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Identical Pigs
A man loses his shoes on an airplane. A woman gets trapped in a bathroom by a ghost (maybe). A mob enforcer startles easily. A young actor wants his face on the wall of a pizza parlor. What do they all have in common? Nothing. This is a short story collection. That would be a super weird novel, if those were all one thing.Some of these stories have appeared in publications such as Suspense Magazine and Storgy. Others, including the novella “Winner Winner”, are brand new. In between them are silly little jokes. Here’s one that you won’t even find in the grateful german ape is always throwing barrels at super mariodanke kongWow. That’s the kind of quality we’re talking about here. And then you’ve got the stories on top of that? Unreal. Incredible value. This book should cost three hundred dollars.
308 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 17, 2022
I was walking down the street in Portland, ME during the ‘First Fridays Art Walk,’ when I saw a table of books. All of the books had very attractive covers (and, I’m told, this is the finest way to judge a book) in various art styles. The variety alone forced me to notice the wide range of genres available. I figured that this was a local publishing house that was selling their books for the Art Walk.
There was a cool looking young guy at the table, happily tending to his lunch.
While reading the description cards for each book, I noticed a subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) humor to each of them.
Then it hit me. Each of the books had the same name on them. Jud Widing.
I was forced to interrupt the guy’s lunch.
“Wait. Is this you?”
“This is me.”
I commented on the number of books he’d written and the breadth of styles represented, and asked what I’m sure is his least favorite question. “Where do I start?”
He asked what I liked and I said a bit of everything (terrible answer), so he recommended Identical Pigs. So I handed over my card and went on my way before realizing I obviously had to ask him to sign it so I went back.
Very cool guy. Obviously very prolific. But is the book good?
Yes. It’s quite good.
I love a good character study, and I love a good miniature. Identical Pigs is filled with both. I think my favorite story is ‘Hazards,’ a three-page overthinking fest in the mind of one character that takes place over the course of five to ten minutes.
I just felt like I knew the characters written on the pages. Even if only a portion of them was revealed, you could tell that they are fully formed.
‘Winner Winner’ was also a favorite.
Needless to say, I will be picking up other offerings from this cool guy.
May he enjoy many more lunches, and sell many more books.
There was a cool looking young guy at the table, happily tending to his lunch.
While reading the description cards for each book, I noticed a subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) humor to each of them.
Then it hit me. Each of the books had the same name on them. Jud Widing.
I was forced to interrupt the guy’s lunch.
“Wait. Is this you?”
“This is me.”
I commented on the number of books he’d written and the breadth of styles represented, and asked what I’m sure is his least favorite question. “Where do I start?”
He asked what I liked and I said a bit of everything (terrible answer), so he recommended Identical Pigs. So I handed over my card and went on my way before realizing I obviously had to ask him to sign it so I went back.
Very cool guy. Obviously very prolific. But is the book good?
Yes. It’s quite good.
I love a good character study, and I love a good miniature. Identical Pigs is filled with both. I think my favorite story is ‘Hazards,’ a three-page overthinking fest in the mind of one character that takes place over the course of five to ten minutes.
I just felt like I knew the characters written on the pages. Even if only a portion of them was revealed, you could tell that they are fully formed.
‘Winner Winner’ was also a favorite.
Needless to say, I will be picking up other offerings from this cool guy.
May he enjoy many more lunches, and sell many more books.
November 22, 2018
I received a copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review.I
In the Amazon blurb for "Identical Pigs" it states the book is so valuable it is worth three hundred dollars. I consider myself extremely lucky for having gotten it gratis. The dad jokes between the stories were worth twice what it cost me.
The stories themselves were quirky, weird and just disturbing enough to make for some fun dreams when read as bedtime stories for grownups.
I read a bit of weird fiction, light horror, as it were. Some of it can be dark and oppressive. That's the nature of the beast. Widing takes a different turn with his fiction. In his world things are slightly off, but you, the observer are in on the joke, and can chuckle at the dimwitted protagonist who bumbled into the creepy situation. He shoulda looked where he was going. You knew it all along.
In the Amazon blurb for "Identical Pigs" it states the book is so valuable it is worth three hundred dollars. I consider myself extremely lucky for having gotten it gratis. The dad jokes between the stories were worth twice what it cost me.
The stories themselves were quirky, weird and just disturbing enough to make for some fun dreams when read as bedtime stories for grownups.
I read a bit of weird fiction, light horror, as it were. Some of it can be dark and oppressive. That's the nature of the beast. Widing takes a different turn with his fiction. In his world things are slightly off, but you, the observer are in on the joke, and can chuckle at the dimwitted protagonist who bumbled into the creepy situation. He shoulda looked where he was going. You knew it all along.
April 26, 2019
I bought this book on the strength of the (truly terrible) dad jokes between each short story.
My favorite was the story about a man who struggled with his sense of identity after his wife became the primary breadwinner. When he over-reacts to the inconvenience of having his shoes stolen on an airplane, she starts to reconsider their relationship. When they were both struggling financially, she seldom had a chance to treat; he’d either insist on going Dutch or would yank the check before she had a chance to see the bill. She started to wonder if he wasn’t moved by kindness and generosity so much as taking advantage of the last socially acceptable way to be patronizing and sexist. As someone who has dated her share of “nice guys”, guys who didn’t want an equal partner so much as an adoring groupie, I could relate.
Second favorite was the story about a man who offers the public cookies laced with slow-acting poison. When someone dares toss her cookie in the trash after a bare nibble, saying that she didn’t care for the flavor, he is outraged. OUTRAGED. As if to prove to himself that his cookies are delicious he ends up eating one.
My favorite was the story about a man who struggled with his sense of identity after his wife became the primary breadwinner. When he over-reacts to the inconvenience of having his shoes stolen on an airplane, she starts to reconsider their relationship. When they were both struggling financially, she seldom had a chance to treat; he’d either insist on going Dutch or would yank the check before she had a chance to see the bill. She started to wonder if he wasn’t moved by kindness and generosity so much as taking advantage of the last socially acceptable way to be patronizing and sexist. As someone who has dated her share of “nice guys”, guys who didn’t want an equal partner so much as an adoring groupie, I could relate.
Second favorite was the story about a man who offers the public cookies laced with slow-acting poison. When someone dares toss her cookie in the trash after a bare nibble, saying that she didn’t care for the flavor, he is outraged. OUTRAGED. As if to prove to himself that his cookies are delicious he ends up eating one.
Did Not Finish
May 29, 2025I received a Kindle Edition of this book through a Goodreads giveaway several years ago in exchange for an honest review. (It took me a while to get around to reading it)
This is the first book I won through a giveaway that I did not finish. I usually push through the book even if I'm not enjoying it. I thought the first short story was okay. I enjoy wordy books although the wordiness was a bit too much for me. The characters were more annoying than they were interesting/amusing. Then when I got through the first few sentences in the second short story I knew this book was not for me due to the mature content.
I cannot rate this any stars as I didn't read enough of it to give it an honest rating.
This is the first book I won through a giveaway that I did not finish. I usually push through the book even if I'm not enjoying it. I thought the first short story was okay. I enjoy wordy books although the wordiness was a bit too much for me. The characters were more annoying than they were interesting/amusing. Then when I got through the first few sentences in the second short story I knew this book was not for me due to the mature content.
I cannot rate this any stars as I didn't read enough of it to give it an honest rating.
November 16, 2018
Disclosure - I received this as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Each of the short stories had a clear and different narrator (I just read another collection of short stories where there was zero differentiation between stories), so that made it easy to switch from story to story. The book was a fast read and interesting. The second half was a full story, and I really enjoyed it.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Each of the short stories had a clear and different narrator (I just read another collection of short stories where there was zero differentiation between stories), so that made it easy to switch from story to story. The book was a fast read and interesting. The second half was a full story, and I really enjoyed it.
February 2, 2019
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I thought a couple of the stories were entertaining, but it wasn’t a book I looked forward to picking up. If I had to choose, I’d say Goosin Bruiser and Brand Management were the ones I liked the best. Not sure why the author added Dad jokes between each story, but I enjoyed groaning at them too.
December 4, 2018
Entertaining
Entertaining stories. I liked the variety of the stories. They are well written and worth the time spent reading them. Loved the jokes placed between each offering. Looking forward to reading other books and stories by the author.
Entertaining stories. I liked the variety of the stories. They are well written and worth the time spent reading them. Loved the jokes placed between each offering. Looking forward to reading other books and stories by the author.
September 19, 2019
A book of mainly short stories; mainly entertaining and easy to read. The end of the book is a longer story that has a somewhat bizarre premise. Overall a good read, especially if you like short stories. Unfortunately, there was no "wow" factor or memorable story.
November 5, 2018
Not sure why but I just can't get into this book. Usually I love short stories but I am just not feeling it.
November 17, 2018
Enjoyed this book of short stories. Recommended!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews