The Master Conversationalist: Stories

by Baker Hill

Elon Musk secretly manages boy bands. A film critic pens a hit Broadway musical. A Grammy award-winning saxophonist struggles to reclaim his identity after getting attacked by a shark. Nothing is outside the realm of Baker Hill's imagination in his debut short story collection, The Master Conversationalist. If you're a fan of Simon Rich, B.J. Novak, Lorrie Moore, or laughing until you pee your pants, you've found your next summer read.

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2021

Reviews

[Vida Sik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories is totally absurd, witty and entertaining
I picked up this book, not knowing what to expect. As someone unfamiliar with absurdist humor, I have nothing to compare it to. So I’m writing this simply as someone who enjoys reading. From the cave dweller who invents fire, to the guy with the fake family, friends and accent, and the fitness trainer who bites off more than he can chew, I was so entertained. Not in a rolling-on-the-floor-laughing kind of way, but chuckling to myself while those around me wondered what was so amusing.

The ten stories are different in style, structure and genre. But, what they have in common is that they are imaginative, thought-provoking and, did I mention, absurd? For example, The Ad Guys, tells the story about a boy band secretly managed by a famous business magnate. As for the characters, I’ve always wondered why I couldn’t quite understand Justin Timberlake, and now I know why. Insert *wink*. The titular story, The Master Conversationalist, has me shaking in my boots as I write this review. Those two are my favorites.

However, if the author thought it best to write a disclaimer at the beginning of the book, then so should I about this review... There is no one behind this keyboard.

The stories remind me of family games around the campfire. Or long car trips, where one person starts a tale, and the next person adds to it, with everyone trying to be even more ridiculous. The author must’ve had a lot of fun writing them. His style is conversational and easy to read. The social commentary and life lessons are subtle. In fact, in the world of Baker Hill, no one is safe, as he strings together one hilarious sequence of events after another.

Finally, this collection of short stories is ideal for anyone in need of a laugh during a long commute, or study break. Of course, you can read them for no other reason than lighthearted entertainment. I did, and highly recommend this debut book.

(I received an ARC from Reedsy and am voluntarily leaving a review).

[Kevin Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll never look at the Big Orange Ghost the same way, not after what happened to Mustache Minshew. I'll always have more empathy for people who survived a shark attack. And I've been thoroughly warned about the consequences of trying to eat my way to enough money to open my own gym. With an equally nuanced and absurd sense of humor, the stories portray the all-too-relatable joys and shortcomings of the characters' internal lives, and the world they occupy, to deliver thought-provoking insights and emotional gut punches. By shifting perspectives - sometimes we're inside a character's mind, sometimes the character is us - we're invited to consider the circumstances and events in a way that feels fresh and exactly right for us to get the full experience of what each story is saying. Jerry, from My Name is Jerry, for example, skimmed over important details about his friends' lives while going deep on his own issues, which felt perfect for what how he viewed his life (and how many of us do for our own). When my expectations were subverted, it felt rewarding because I understood and empathized with these people, and for as surprising as those twists could be (the final line of The Hero stands out for this), they felt earned. I'm definitely going to be spending more time with these characters, as well as whoever Hill chooses to explore in future work.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Master Conversationalist had a lot of promising concepts; traveling minister cavemen, a kindergarten teacher who still sleeps in a racecar bed, and a nihilistic lead singer of a boyband to name a few that piqued my interest. Each story had an even more imaginative, yet relatable premise. The call backs to previous stories within the collection were a self-aware touch that made me laugh. The execution left me disappointed. Yeah, the writing could have been better (there were some overly explanatory introductions, tangents, and over-reliance on time skips), but what really took me out of the messy fun that usually comes with absurdist humor is the real lack of strong female characters (the exception was Katya in A Pudgy Boy, who ended up being one of my favorite characters). I think it’s time for the genre to move on from the nagging wife, the manipulative seductress, and perfect girl from across the bar tropes that this book overuses. I mean if we can send boy bands to Mars in the Baker Hill universe then the bechdel test shouldn't be an issue.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Timothy Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baker Hill's deceptively ambitious first 10 short stories are a wonderful journey of absurdist imagination in both style and structure. Weaving a thick thread of biting satire throughout, Hill take the reader through a diverse array of genres and settings, from a rags-to-riches-to-rags story of biblical proportions in prehistoric times to a slice-of-life plot set on a Los Angeles bus. One of my favorites would be the eponymous story of the Master Conversationalist, with what I can only describe as a hillarious sequence of events so ridiculous yet pointed that it made me conscious of the consequences of me writing this review. I can't imagine that the author had anything other than a very fun time writing these stories, experimenting with different settings, different points of view, and different themes and tones with the cool confidence of a writer coming into his own with each consecutive letter. I look forward to more people going on this jaunt of a collection, and to more works from this emergent author.

[Ali D · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an advanced copy of this book*

This was a fun, cheeky book of short stories.
I really enjoy books like these in between my big, beefy reads.

Overall, I think these stories were great. I do feel like there’s something for everyone in this book. There’s certainly enough unique stories and characters that you’ll find something or someone to relate to.

My personal favourite was The Hero. I loved Joey, what a bean! We’ve all been in that insta-love moment and it was just so relatable for me.

I found the first story wasn’t my favourite, but I was hooked from the second story and on. Each story was different from each other, and I really appreciated the variety!

I agree with the book summary and would recommend for anyone who enjoyed One More Thing by BJ Novak, this book is absolutely along those same lines. This was a great debut novel!

4.5/5

[James Coatsworth]

Baker has a certain conversational quality to his writing. He brings the reader in, evoking the feeling of a fireside chat with an old friend. And the stories are funny. They flow, they have morals, they make you think. The lessons are embedded with subtlety and grace; they don't hit you over the head, but you'll find them.

This book is a series of stories, but Baker brings a different voice to each one. He'll tell you about a crafty grandma in one breath and pivot to a workplace nemesis in the next. His characters are distinct and the jokes have range. I read a lot at work, which makes reading a bit less appealing in my free time. But I can't wait to get my hands on his next piece.

[Cole Rabinowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indulgent and fresh, Baker Hill’s stories demand your attention with lucid imagination and sharp, multi-layered humor. The characters in this collection of short stories take you across epochs and offer poignant and relatable vignettes into every day life and keep the pages turning easily. Baker Hill's voice offers down to earth observations missing in much of today's short stories and his prose is a pleasure to digest. I found the collection a great read and highly recommend!

[Erin Bilé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you need something light- a laugh maybe- between heavier books. The Master Conversationalist is the perfect fit. A collection of humorous, satirical short stories, this was perfect to read during my beach days. My personal favorite was The Big Orange Ghost. The writing is conversational and fun, I felt as if I were sitting with a friend being told an amazing story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of witty short stories was a very entertaining read! Baker Hill's unique storytelling offers relatable humor contemplating human behavior. From an aggravated bus passenger to a misunderstood saxophonist, the characters in each story evoke a sense of familiarity despite being unordinary in nature. The next time you're looking for a light-hearted read, I would highly recommend The Master Conversationalist: Stories.

[Robbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten short slightly bonkers stories

None of the stories have anything in common, apart from the style of writing. They are funny, not in a laugh out loud way, and a couple are bittersweet. You can really picture some of the characters, and there’s several relatable moments. A bit mad and I always had suspicions about Justin Timberlake, just saying.

[Alex Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a collection of stories! Really enjoyed reading and laughing out loud to them. Some of the characters were wonderful to follow throughout each tale, especially Grog, Wally, and Jerry. Highly recommend this to everyone. Baker Hill is a rising star and I can't wait for the next novel.

[Reed Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the funniest book I have read in a long time.

This compilation of short stories includes a story about a caveman entrepreneur struggling to get venture capital for his “fire” discovery and more. Extremely sharp and witty, can’t say enough great things about the book.

5/5