Captive Audience: Stories

by Dave Reidy

". . . a detailed and seemingly experience-based portrait of what it's like to strut one's stuff onstage--be it at a comedy club or on a basketball court--for all to see and judge. . . . an impressively solid debut . . . ."-- Chicago Sun-Times"In  Captive Audience , Dave Reidy collects fictional stories of performers on the fringes of the entertainment world and deftly mixes in cameos from real celebrities (from R.E.M. to Abe Vigoda). This heartfelt collection highlights Reidy's empathy for his characters, and portends a bright future for the author."-- David Gutowski , Largehearted Boy " Captive Audience is wonderful. These stories--understated, honest and always touching--limn the many small perils that await a young man today on his way to settling in the world. This is an immensely rewarding book."-- Scott Turow"Dave Reidy's stories remind us that even when we're composing our Song of Everyone Else, we're creating a distinctive Song of Ourselves, and continually gathering others into us, in a way that Walt Whitman would recognize, and celebrate."-- Jim Shepard"Dave Reidy's matchless reports from the heart of twenty-first century America, a landscape of technological obsession and performance anxiety (in many forms), are elegant, precise, cool, and funny. Here is a young writer from whom we can expect much in the future."-- David Leavitt

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2009

About the author

Dave Reidy's novel The Voiceover Artist was listed among Top Fall Indie Fiction titles by Library Journal and named a Midwest Connections Pick by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association. Reidy's first book, a collection of short stories about performers called Captive Audience, was selected as an Indie Next Notable Book by the American Booksellers Association. His fiction has been published by Granta and his non-fiction has appeared in Belt Magazine and South Side Weekly. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Reviews

[CBSD Library]

Check out a free preview of a story from Captive Audience in our Bookslinger app!

[Robert Duffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out full article and Q&A with Reidy at http://www.examiner.com/x-416-Chicago...

The young male narrators(except for Abe Vigoda) in Captive Audience aspire to rise from the fringe of their crafts to some kind of spotlight but often find their success comes in ways other than planned. In “Dancing Man,” a sideman organist hits the road with ska band Sod Off Shotgun, but instead of playing the keys, he energizes the crowds with his lone dance move, the running man.

The attention to detail that illuminates such esoteric arts as screenprinting is laid out so specifically that you can imagine performing them yourself. From karaoke to basketball camp, Reidy nails the art of performance.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a teacher, it is difficult for me to be a "captive audience" to any book during the academic year; yet, Mr. Reidy's book seized my literary attention. His collection of short stories provide beautiful and at times, poetically crisp, anecdotes of those who perform and those who only dream of performing. Within the span of a few sentences, Reidy transports the reader into a voyeur of a cast of protagonists that one can not help but find as empathetic companions, trying to make sense of the human condition. Each story gleams with the grace of an experienced writer who truly appreciates his craft, as well as the creative spark that lies within each one of us.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for anyone who considers him or herself a fan of the arts--it's a book FOR the appreciators. You'll know what I mean when you read it.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short stories about various types of performers/performances from a first-time author (who I also happen to know). I encourage you to check it out!

[Wgscherban · Rating 4 out of 5]

dave rocks

[Priscilla]

will start to read this weekend..I guess, this one is good..

[Tom Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The characters are just amazing.