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Twelve Stories
Nominated for the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. Episodes in the life of a lifelong con artist, this is "The Catcher in the Rye" as told by a teenage thief. A teenage thief from Nipigon, Ontario, who comes of age witnessing death in a small town; who puts his high school bully in a wheelchair; who drinks away his youth; who lies, cheats and steals his way out of poverty, scamming his way to the bottom rung of the Canadian contemporary art market in the early 1990s. But the education of a petty criminal has left a few gaps in his memory...behind every funny story, there are dark secrets...as Emmett Grogan unearths the pivotal moment of his childhood while helping a high school drinking buddy dig up the release date of the first Star Wars movie at their hometown cinema, back in the 1970s. Unflinchingly honest, by turns heartbreaking and hilarious, the full arc of a quiet, desperate life is captured here, in this nuanced, meticulously crafted novel of interlocking stories.
- GenresFictionShort Stories
167 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2018
7 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Emmett Grogan
6 books40 followersEugene Leo "Emmett" Grogan was a founder of the Diggers in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, California. The Diggers took their name from the English Diggers (1649-1650), a radical movement opposed to feudalism, the Church of England and the British Crown.
The San Francisco Diggers were a legendary group that evolved out of two radical traditions that thrived in the Bay Area in the mid-1960s: the bohemian/underground art/theater scene, and the New Left/civil rights/peace movement.
The Diggers combined street theater, direct action, and art happenings in their social agenda of creating a Free City. Their most famous activities revolved around distributing free food ("Free because it's yours!") every day in the park, and distributing "surplus energy" at a series of Free Stores (where everything was free for the taking.)
The Diggers coined various slogans that worked their way into the counterculture and even into the larger society — "Do your own thing" and "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" being the most recognizable.
The Diggers inspired Abbie Hoffman to undertake a similar venture on the Lower East Side of New York City during the mid-1960s (although Grogan ultimately saw Abbie Hoffman as a lifestyle poseur, as described in Emmett's memoir of the late 1960s).
Grogan's penchant for personal myth-making and distrust of the mainstream media resulted in few details of his life being reliably recorded. His 1972 autobiography, RINGOLEVIO (A LIFE PLAYED FOR KEEPS), is filled with embellishments and large portions of his pre-Digger life appear to be outright fabrications.
This flexibility with the truth was part of Grogan's larger social and political agenda, and was meant to further Digger ideals, to whit, the use of his name (alternately, "Emma Grogan") as a community pseudonym, in pursuit of social justice activities as a member of the Diggers: "Emmett Grogan" is code for anti-establishment; the outlaw ethos in literary and other artistic endeavors.
Emmett Grogan sang back-up with Ramblin' Jack Elliott on "Mr. Tambourine Man" written by Bob Dylan. Dylan dedicated his 1978 album Street Legal to Grogan. After the success of RINGOLEVIO, Grogan was also the author of FINAL SCORE, a (not very good) crime thriller.
On April 6, 1978, 35-year-old Emmett Grogan was found dead on an F Train subway car in New York City, the victim of a heart attack possibly induced by chronic heroin use. This has been disputed and alternative theories exist.
On April 6, 2018, an announcement was made regarding the forthcoming publication of a new novel, TWELVE STORIES. Released October 23, 2018, the privately-published work has gone on to sell over 3000 copies in Canada.
October 17, 2025 will see the publication of a companion volume to TWELVE STORIES, the novel DIFFERENT TIMES, for fans of Truman Capote, Raymond Carver, Charles Bukowski, Mordecai Richler, Hunter Thompson, Kurt Vonnegut, and other legendary literary authors, the type of which who are no longer being supported by contemporary publishing.
A celebration of Emmett Grogan’s 80th birthday, alongside the 80th birthday of Jimi Hendrix, was observed on November 28, 2022.
The San Francisco Diggers were a legendary group that evolved out of two radical traditions that thrived in the Bay Area in the mid-1960s: the bohemian/underground art/theater scene, and the New Left/civil rights/peace movement.
The Diggers combined street theater, direct action, and art happenings in their social agenda of creating a Free City. Their most famous activities revolved around distributing free food ("Free because it's yours!") every day in the park, and distributing "surplus energy" at a series of Free Stores (where everything was free for the taking.)
The Diggers coined various slogans that worked their way into the counterculture and even into the larger society — "Do your own thing" and "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" being the most recognizable.
The Diggers inspired Abbie Hoffman to undertake a similar venture on the Lower East Side of New York City during the mid-1960s (although Grogan ultimately saw Abbie Hoffman as a lifestyle poseur, as described in Emmett's memoir of the late 1960s).
Grogan's penchant for personal myth-making and distrust of the mainstream media resulted in few details of his life being reliably recorded. His 1972 autobiography, RINGOLEVIO (A LIFE PLAYED FOR KEEPS), is filled with embellishments and large portions of his pre-Digger life appear to be outright fabrications.
This flexibility with the truth was part of Grogan's larger social and political agenda, and was meant to further Digger ideals, to whit, the use of his name (alternately, "Emma Grogan") as a community pseudonym, in pursuit of social justice activities as a member of the Diggers: "Emmett Grogan" is code for anti-establishment; the outlaw ethos in literary and other artistic endeavors.
Emmett Grogan sang back-up with Ramblin' Jack Elliott on "Mr. Tambourine Man" written by Bob Dylan. Dylan dedicated his 1978 album Street Legal to Grogan. After the success of RINGOLEVIO, Grogan was also the author of FINAL SCORE, a (not very good) crime thriller.
On April 6, 1978, 35-year-old Emmett Grogan was found dead on an F Train subway car in New York City, the victim of a heart attack possibly induced by chronic heroin use. This has been disputed and alternative theories exist.
On April 6, 2018, an announcement was made regarding the forthcoming publication of a new novel, TWELVE STORIES. Released October 23, 2018, the privately-published work has gone on to sell over 3000 copies in Canada.
October 17, 2025 will see the publication of a companion volume to TWELVE STORIES, the novel DIFFERENT TIMES, for fans of Truman Capote, Raymond Carver, Charles Bukowski, Mordecai Richler, Hunter Thompson, Kurt Vonnegut, and other legendary literary authors, the type of which who are no longer being supported by contemporary publishing.
A celebration of Emmett Grogan’s 80th birthday, alongside the 80th birthday of Jimi Hendrix, was observed on November 28, 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 15, 2020
Please play again truly made my heart smile.
September 29, 2019
It's been more than a year since I read it. At that time, I was so puzzled that there were no cyber references about this marvelous little gem. Written with wit and humour, the loosely interwoven stories speak to the inner adolescent in all of us, about friendship, love, strife, failures, broken dreams, dreams that become true, all that life is hurling at us to shape us into what we are to become.
I am so glad that Twelve Stories has finally found its place in the readers' family. I highly recommend it. You will be amazed!
I am so glad that Twelve Stories has finally found its place in the readers' family. I highly recommend it. You will be amazed!
May 23, 2020
I wanted funny short fiction. I was given a life. Told through funny short fiction.
This genre, I wish I knew the name of, that combines the collective growth of a novel narrative with the quick and fast paced short story tone is something I haven't seen in years. And didn't realize I missed.
Imagine a George Saunders character, one of the earlier more grounded ones but still with that dark presence and perpetual comedy. Now imagine Twelve* (*fifteen) Stories about that character. From young to old. Is that what you want? The life of someone interesting, normal, believable, but just slightly off, darker, stranger, who lived through things like a teenage widow or (in my personal favourite story in the collection) the weirdest super power that's only in affect during the Roll Up the Rim season. It should be what you want!
In a similar style to Bukowski's age and changing protagonist in "The Most Beautiful Woman in Town", the stories that Grogan writes chronicle the fictional life of this writer/protagonist/con art-ist/Northern Ontario Youth turned Downtown Toronto citizen from as young as childhood to as old as long past married. For me a major strength in the collection came through the ordering of the stories. As someone whose always been a one-hit wonder fan, order never really pulled much attention. Twelve Stories changed my understanding of overarching themes. While reading I became aware of the order that the stories were in. Yes, they're mostly chronological by the characters age, but the stories each found a way to build off each-other while still managing to stand alone. Having just read the story added to the new edition of the book, "The Golden Hour" I'm reminded of how capable Grogan is in terms of creating these uninhibited short pieces that function as funny, almost essay like stories of self-reflection and situational analysis. But still, on that first reading of the book, I found myself amazed, excited, surprised, shocked, and so happy to have devoured the stories in a few quick sittings. Without saying anything, read for yourself!, I'm very happy to say that the book functioned amazingly as a collective life.
This is a funny, smart, dark, short story collection.
This is also a funny, smart, dark novel length narrative.
Find this book and read it!
This genre, I wish I knew the name of, that combines the collective growth of a novel narrative with the quick and fast paced short story tone is something I haven't seen in years. And didn't realize I missed.
Imagine a George Saunders character, one of the earlier more grounded ones but still with that dark presence and perpetual comedy. Now imagine Twelve* (*fifteen) Stories about that character. From young to old. Is that what you want? The life of someone interesting, normal, believable, but just slightly off, darker, stranger, who lived through things like a teenage widow or (in my personal favourite story in the collection) the weirdest super power that's only in affect during the Roll Up the Rim season. It should be what you want!
In a similar style to Bukowski's age and changing protagonist in "The Most Beautiful Woman in Town", the stories that Grogan writes chronicle the fictional life of this writer/protagonist/con art-ist/Northern Ontario Youth turned Downtown Toronto citizen from as young as childhood to as old as long past married. For me a major strength in the collection came through the ordering of the stories. As someone whose always been a one-hit wonder fan, order never really pulled much attention. Twelve Stories changed my understanding of overarching themes. While reading I became aware of the order that the stories were in. Yes, they're mostly chronological by the characters age, but the stories each found a way to build off each-other while still managing to stand alone. Having just read the story added to the new edition of the book, "The Golden Hour" I'm reminded of how capable Grogan is in terms of creating these uninhibited short pieces that function as funny, almost essay like stories of self-reflection and situational analysis. But still, on that first reading of the book, I found myself amazed, excited, surprised, shocked, and so happy to have devoured the stories in a few quick sittings. Without saying anything, read for yourself!, I'm very happy to say that the book functioned amazingly as a collective life.
This is a funny, smart, dark, short story collection.
This is also a funny, smart, dark novel length narrative.
Find this book and read it!
November 28, 2021
My pal Terry Grogan is the undisputed master of what I call "hoser fiction". If you grew up in a rural setting or small town anywhere in Canada you will know some of his characters intimately. They are unique and familiar Canuck archetypes we all begrudgingly retain a sweet spot for despite our big city aspirations. If you want cinematic equivalents I suggest "hoser" classics like Fubar, Trailer Park Boys and to some extent LetterKenny. Grogan is more nuanced and less outrageous .
His book "Twelve Stories" published under the pseudonym "Emmett Grogan" can be picked up at any BMV location in Toronto. Its in its sixth printing and each successive printing has a few new stories introduced. He has had over 1600 of these hand sold in the BMV stores and is by that standard a Canadian best seller.
The latest edition has a great story about the universal experience of travelling the country by Greyhound. Its worth the price of the book. If you don't live in Toronto call one of the BMV's and see if they will ship. He's the new Crad Kilodney for crying out loud!!!
His book "Twelve Stories" published under the pseudonym "Emmett Grogan" can be picked up at any BMV location in Toronto. Its in its sixth printing and each successive printing has a few new stories introduced. He has had over 1600 of these hand sold in the BMV stores and is by that standard a Canadian best seller.
The latest edition has a great story about the universal experience of travelling the country by Greyhound. Its worth the price of the book. If you don't live in Toronto call one of the BMV's and see if they will ship. He's the new Crad Kilodney for crying out loud!!!
December 9, 2022
I'm a sporadic reader and this is a sporadic book. Twleve Stories is something I can relate to, the descriptions of Northern Ontario to the shores of Lake Huron within Bruce County and of course the descriptions of my home town of Toronto. The novel was personal, and one chapter in particular was surprisingly touching and different in tone than the rest of the book. It's the part of the book that has sat with me the most. For a first novel, I'm impressed by Emmett Grogan. Whoever you may be.
September 7, 2020
Mailed to me by a friend because we grew up watching Star Wars, I had never read anything like TWELVE STORIES. This author reminds me of Stephen King, but "The Death of Dr. Hook" makes "Stand by Me" look like it was written for wimps: an examination of death in a small town, guilt, and the long-term consequences of mistakes made in youth (or in this case, the seeming lack of consequences) "The Death of Dr. Hook" will stick with me for a long time. Just one of many haunting/funny stories in this collection.
June 27, 2021
4.5 stars. This was a quick read but very good. As someone who spent part of her childhood growing up in NW Ontario, some familiar themes emerged. Also you'd swear it was a memoir! Well except for the last story!
April 16, 2020
These honest stories of growing up in a small town in Northern Ontario are spellbinding. The writing is crisp, and captivating. Grogan draws readers in with vivid, jaw-dropping descriptions.
August 12, 2020
I love a good use of the novel in story form. These are some really nice stories, and they come together in a good arc. Solid and tightly written with a fascinating cast, I enjoyed reading.
October 3, 2020
Charming, funny, and a blast to read. A unique look at a unique slice of the world.
February 6, 2023
Like Richard Brautigan meets Raymond Carver. Mr. "Emmett" Grogan portrays a novel unearthing the sillyness, and humanity, of Canadiana(or Ontarioana??)
That's not to say the book doesn't have its own voice, because it very much so does. Twelve Stories shows the events in the life of a man who grows up in a world struggling with accepting self-determination. Many of the events are constantly presented as if they are a consequence in the inevitability of upbringing. The main character is a thief because a school nun once labelled him as such. He's a con artist because he got conned. Etc, etc.
This foundational thinking of the main character perhaps also affected his world view as well. He grows up, after his formative teenage years, believing everyone in the world as being solipsistic. In one section of the book, he struggled to understand why his alcoholic grandfather would, after ignoring him for weeks on a vacation, hand him 100 dollars. As I'm sure the author intentionally is aware, people show their love in their own skewed fucked up ways, even when they mean well. The main character however, maintains incredulity of the event.
Something seems to happen however, as the novel progresses. The main character finds friendship, his 'con artist' art business catches a lucky break, he finds love and (extended) family. The harsh cynical shell which has percolated his life seems to break apart. Comparing the stories "the tallest man in america" representing a pivotal moment in young Emmot's life with how he acts in "when i was your age" so powerfully evokes a sense of maturity and growth in the main character.
So much of this book, of the melting away of despondent cyncism, of maturity, seems so universally understandable, at least to me and I imagine many people that grew up a man in Ontario. By writing something so crushingly personal, Emmett Grogan has captured a moment in time of what it means to be a modern man.
4.5 stars
That's not to say the book doesn't have its own voice, because it very much so does. Twelve Stories shows the events in the life of a man who grows up in a world struggling with accepting self-determination. Many of the events are constantly presented as if they are a consequence in the inevitability of upbringing. The main character is a thief because a school nun once labelled him as such. He's a con artist because he got conned. Etc, etc.
This foundational thinking of the main character perhaps also affected his world view as well. He grows up, after his formative teenage years, believing everyone in the world as being solipsistic. In one section of the book, he struggled to understand why his alcoholic grandfather would, after ignoring him for weeks on a vacation, hand him 100 dollars. As I'm sure the author intentionally is aware, people show their love in their own skewed fucked up ways, even when they mean well. The main character however, maintains incredulity of the event.
Something seems to happen however, as the novel progresses. The main character finds friendship, his 'con artist' art business catches a lucky break, he finds love and (extended) family. The harsh cynical shell which has percolated his life seems to break apart. Comparing the stories "the tallest man in america" representing a pivotal moment in young Emmot's life with how he acts in "when i was your age" so powerfully evokes a sense of maturity and growth in the main character.
So much of this book, of the melting away of despondent cyncism, of maturity, seems so universally understandable, at least to me and I imagine many people that grew up a man in Ontario. By writing something so crushingly personal, Emmett Grogan has captured a moment in time of what it means to be a modern man.
4.5 stars
May 26, 2022
Without a doubt, Emmett Grogan's "Twelve Stories" will capture your attention.
For example, "The Grifters" is one that make you realize how easy it is get better concert seats. I enjoyed the one about the wedding do-over in "The Golden Hour."
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
For example, "The Grifters" is one that make you realize how easy it is get better concert seats. I enjoyed the one about the wedding do-over in "The Golden Hour."
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
July 5, 2021
I won this in a giveaway so I feel a bit guilty giving it such a low rating but honestly this book was just not for me.
The casual racism, sexism, ableism, etc. may have been an honest portrayal of time and place, but the way these elements of Ontario are presented is so lacking in nuance that I can't possibly believe there's any meaningful commentary intended by their inclusion.
There are a couple of clever moments and a couple of charming ones, but mostly I found this book pretty boring and tropey.
The casual racism, sexism, ableism, etc. may have been an honest portrayal of time and place, but the way these elements of Ontario are presented is so lacking in nuance that I can't possibly believe there's any meaningful commentary intended by their inclusion.
There are a couple of clever moments and a couple of charming ones, but mostly I found this book pretty boring and tropey.
November 7, 2020
Twelve Stories is a bold, and fascinating collection of short fiction by a bold and fascinating emerging writer in Emmett Grogan. I come from the same general area as author Grogan, so there were many parts of his stories that not just inspired nostalgic remembrances, but also rang very true to my memories. His writing is descriptive, forceful and his themes and characters resonate.
Highly Recommended!
Christopher Heard
Highly Recommended!
Christopher Heard
January 6, 2022
I won this in a giveaway and I’m really enjoying it. Considering how few books hold my interest these days, that’s saying a lot :-) The book claims to be fiction but the author has such a talent for bringing the characters to life, that you could easily believe it’s based on real events. I’m really enjoying it. Very well done.
February 25, 2022
Full disclosure-won the book in a Goodreads giveaway for a honest review
Nice series of short stories that tie together (but also stand alone). If my teenage years were as fraught filled as the lead character I’d be a neurotic wreck. Funny, serious, insightful and sad at times. An awesome first “novel”. Looking forward to reading more from the author.
Nice series of short stories that tie together (but also stand alone). If my teenage years were as fraught filled as the lead character I’d be a neurotic wreck. Funny, serious, insightful and sad at times. An awesome first “novel”. Looking forward to reading more from the author.
May 15, 2021
This is a hidden gem of a book, surprising, funny, poignant. A testament to small town life and the evolutions of persons that occur. In this environment the stories weave in and out with no holds barred. I really enjoyed it! Bravo!
February 14, 2024
Lives of Girls and Women x Thunder Bay trailer park boys x 1980s bush Tom Sawyer x Richard Brautigan x Caulfield tender. Love <3 and would’ve wanted more stories about parents and awkward, horrid first romances. xoxo
July 29, 2021
Felt like I was having coffee with an old friend catching up on the time we didn't see each other!
Very well written book. Easy to get into the stories.
Very well written book. Easy to get into the stories.
September 26, 2024
"I see that you like Charles Bukowski," the nice man said to me while visiting my publisher's booth at Word on the Street in 2023, "so I'd like to give you this book." I am ashamed that it took me so long but I finally started reading it last night and I am glad that I did: this is the kind of honest, gutsy, take-no-bulls**t writing that we don't see enough of anymore. It's refreshing.
Maybe you will get lucky like me and someone will give you the gift of Twelve Stories by Emmett Grogan, but if not, I highly recommend that you do some digging and find yourself a copy - you won't be sorry. This book is a gem.
Maybe you will get lucky like me and someone will give you the gift of Twelve Stories by Emmett Grogan, but if not, I highly recommend that you do some digging and find yourself a copy - you won't be sorry. This book is a gem.
January 30, 2025
Felt like I was just listening to an uncle retell the same "back in my day" stories for the 100th time... in a bad way. I grew up in small town Ontario and relate to maybe 5% of what he said. Felt like some real fish stories to me. And that would be fine if they were compelling ones. He's really caught up in his own mythology, and it's not a very interesting one. Only two of the stories were solid, the roll-up-the-rim one and the border crossing one. The rest were quite forgettable and left me with just a shrug.
Side note: The choice to tell the point of some of the stories upfront was strange... felt like a lack of confidence from the writer.
Side note: The choice to tell the point of some of the stories upfront was strange... felt like a lack of confidence from the writer.
July 31, 2020
With humour and raw honesty we are given an insightful look at what it was like to grow up in a small town in Northern Ontario. This coming of age collection of interwoven short stories about the struggles of adolescence is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It will not leave you where it found you.
July 31, 2024
Got a bit stuck midway since some of the stories were not quite my humour, namely the tallest man in America. But hey I really enjoyed some of the other ones, especially please play again. Sometimes it just depends on the setting I’m in so let’s say being on a barge sitting in the shade by water helped me along. Thanks for lending it Ian!
November 13, 2024
Fun! Picked this up at a literary festival in the summer. I think the guy who sold it to me wrote it. It’s set mostly in Northern Ontario, with some bits in Toronto. I enjoyed recognizing city names or Roll Up the Rim. Overall a very witty, smart novel about growing up. The last story in particular was almost perfect.
September 20, 2021
A hilarious and authentic portrait of small town Northern Ontario life. The stories are even more enjoyable on a second read-through. Would recommend this book to anyone looking for a funny and unique look at life in the Canadian sticks.
December 17, 2021
Goodreads Copy Win
It is a charming collection of short stories that will entertain you. Snippets of quirky stories about life and the people we encounter. A quick look of someone fall from grace.
It is a charming collection of short stories that will entertain you. Snippets of quirky stories about life and the people we encounter. A quick look of someone fall from grace.
July 26, 2021
Won as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
August 6, 2021
This is a perfect beach read, funny, light, and captivating, you'll find yourself smiling throughout the book.
November 15, 2022
Would be 3 stars if it weren’t for the tallest man in America
March 25, 2024
Nice book, really enjoyed the last few chapters
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews