Rest Area

by Clay McLeod Chapman

Veering off the meandering trail blazed by Southern Gothic stylists such as Flannery O'Connor, Truman Capote, and Carson McCullers, Clay McLeod Chapman strikes out in his own distinctive direction in this engaging debut collection of short stories. A failing grade in English and a perceptive teacher's suggestion that he try to redeem himself by writing a play led to his first literary effort—at age 12. Today, the 24-year old Chapman spins tales that piece that heart and unsettle the mind. He speaks in the voice of the New South—haunted by the past, often uncomfortable in the present, and distinctively, even disturbingly all its own.

Still writing plays and also performing his original monologues around the country an abroad, the young Virginian breathes life into a cast of unforgettable eccentrics. Some are endearing, others are unnerving, but all are credible and, despite their foibles, strangely sympathetic. Consider, for example, the clueless father who's apparently "lost" his young daughter at a highway rest stop, the lonely old woman who romances a rabid fox with tales of her past, and the ventriloquist who muses with his dummy about their faltering relationship. Rest Area—a weirdly wonderful place to linger and absorb a slice of southern life that combines pathos, mordant wit, suspense, and a touching regard for humankind at its quirkiest.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Horror

6 pages, Audio Cassette

First published December 20, 2001

About the author

Books. Children's books. Comic books. Film.

Reviews

[Stay · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nobody goes that deep. Not like me. Hey, forget about your ring-finger. That's amateur if you ask me. I'm swallowing you up to your elbow, Howard. And I never spit."

Many, many, many moons ago is when I first read this collection. It was great then and it's even greater now. I'm a lot older (not wiser) and can grasp what the hell these stories are pushing through.

They are biarre, twisted, and everything I love about horror fiction. Whatever you do, don't sleep on this author.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

At first I thought I’d end up DNF’ing this book after about 3 stories. I convinced myself to read atleast 5 of the stories and then I couldn’t stop reading til I was done with the book. This book is not for the faint of heart. I’ve read darker books but some readers may not care for these kinds of dark tales about the underbelly of the world. I fairly enjoyed most of them but will probably not give it a reread so I will be unhauling it.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of Chapman's earliest stories already shows his strength of prose, adeptness at surprise twists and ability to tell a whole story in just a few pages. The tales within have a nastiness to them, and will make you uncomfortable the entire time you read them. Many of them slowly build the tension only to give you a raw slap in the face at the end. After reading the title story to start the book, I felt bad that the rest of them had that to live up to, but most of them proved just as worthy.

[S.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

You never know whose ears will hear your prayers and see fit to answer them.

Dark, disturbing, depraved, disgusting, demoralizing, dreamlike. A solid collection of short stories from the author of Miss Corpus, which, like its film adaptation, was also very good. There’s just something so refreshing and beautiful about Chapman’s prose that makes me happy and that I admire immensely, even when it’s describing a boy fucking a pumpkin.

My favorites were Rest Area, Second Helping, The Man Corn Triptych, Correspondence of Corpses and Bladder Companion. Wonderfully unsettling stuff that you both can and can’t really classify as horror.

[Ｆｒａｎｋｈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was yet another happy-accident purchase and what drew me to the book while shopping in the bargain store is its vibrant red cover. I've always been quite interested in anthologies because I believe that the short story is an underrated craft then and even until now. I went with my instincts when I bought Rest Area and I was quite pleased with what I got.

The collection reads more as a series of first-person (and a couple of third-persons) accounts on fixations ranging from the most ridiculous and disturbing of things. The titular story opens with a father who is searching for his little girl when they happened to stop by for some gas and she ended up disappearing from the bathroom. The story is terrifying, highlighting parents' fear when a child is ripped from them by unseen abductors followed by the agonizing search and rescue and the delay of closure. The thematic resonance of guilt seems to play an important role in this story and the others as well which feature assorted characters who combat the delusions that they themselves allowed to be infested with.

There are stories about forlorn desires that remained unmet which had therefore inspired them to take more vengeful actions. Each story is a really fascinating journey to the heart of darkness, taking us first from the poisoned veins and right into the bone and marrow of desolation.

For any reader who enjoys darkly humorous stories about spiritually depressing characters, Rest Area will appeal to you immediately. There are no happy endings for Chapman's fallen and destitute heroes and heroines in this volume; only the inevitable quick stop to nightmarish possibilities, encountered because of a singular wrong turn at a crossroad that they should have never traveled in the first place. But, just like the father in the opening story, these characters seem to keep coming back for more because of the personal demons that they are locked in an inner battle with.

I don't have the book with me right now while I write this review but the one story that I could never forget was Milking Cherry. It's about a prostitute who allows her customers to cut and leave scars in her body as a sort of bittersweet keepsake of each experience. She sees herself as a container of plausible redemption for men who enjoy her in sin and lust when they crave for something more freeing and complete.

There are several more stories that offer this kind of dichotomy between hopeful meditation and the lack of it, stories about penchant nostalgia and terror of the past, and tales about obsessions that took a step too far in fulfillment.

RECOMMENDED: 8/10
* Rest Area is such a delightfully enjoyable read even if the stories themselves offer no sense of joy or salvation. Chapman's lyrical prose could be read aloud as well, preferably with an audience listening.

[Ted Shaffner]

Seeing Clay perform these stories live is even better than reading them, but they still do extraordinarily well on the page. He's writing in a style that is all his own, and yet carries the weight and resonance of the great masters. So few writers today are able to pull that off. Definitely read this one...

[Louize · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rest Area leads us through a chain of horrific domestic circumstances experienced by ordinary characters. Each story is brittle and shocking; honestly labored with unflinching reality. The prose is a fusion of rugged language and irony.

Please read the complete thoughts from The Page Walker .

[✨lee✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

um...woah?

[J.P. Cane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just off the interstate you’ll find the familiar places and luckless faces contained in the stories of Chapman’s Rest Area. Most tales are in second-person as though the reader has come upon a rest stop, county fair, or the woods expecting one thing and finding something else, perhaps funny or poignant, but always heartfelt and intimate.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories in this book are quite strange. They are meant to be performed, which is exactly what Clay does at his shows. I love this book because when I read the stories I hear Clay's voice and can see him acting them out.
The book really doesn't do the stories justice...isn't that weird?

[Sheldon Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh have mercy I can't believe I forgot to put this one on here. Read this while in graduate school at the urging of Mary Yakuri Waters. So glad I did! It's basically amazing.

[Brandon Stock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of stories. Dark, twisted, and something new with each turn of the page. Clay’s characters are rarely what they seam, and it’s an interesting read hearing the stories from the character’s point of view. As the reader you are in the car as they reveal things, share things or lose grip on reality and sanity. You can never grab the wheel to take control, your destiny tied in with them for each story. A great read.

[Jeffrey W · Rating 5 out of 5]

So immersive! These short stories balance first- and second-person narration to make it feel like you’re in the story as they’re being told to you. Each one is so creepy and gross, while injects hints of humor. Highly recommend this unique reading experience!

[Lucille Bransfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Clay Chapman’s books. I however, am not a huge fan of short stories. These were mostly all good, grab you kind of stories though. The last one in particular hit home, I saw and felt the whole thing. That ride brought me back to teenage hood.

[Victoria Isham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the first story, Rest Stop. The descriptions and the point of view felt like I was in the story. Some other stories had the same effect on me. I had a hard time reading the rest of the stories; however, I am hoping I will come back to finish this book.

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

God I wish I could write openings and ends like these. Wow. Upsetting.

[Readingwithavengeance · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found most of the stories quite disturbing. Nothing wrong with stories that make the hairs on the back of your neck raise up, but every single story had something to do with death and/or depravity. Instead of being entertained I was left with a bad taste in my mouth.

[Rom Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of stories made me fall in love with the absurd.

[Gillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

While an okay creative writing example, the book was more of a high school assignment than a captivating story collection.