illinois. Like Verene, Singleton articulates honest stories about the everyday person anyone can understand. His stories remind me of flipping through the family photo album. It feels like home, and yes, we want more.

[Karen Ashmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave him another chance but I have finally concluded this is not my style. The stories are about bizarre characters (an aquarium salesman to seafood restaurants?) and the stories have no point. Occasionally a story might be interesting such as the one about the high school reunion. He satirizes Southern behavior, which can be funny but it is so subtle. If he were more blatant, they would realize he is making fun of them and then they wouldn't buy his books anymore.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite book I've read this year. I took breaks between stories so I could savor the entirety for as long as possible.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're not from the South, most likely you won't appreciate the absurdity and humor present throughout Singleton's stories. Bless your little heart. These people are us. At least they're me. Singleton is a must-read, for fans of Barry Hannah, Lewis Nordan, and Charles Portis.

[Judy Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"George Singleton can make caulk funny. A yardstick. Goody's Head-ache Powders." These words begin the foreword to YOU WANT MORE, George Singleton's new collection of short stories. I'll add this: He can make head lice funny.

With so much falling apart around us, buy this book and laugh till your sides hurt. Admire the brilliantly drawn characters in every single one of these edgy, perceptive, terrific stories. If there's a central theme, it's that there's nobility in perseverance.

[Mandy Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became a fan of Singleton's writing years ago when I heard him read from an anthology at the Southern Festival of Books. He's witty and his characters are both heartbreakingly real hilariously absurd. This collection was exactly what I needed right now. Thirty stories that made me laugh, almost cry (okay I cried once), but best of all they made me think. Do yourself a favor and get this book.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book puzzles me a bit. To begin with, it's brilliant stuff. I read a fair number o volumes of short stories, and and they can blur in comparison to each other, but Singleton stands out as having a memorable, unique and engaging style which is not like anyone else's. There is a paradox in that this is a very literate book about characters who almost all far from intellectual.

Funny? Yeah, but in a wry and bitter-sweet way. I liked the absurdist stories, but in general behind the jokes and joke plots there is a lot of sadness. I can't remember a story which describes a stable marriage; the vast majority of stories are about men whose wives left them. It's weird to find humor without joy, but here it is.

Having lived in Tennessee, and spent a fair amount of time driving around South Carolina (where most of the stories take place), Singleton really nails the culture of the people who have less. While their lives do not seem to offer much happiness, none of them (as far as I can remember) seem especially unhappy.

This is absolutely five-star writing, but something holds me back from a total rave. I can't figure out why it took me so long to read this book, since I enjoyed it, but maybe there is an odd sameness to the stories, even though the plots and characters are so different and original. Regardless, Singleton is a talented and important writer and well worth reading.

[Jon Rakestraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I meet George over a Zoom call regarding this book. George is a master storyteller. This treasure of short stories is sure to make you smirk, if not outright LOL! The last story, "What Could've Been?" is an introspective masterpiece.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a good book, but I wish the characters hadn't cussed so much.

[Madalene · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not funny, rather depressing tales of alcoholic and sometimes divorced men in rural South Carolina.

[Owen Haines · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of little bits that make you chuckle, but as a collection all kinda blends together a bit

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to re-meet these stories!

[Lee Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style was beautiful. The stories were just random days in random people's lives.

I catch myself thinking about these random people wishing I knew more about them.

My drive through the piedmont of SC contained me reminiscing about the Jockey Lot and broken bottles and the name game.