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Charactered Pieces
With Charactered Pieces , Caleb J. Ross presents a varied world of familial discord, one where a dead fetus evokes more compassion than its mother ("Charactered Pieces"); where two brothers offer the destruction of a family legacy as a birthday gift for their aging father ("My Family s Rule"); where one brother s love of Holocaust documentaries pushes his family through the aftermath of his assumed suicide ("The Camp"). Charactered Pieces peels away the superficial armor of public life to reveal the flaws beneath and treats those perceived weaknesses not as hidden sources of pain but as reasons to celebrate life.
- GenresShort Stories
66 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
2 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Caleb J. Ross
39 books192 followersMy fiction and nonfiction has appeared widely, both online and in print. I am the author of five books of fiction and one book about the video game What Remains of Edith Finch. I am a co-host of Tales of the Lesser Medium, a video game podcast that pokes fun at video game narratives.
I am also the creator of a YouTube channel that encourages people to not just play games but think games.
Visit my official website at www.calebjross.com
Subscribe to my newsletter at Games are Real
I am also the creator of a YouTube channel that encourages people to not just play games but think games.
Visit my official website at www.calebjross.com
Subscribe to my newsletter at Games are Real
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 15, 2012
Caleb J Ross just gave me an 'eyegasam' reading his short story collection, CHARACTERED PIECES. His sensual words dances across my vision and stroked my being to full arousal. I can now count myself as part of the minions who heterosexually swoon at the words of Caleb J Ross. Thanks Bookedpodcast.com!
Charactered Pieces is a small collection of short stories that can best be summed up as examinations of the human condition. Familial relationships are dominant themes in this book and I've heard the term 'Domestic Fiction' or something akin to that used to describe the author's tendencies toward genre. Call it what you will, Ross has a unique way of describing human relationships. That more then anything is what is on display in this collection.
Typically I don't comment directly specific content in my reviews but I wish to break the rule here. The story, "An Optimist is the Human Personification of Spring" was moving. I have not had that deep an emotional reaction to a story in quite some time and I certainly can not recall ever being that emotionally vested in a story that short. Brilliant work there among a collection of already top notch writing.
I'm very glad I was introduced to Caleb J Ross from a great podcast (BookedPodcast.com). This is not the type of work I would have picked up off a shelf or internet browsing. I'm so very glad I was coaxed to read him though. I absolutely intend to further devour Caleb Ross' writing.
Charactered Pieces is a small collection of short stories that can best be summed up as examinations of the human condition. Familial relationships are dominant themes in this book and I've heard the term 'Domestic Fiction' or something akin to that used to describe the author's tendencies toward genre. Call it what you will, Ross has a unique way of describing human relationships. That more then anything is what is on display in this collection.
Typically I don't comment directly specific content in my reviews but I wish to break the rule here. The story, "An Optimist is the Human Personification of Spring" was moving. I have not had that deep an emotional reaction to a story in quite some time and I certainly can not recall ever being that emotionally vested in a story that short. Brilliant work there among a collection of already top notch writing.
I'm very glad I was introduced to Caleb J Ross from a great podcast (BookedPodcast.com). This is not the type of work I would have picked up off a shelf or internet browsing. I'm so very glad I was coaxed to read him though. I absolutely intend to further devour Caleb Ross' writing.
November 17, 2009
I'm the author, but it's cool if I review the book, right? True, it seems obvious that I would think this book is worth a 5-star rating, thus negating the need for me to comment. But, when the opportunity to be an egomaniac arises, I take it.
Seriously, though, there's some good stuff on these pages.
Seriously, though, there's some good stuff on these pages.
July 4, 2010
Part of the curriculum of any swimming class is confidence in water. To demonstrate this, a child in their first year of high school will be required to jump, or dive, into the deep end of the pool and swim a full length using their chosen technique. I had, three years previous to this happening, passed both bronze and silver certificates in swimming lengths of the pool. However, I had never jumped into any amount of water that exceeded my height. It was a new school, with new friends and peers. I was as skinny white kid, half naked and scared witless that if I jumped, and couldn’t reach the bottom, I would drown. But equally, I was sacred that if I chickened out, my peers would ridicule me forevermore, and I would be known throughout the school, and most probably my hometown, as the boy who never dives.
The same feelings as I had as a twelve-year-old boy with toes were perched at the poolside rippled through me again when I picked up Charactered Pieces by Caleb J Ross. I had heard, from the reviews by authors like Stephen Graham Jones that this book can change you. I didn’t want to change; I was happy with my simple life. But equally, the fear of living a life without reading this book scared me more. So when I received my copy from the author, and it arrived with the mild scent of ACID cigars staining every page, I held my breath, counted to three, and jumped.
The characters observed through Caleb’s eyes are jaded. They are wistful and broken. They are no one we know, but each is familiar as a distant relative, or a story we heard a friend recount about “someone” they knew. And for me, that was the most haunting part of the experience. From the protagonist in the title story with her Fetus-in-Fetu sister’s leg hanging from her stomach, to the weekend father in The Optimist, all the way to the reflective father in My Family’s Rule, a part of their lives, good or bad, stays with you. You put the book down, and they’re still there. No matter how many showers you take, or other books you read, their lives are now in yours, and that is the power of Caleb’s writing. I remember when first reading The Optimist thinking it was similar to another story I had read, possibly by Michel Faber in his collection The Fahrenheit Twins (unsure without checking), and likewise, I began thinking it would end in a similar way, with the father repenting for his mistakes. In truth, as I neared the end, I allowed my guard down for this reason. This was my first mistake. Without giving too much away, Caleb sucker punched me, and I ended up having a physical reaction to that story. I had to stand up, walk out of the room and hold my baby daughter for a while. It was something visceral I rarely feel when reading stories, but there it was, forewarning that one should never assume that any story in this collection is predictable.
The title story was again, another revelation. Lori works in a jewellery shop selling “flawed” jewels to rich people and is struggling to cope with defects in her own life. Her mother, once a beautiful actress, but, due to a freak incident involving a shotgun and her face, now works as a sex line caller, constantly berates her daughter for being too ugly. In an attempt to “disguise” her daughter’s flaws, she employees a make up artist who does little but makes Lori feel worse about herself. And while worlds apart in life, the dead foetus of her unborn sister unites both mother and daughter with sickening, but humorous consequence. The story is beautifully told, and if there were any criticism to be had, I would say it ended too quickly. The characters were well observed, and the potential was staggering. For selfish reasons I latter approached the author in the vain hope he’ll address my plea to make this a novel. I’ll keep my fingers crossed on that one. But it goes to prove the desire Caleb’s writing evokes.
It is a great achievement for any writer to see their work in print, but to produce a piece that could, given time, be a significant bit of storytelling of our age, is awe-inspiring. For personal reasons I am indebted to Caleb for allowing me to read his work. Like the boy of twelve years, I jumped into those deep waters with little hope of ever resurfacing the same person, or ever resurfacing at all. I was anxious and fearful of the consequences. And just how being forced under the water allowed me to appreciate the world above it, by the same token Charactered Pieces forced me to take that first breath again after turning that last page with a greater appreciation of life, even if it is flawed and imperfect.
The same feelings as I had as a twelve-year-old boy with toes were perched at the poolside rippled through me again when I picked up Charactered Pieces by Caleb J Ross. I had heard, from the reviews by authors like Stephen Graham Jones that this book can change you. I didn’t want to change; I was happy with my simple life. But equally, the fear of living a life without reading this book scared me more. So when I received my copy from the author, and it arrived with the mild scent of ACID cigars staining every page, I held my breath, counted to three, and jumped.
The characters observed through Caleb’s eyes are jaded. They are wistful and broken. They are no one we know, but each is familiar as a distant relative, or a story we heard a friend recount about “someone” they knew. And for me, that was the most haunting part of the experience. From the protagonist in the title story with her Fetus-in-Fetu sister’s leg hanging from her stomach, to the weekend father in The Optimist, all the way to the reflective father in My Family’s Rule, a part of their lives, good or bad, stays with you. You put the book down, and they’re still there. No matter how many showers you take, or other books you read, their lives are now in yours, and that is the power of Caleb’s writing. I remember when first reading The Optimist thinking it was similar to another story I had read, possibly by Michel Faber in his collection The Fahrenheit Twins (unsure without checking), and likewise, I began thinking it would end in a similar way, with the father repenting for his mistakes. In truth, as I neared the end, I allowed my guard down for this reason. This was my first mistake. Without giving too much away, Caleb sucker punched me, and I ended up having a physical reaction to that story. I had to stand up, walk out of the room and hold my baby daughter for a while. It was something visceral I rarely feel when reading stories, but there it was, forewarning that one should never assume that any story in this collection is predictable.
The title story was again, another revelation. Lori works in a jewellery shop selling “flawed” jewels to rich people and is struggling to cope with defects in her own life. Her mother, once a beautiful actress, but, due to a freak incident involving a shotgun and her face, now works as a sex line caller, constantly berates her daughter for being too ugly. In an attempt to “disguise” her daughter’s flaws, she employees a make up artist who does little but makes Lori feel worse about herself. And while worlds apart in life, the dead foetus of her unborn sister unites both mother and daughter with sickening, but humorous consequence. The story is beautifully told, and if there were any criticism to be had, I would say it ended too quickly. The characters were well observed, and the potential was staggering. For selfish reasons I latter approached the author in the vain hope he’ll address my plea to make this a novel. I’ll keep my fingers crossed on that one. But it goes to prove the desire Caleb’s writing evokes.
It is a great achievement for any writer to see their work in print, but to produce a piece that could, given time, be a significant bit of storytelling of our age, is awe-inspiring. For personal reasons I am indebted to Caleb for allowing me to read his work. Like the boy of twelve years, I jumped into those deep waters with little hope of ever resurfacing the same person, or ever resurfacing at all. I was anxious and fearful of the consequences. And just how being forced under the water allowed me to appreciate the world above it, by the same token Charactered Pieces forced me to take that first breath again after turning that last page with a greater appreciation of life, even if it is flawed and imperfect.
August 18, 2010
Caleb J. Ross’ Charactered Pieces may have an unconventional structure that succeeds on some levels and fails on others, but it’s a solid short story collection from the Outsider Writer’s Press.
Without a doubt, Caleb J. Ross is a talented writer. His short stories are widely published, and even if there is a little too much Chuck Palahniuk influence for my taste (not overkill, just enough for me to wish the influence got buried deeper), it’s easy to see why his work is spreading far and wide. The people in Charactered Pieces are flawed in unconventional ways, but their desires and struggles are everyday-familiar. Unfortunately, the structure of the collection gives away the meaning of this title far too soon. A title’s meaning should rarely be given away early (and if it is, its meaning should change as the book progresses), but the title story, “Charactered Pieces,” appears first. Therefore, instead of the reader finding the meaning later in the book, allowing them to reflect on the stories that have passed and shifting their view of what’s to come, the meaning strolls out on page two. It’s a pity, because everything—the cover, the table of contents, the title and the theme—is centered around this one story, so even though these aspects are executed well, the fruit is cut from the vine way too early.
Additionally, I’m not a fan of shock writing. Sure, shocking is subjective, and while I believe that little is shocking anymore, I still know when something feels like it’s trying to shock (subjective again, I know, and shock writers always deny they're trying to do this anyway), and Ross occasionally fails the smell test. Sometimes this shock factor wrecks a promising story—as is the case with “An Optometrist is the Human Personification of Spring,” a creative story told with fortune cookie papers throughout—but most of the time, Ross injects a level of heart, allowing the reader to reconnect with these odd characters’ humanity. “My Family’s Rule”—a piece about two brothers who take their aging father to a demolition site as a way of letting go—uses the shock factor well, making it questionable, and as a result, the piece is easily my pick of the collection. Other standout pieces include “The Camel of Morocco” and “The Camp.”
This may sound like a lot of criticism, but again, for the most part, Ross’ stories are solid; I just wasn’t sold on the structure. Where Charactered Pieces does succeed in this area, however, is in the final piece, “A Chinese Gemini.” Based on the structural failings thus far, I thought it was foolish to introduce the lone nonfiction story as a closer—that place where you’re leaving the final impression in the reader’s mind—but the piece (even if I would’ve gone all New Yorker on it and chopped it a page short), about Ross meeting a lonely woman in Las Vegas, continues the theme of the collection, serves as a good commentary on the stories preceding, and makes up for the premature title giveaway. With this strong final effort, I’m looking forward to seeing more from the Outsider Writer’s Press and Caleb J. Ross (whose debut novel, I Didn’t Mean to Be Kevin, hits late-2011). Three stars.
Without a doubt, Caleb J. Ross is a talented writer. His short stories are widely published, and even if there is a little too much Chuck Palahniuk influence for my taste (not overkill, just enough for me to wish the influence got buried deeper), it’s easy to see why his work is spreading far and wide. The people in Charactered Pieces are flawed in unconventional ways, but their desires and struggles are everyday-familiar. Unfortunately, the structure of the collection gives away the meaning of this title far too soon. A title’s meaning should rarely be given away early (and if it is, its meaning should change as the book progresses), but the title story, “Charactered Pieces,” appears first. Therefore, instead of the reader finding the meaning later in the book, allowing them to reflect on the stories that have passed and shifting their view of what’s to come, the meaning strolls out on page two. It’s a pity, because everything—the cover, the table of contents, the title and the theme—is centered around this one story, so even though these aspects are executed well, the fruit is cut from the vine way too early.
Additionally, I’m not a fan of shock writing. Sure, shocking is subjective, and while I believe that little is shocking anymore, I still know when something feels like it’s trying to shock (subjective again, I know, and shock writers always deny they're trying to do this anyway), and Ross occasionally fails the smell test. Sometimes this shock factor wrecks a promising story—as is the case with “An Optometrist is the Human Personification of Spring,” a creative story told with fortune cookie papers throughout—but most of the time, Ross injects a level of heart, allowing the reader to reconnect with these odd characters’ humanity. “My Family’s Rule”—a piece about two brothers who take their aging father to a demolition site as a way of letting go—uses the shock factor well, making it questionable, and as a result, the piece is easily my pick of the collection. Other standout pieces include “The Camel of Morocco” and “The Camp.”
This may sound like a lot of criticism, but again, for the most part, Ross’ stories are solid; I just wasn’t sold on the structure. Where Charactered Pieces does succeed in this area, however, is in the final piece, “A Chinese Gemini.” Based on the structural failings thus far, I thought it was foolish to introduce the lone nonfiction story as a closer—that place where you’re leaving the final impression in the reader’s mind—but the piece (even if I would’ve gone all New Yorker on it and chopped it a page short), about Ross meeting a lonely woman in Las Vegas, continues the theme of the collection, serves as a good commentary on the stories preceding, and makes up for the premature title giveaway. With this strong final effort, I’m looking forward to seeing more from the Outsider Writer’s Press and Caleb J. Ross (whose debut novel, I Didn’t Mean to Be Kevin, hits late-2011). Three stars.
January 17, 2010
The stories in Charactered Pieces cover a lot of ground, such as family tension, personal identity, aging, depression, strangers, death...and oh yeah, a fetus-in-fetu. In other words, the hallmarks of good literary fiction.
But wait, there's more. Ross doesn't write dull, self-congratulatory literary fiction. His sentences are lean, stripped of the unnecessary, leaving only words that bring the characters to life.
The characters are wonderfully flawed (as the title suggests), their hopes, joys, fears, and cynicism bubble to the surface between what's said and what's left to the reader's imagination. Whether it's a former demolition worker watching the pillars of the past become forgotten dust or a down-on-his-luck father cleaning up other people's messes in a fast food joint, we feel their pain and frustration and it recalls familiar moments in our own lives. Each character lives in a world that's built by their idiosyncrasies as much as their decisions.
These stories are not so much about overcoming adversity or creating/solving conflict as they are about offering glimpses into other lives, lives that startle and surprise us, but that we ultimately sympathize with. Instead of spoonfeeding morals, Ross does a great job of letting the characters tell the story.
I'm really excited about this new voice in fiction, and I eagerly anticipate his future releases. Thanks to Outsider Writers Press for recognizing this superb talent and publishing the first book of what is sure to be an interesting and successful career.
But wait, there's more. Ross doesn't write dull, self-congratulatory literary fiction. His sentences are lean, stripped of the unnecessary, leaving only words that bring the characters to life.
The characters are wonderfully flawed (as the title suggests), their hopes, joys, fears, and cynicism bubble to the surface between what's said and what's left to the reader's imagination. Whether it's a former demolition worker watching the pillars of the past become forgotten dust or a down-on-his-luck father cleaning up other people's messes in a fast food joint, we feel their pain and frustration and it recalls familiar moments in our own lives. Each character lives in a world that's built by their idiosyncrasies as much as their decisions.
These stories are not so much about overcoming adversity or creating/solving conflict as they are about offering glimpses into other lives, lives that startle and surprise us, but that we ultimately sympathize with. Instead of spoonfeeding morals, Ross does a great job of letting the characters tell the story.
I'm really excited about this new voice in fiction, and I eagerly anticipate his future releases. Thanks to Outsider Writers Press for recognizing this superb talent and publishing the first book of what is sure to be an interesting and successful career.
March 24, 2010
When you open this book, there’s a title page that simply says “Charactered Pieces”, nothing more. In a handwritten note, the author, Caleb J. Ross, wrote at the top of this page, right above the title, “Sal, you are one of the…”
As I read through this short story collection, I began to realize that the author’s message to me was actually true. These are stories about flawed, broken people who care. This isn’t an existentialist pity party. These are, as the back cover states, “stories of hope”. I hope that the people who read this book can connect with that. This is a very fine collection of stories, and an impressive debut by the author. Like every collection of short stories, not everything works. But what does work here is potent. For a short story to work for me, it has to be impactful, so much so that I don’t want to read another one without some time passing. Such was the case with almost all the stories in this collection. They linger. Well done, Mr. Ross!
As I read through this short story collection, I began to realize that the author’s message to me was actually true. These are stories about flawed, broken people who care. This isn’t an existentialist pity party. These are, as the back cover states, “stories of hope”. I hope that the people who read this book can connect with that. This is a very fine collection of stories, and an impressive debut by the author. Like every collection of short stories, not everything works. But what does work here is potent. For a short story to work for me, it has to be impactful, so much so that I don’t want to read another one without some time passing. Such was the case with almost all the stories in this collection. They linger. Well done, Mr. Ross!
December 19, 2009
The stories of Caleb Ross have a tendency to stick sideways in my brain. Most of them have interesting plots, poetic prose, and they flow quite nicely. The thing is, there's often an subtle element of surrealism that I can't quite pin down effectively. There seems to be one detail that's off, and the way characters react to it is never quite what I would have expected.
I went through the whole book with the feeling like it was a very lucid dream. Reaching the last page, I didn't have as much to say as I usually do about books. Perhaps it's the length, the book is around fifty pages, but I think it also has something to do with the stories feeling like complete thoughts. I just didn't see much I could criticize about the volume.
I went through the whole book with the feeling like it was a very lucid dream. Reaching the last page, I didn't have as much to say as I usually do about books. Perhaps it's the length, the book is around fifty pages, but I think it also has something to do with the stories feeling like complete thoughts. I just didn't see much I could criticize about the volume.
January 4, 2010
This collection of stories is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. The short form has always been my preference. I admire when a writer can take us immediately in and then release us in short duration. When it works, it is exhilarating. Caleb J. Ross delivers this.
The stories in Charactered Pieces are dark, sometimes disturbing, and anxious. I found a theme of parental angst stream through many of them. It was enjoyable to spend some time in the mind of Caleb J. Ross, but in the end, it was more personal. I believe a story is successful when you discover something about yourself after reading it. I highly recommend this collection.
The stories in Charactered Pieces are dark, sometimes disturbing, and anxious. I found a theme of parental angst stream through many of them. It was enjoyable to spend some time in the mind of Caleb J. Ross, but in the end, it was more personal. I believe a story is successful when you discover something about yourself after reading it. I highly recommend this collection.
June 14, 2010
There is a great variety of fiction in this collection. The one thing they have in common is the power that resonates, the echo of the stories after you've closed the book. Flawed characters are always the most captivating, layered, and human, and these stories are no exception. I've read a lot of stories by Ross, and this is a great compilation of his work. He's been widely published online and in a handful of anthologies, but I always enjoy his work. This is a great way to get to know his writing.
July 31, 2010
A big sigh. That's what I did when I got to the end of Caleb's collection of short stories. It's obvious to point out that each of the stories has its own personality, but there's something in every one of them that provoked the same reaction from me - they reminded me how to feel compassion in the face of repugnance. The writing is carefully measured, deliberately crafted to draw upon a certain melancholy but in a way that doesn't disuade you from reading on - these characters do move you and leave you pondering a good while after you've closed the pages. Top rate.
February 7, 2010
My apologies to the author, who I do not know personally, but this chapbook of stories largely left me nonplussed. I have mixed feelings about these stories.
To quote Mel's review: "Whether destructive, apathetic, misshapen or addicted, the characters in this collection continue to chug forward like damaged locomotives that refuse to derail. Their power, it seems, is in their imperfections, and Ross shows us, without a doubt, he is a master of tragedy made gorgeous." Largely, I agree with this statement, as the stories in this chapbook clearly cover a lot of individuals and their brokenness. And since I cannot really say it any better, I'm just going to steal Mel's quote. Ross's prose is well-written and the images he creates are sharp.
However, I found all of the characters and stories were afflicted with the same maudlin sense of apathy and/or depression. Maybe that is symptomatic of having any of these traits. And yet even with all of the characters suffering from different form of affliction, most of them seemed rather cursory about it. That is, I never got a sense that any one struggled save the architect, and even then I am not sure Abel struggled so much as he was running whereas everyone else just did not seem to care.
I think part of this feeling has to do with the conversations. In every single story, I got the feeling that every conversation had a rather staccato rhythm to it. Maybe every single character is irritated, or the mood tense, but this threw the pacing off for me at times. That is, things felt hurried when the mood did not seem to dictate otherwise, like too much is happening and we are jump-cutting to the next scene and not really giving enough time to honor the building of emotions that are happening at the moment.
Some of the stories in this collection strike me as snapshots: vignettes of awkward topics looking for a story that did not really exist. The time given to some of them did not even really give me a chance to care about any of the characters. Granted, as I mentioned before, it seems that the characters themselves did not care. So, I guess, in that aspect, we all got along.
All of that said, I liked some of the stories for what they were. For instance, in "An Optimist is the Human Personification of Spring", I could tell Alex cared. I did not get the sense that he was struggling, maybe he had resigned himself to his current fate, but he seemed to care. Or as in the story "A Chinese Gemini", it felt like we were getting somewhere. Where that somewhere was I am not entirely certain, but I rode along with the story to its end. I will not say conclusion because none of these stories really have any sort of resolution.
All in all, this collection packed together some perplexing emotional responses [for me:]. I am not sure what other readers will find in Charactered Pieces. The prose and the price are good enough to take a look, but I cannot guarantee that you will understand, like, or enjoy what you read, simply because the subject matter may take you in a completely different direction than it did me.
To quote Mel's review: "Whether destructive, apathetic, misshapen or addicted, the characters in this collection continue to chug forward like damaged locomotives that refuse to derail. Their power, it seems, is in their imperfections, and Ross shows us, without a doubt, he is a master of tragedy made gorgeous." Largely, I agree with this statement, as the stories in this chapbook clearly cover a lot of individuals and their brokenness. And since I cannot really say it any better, I'm just going to steal Mel's quote. Ross's prose is well-written and the images he creates are sharp.
However, I found all of the characters and stories were afflicted with the same maudlin sense of apathy and/or depression. Maybe that is symptomatic of having any of these traits. And yet even with all of the characters suffering from different form of affliction, most of them seemed rather cursory about it. That is, I never got a sense that any one struggled save the architect, and even then I am not sure Abel struggled so much as he was running whereas everyone else just did not seem to care.
I think part of this feeling has to do with the conversations. In every single story, I got the feeling that every conversation had a rather staccato rhythm to it. Maybe every single character is irritated, or the mood tense, but this threw the pacing off for me at times. That is, things felt hurried when the mood did not seem to dictate otherwise, like too much is happening and we are jump-cutting to the next scene and not really giving enough time to honor the building of emotions that are happening at the moment.
Some of the stories in this collection strike me as snapshots: vignettes of awkward topics looking for a story that did not really exist. The time given to some of them did not even really give me a chance to care about any of the characters. Granted, as I mentioned before, it seems that the characters themselves did not care. So, I guess, in that aspect, we all got along.
All of that said, I liked some of the stories for what they were. For instance, in "An Optimist is the Human Personification of Spring", I could tell Alex cared. I did not get the sense that he was struggling, maybe he had resigned himself to his current fate, but he seemed to care. Or as in the story "A Chinese Gemini", it felt like we were getting somewhere. Where that somewhere was I am not entirely certain, but I rode along with the story to its end. I will not say conclusion because none of these stories really have any sort of resolution.
All in all, this collection packed together some perplexing emotional responses [for me:]. I am not sure what other readers will find in Charactered Pieces. The prose and the price are good enough to take a look, but I cannot guarantee that you will understand, like, or enjoy what you read, simply because the subject matter may take you in a completely different direction than it did me.
March 4, 2010
Do you ever wonder where the Charactered Pieces go? Where we shuffle off to during the day, barely visible in the bright sunshine? Do we sleep at night like others? Do we simply slump to the ground when tired?
We live not so differently than the rest of you really, but without the worries of your concerns with superficiality. We have enough reality to keep us occupied.
Caleb J. Ross can seemingly observe the unobservable. He beautifully describes the lives of the ignored, the misplaced, the ostracized, and the other edge-feeders of society.
Caleb’s world or is it my world . . . before you understand what is happening it is your world and you will be sharing a space in your brain with Charactered Pieces several weeks after you thought you had finished the stories.
He respectfully offers us insights into lives with this smooth slender slip of a perfectly sized Chapbook. His phenomenal artwork graces the cover, but don’t look too hard, the drawing will make sense later.
The power of the pieces is Caleb’s encyclopedic knowledge of those of us able to puzzle through life without too much blood noticeably seeping from our surgically basted up wounds.
Each short story is unique. Caleb uses an uncanny process to pick at the roughened scabs of fully lived lives to see what is underneath.
http://www.redroom.com/member/calebjross
http://www.calebjross.com/works/
http://www.myspace.com/calebjross
http://www.redroom.com/video/characte...
http://www.outsiderwriters.org
We live not so differently than the rest of you really, but without the worries of your concerns with superficiality. We have enough reality to keep us occupied.
Caleb J. Ross can seemingly observe the unobservable. He beautifully describes the lives of the ignored, the misplaced, the ostracized, and the other edge-feeders of society.
Caleb’s world or is it my world . . . before you understand what is happening it is your world and you will be sharing a space in your brain with Charactered Pieces several weeks after you thought you had finished the stories.
He respectfully offers us insights into lives with this smooth slender slip of a perfectly sized Chapbook. His phenomenal artwork graces the cover, but don’t look too hard, the drawing will make sense later.
The power of the pieces is Caleb’s encyclopedic knowledge of those of us able to puzzle through life without too much blood noticeably seeping from our surgically basted up wounds.
Each short story is unique. Caleb uses an uncanny process to pick at the roughened scabs of fully lived lives to see what is underneath.
http://www.redroom.com/member/calebjross
http://www.calebjross.com/works/
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September 4, 2013
A short book of short stories offered for free as an ebook from the author, for which I am grateful, as he’s putting himself “out there” for feedback with no monetary recompense. This is my first foray into the mind of Mr. Ross, and it’s a heck of a ride. The stories themselves (some seven of them) are populated with tragic, very flawed people, making it somewhat of an emotional trek to get through them. The plots are mere vehicles for the internal conflicts and largely negative, complex relationships among the characters.
My favorite is “The Camp,” in which the protagonist’s brother, who died “perhaps” of suicide, has taken upon himself a task of making a documentary about the Nazi prison/death camps, which is played at random hours, it looks like on the local PBS affiliate, so our protagonist finally watches it in toto, gaining a lot in sight into not only this horrific phenomenon, but also his brother’s nature and struggles. The boys’ mother hovers, having a great deal of difficulty dealing with the brother’s death, thus making the protagonist even more curious about his brother.
The second favorite is “Refill,” about a psychiatric patient wondering if he should refill his prescription for his medication, and in the process of this dialogue with himself gathers his office mates into the process. Fun, but disturbing.
Anyway, four stars for Mr. Ross. I recommend this small book, but just be warned, it ain’t a lot of comedy. I also have his “Murmurs – Gathered Stories,” also free, awaiting a reading. Thanks, Mr. Ross, lookin’ forward to reading them too.
My favorite is “The Camp,” in which the protagonist’s brother, who died “perhaps” of suicide, has taken upon himself a task of making a documentary about the Nazi prison/death camps, which is played at random hours, it looks like on the local PBS affiliate, so our protagonist finally watches it in toto, gaining a lot in sight into not only this horrific phenomenon, but also his brother’s nature and struggles. The boys’ mother hovers, having a great deal of difficulty dealing with the brother’s death, thus making the protagonist even more curious about his brother.
The second favorite is “Refill,” about a psychiatric patient wondering if he should refill his prescription for his medication, and in the process of this dialogue with himself gathers his office mates into the process. Fun, but disturbing.
Anyway, four stars for Mr. Ross. I recommend this small book, but just be warned, it ain’t a lot of comedy. I also have his “Murmurs – Gathered Stories,” also free, awaiting a reading. Thanks, Mr. Ross, lookin’ forward to reading them too.
March 5, 2010
Characterized Pieces by Caleb J. Ross Published by OW Press 2009, www.outsiderwriters.org
Do you ever wonder where the Charactered Pieces go? Where we shuffle off to during the day, barely visible in the bright sunshine? Do we sleep at night like others? Do we simply slump to the ground when tired?
We live not so differently than the rest of you really, but without the worries of your concerns with superficiality. We have enough reality to keep us occupied.
Caleb J. Ross can seemingly observe the unobservable. He beautifully describes the lives of the ignored, the misplaced, the ostracized, and the other edge-feeders of society.
Caleb's world or is it my world . . . before you understand what is happening it is your world and you will be sharing a space in your brain with Charactered Pieces several weeks after you thought you had finished the stories.
He respectfully offers us insights into lives with this smooth slender slip of a perfectly sized Chapbook. His phenomenal artwork graces the cover, but don't look too hard, the drawing will make sense later.
The power of the pieces is Caleb's encyclopedic knowledge of those of us able to puzzle through life without too much blood noticeably seeping from our surgically basted up wounds.
Each short story is unique. Caleb uses an uncanny process to pick at the roughened scabs of fully lived lives to see what is underneath. (by Vicki S. Nikolaidis)
Do you ever wonder where the Charactered Pieces go? Where we shuffle off to during the day, barely visible in the bright sunshine? Do we sleep at night like others? Do we simply slump to the ground when tired?
We live not so differently than the rest of you really, but without the worries of your concerns with superficiality. We have enough reality to keep us occupied.
Caleb J. Ross can seemingly observe the unobservable. He beautifully describes the lives of the ignored, the misplaced, the ostracized, and the other edge-feeders of society.
Caleb's world or is it my world . . . before you understand what is happening it is your world and you will be sharing a space in your brain with Charactered Pieces several weeks after you thought you had finished the stories.
He respectfully offers us insights into lives with this smooth slender slip of a perfectly sized Chapbook. His phenomenal artwork graces the cover, but don't look too hard, the drawing will make sense later.
The power of the pieces is Caleb's encyclopedic knowledge of those of us able to puzzle through life without too much blood noticeably seeping from our surgically basted up wounds.
Each short story is unique. Caleb uses an uncanny process to pick at the roughened scabs of fully lived lives to see what is underneath. (by Vicki S. Nikolaidis)
June 19, 2011
The characters in Caleb J Ross’s Charactered Pieces are flawed and disfigured in the most unimaginable ways possible. There’s Lori who had the “underdeveloped left leg of her fetus-in-fetu sister protruding from her gut.” There’s the pseudo-prophet, Abel, who drank the blood of a camel. And there’s the masterpiece “The Camp,” my favorite story in the book, starting ominously with one of the best first lines I’ve read: “My mother doesn’t use hangers anymore.”
Caleb J Ross is not only a storyteller; he is also the invisible wildcard in a gym full of people senselessly busting each other’s head off. He collects the blood in the towels. He keeps a scorecard of their loss. He realizes that that their wins are not going to last forever. He reminds them again and again. It does not matter if nobody listens.
I want his characters to suffer because they are maladjusted, materialistic, and destructive. But then, I also want them to be happy. These losers, these dredges of social failures, whose wants and excesses are so shamelessly put across -- these dysfunctional characters make me wish for them a safe journey. Maybe, that’s what Stephen Graham Jones is talking about on the cover blurb for the book: “These stories change you.” Maybe, in ways you don’t want to be changed.
Caleb J Ross is not only a storyteller; he is also the invisible wildcard in a gym full of people senselessly busting each other’s head off. He collects the blood in the towels. He keeps a scorecard of their loss. He realizes that that their wins are not going to last forever. He reminds them again and again. It does not matter if nobody listens.
I want his characters to suffer because they are maladjusted, materialistic, and destructive. But then, I also want them to be happy. These losers, these dredges of social failures, whose wants and excesses are so shamelessly put across -- these dysfunctional characters make me wish for them a safe journey. Maybe, that’s what Stephen Graham Jones is talking about on the cover blurb for the book: “These stories change you.” Maybe, in ways you don’t want to be changed.
February 26, 2012
An interesting assortment of short stories coming from a author who almost uses poetic prose, ambiguity and a vividly descriptive tone to pack the stories together. From the struggles of a young woman with the corpse of her dead sister engraved in her body, to families coping with loss ( death or separation), to the struggle of a perpetually depressed man against depression, to men warding off a devastating curse, to affections between a estranged father and a child and finally the familiarity and connectedness between two strangers meeting by chance, the stories deals with human emotions at its profound depth and ambiguity-- so deep that the emotions themselves sound matter of fact in the narrator's tone. Caleb creates a real atmosphere...albeit a touch eerie and strange and his language is powerful, packed with descriptive metaphors and strong held back tone. It is strongly recommended for people who like fresh prose at its ambiguous best.
I have used the word ambiguous a number of times, this is not to imply the author tries to confuse or is himself confused. Rather it deals with the counter intuitive and 'oxymoronish' nature of human emotions at its subtle range.
For those who are motivated by plot driven stories, this may not be your cup of tea..
I have used the word ambiguous a number of times, this is not to imply the author tries to confuse or is himself confused. Rather it deals with the counter intuitive and 'oxymoronish' nature of human emotions at its subtle range.
For those who are motivated by plot driven stories, this may not be your cup of tea..
December 5, 2009
Caleb J Ross’s short story collection Charactered Pieces is a celebration. It’s a celebration of characters who are cursed. With life.
Whether destructive, apathetic, misshapen or addicted, the characters in this collection continue to chug forward like damaged locomotives that refuse to derail. Their power, it seems, is in their imperfections, and Ross shows us, without a doubt, he is a master of tragedy made gorgeous.
In My Family’s Rule, a father and his two sons look on as a hospital is demolished:
“Sutures, like soft spots on infant skulls, break away, letting the exterior collapse into these floors and stairs that once carried so many sick, dying, and healing.”
Stark, vivid, and yes, often unsettling, Charactered Pieces grips you and won’t let go, pulling your eyes through the dark smudges of humanity’s rifts with a terrifying, skillful grace.
Beneath the rubble of their lives, the characters in Charactered Pieces know who they are, and Ross challenges us to forsake them. But we cannot, for they are us.
“Sometimes, we have to learn how to smile.”—from The Camp
Don’t miss this.
Whether destructive, apathetic, misshapen or addicted, the characters in this collection continue to chug forward like damaged locomotives that refuse to derail. Their power, it seems, is in their imperfections, and Ross shows us, without a doubt, he is a master of tragedy made gorgeous.
In My Family’s Rule, a father and his two sons look on as a hospital is demolished:
“Sutures, like soft spots on infant skulls, break away, letting the exterior collapse into these floors and stairs that once carried so many sick, dying, and healing.”
Stark, vivid, and yes, often unsettling, Charactered Pieces grips you and won’t let go, pulling your eyes through the dark smudges of humanity’s rifts with a terrifying, skillful grace.
Beneath the rubble of their lives, the characters in Charactered Pieces know who they are, and Ross challenges us to forsake them. But we cannot, for they are us.
“Sometimes, we have to learn how to smile.”—from The Camp
Don’t miss this.
December 22, 2009
A few days ago I logged in to goodreads and saw that one of the "sponsored books" was Caleb J. Ross's "Charactered Pieces." The title and the cover art caught my eye, so I went directly to the Outsiders Press website. Looks good, I thought to myself. Good enough to buy.
Being a cheapskate, but more importantly, wanting instant gratification, I opted for the PDF ebook edition.
These are great stories; stories that will stick with you, and with characters that will stick with you. Although there's not a bad story in the bunch, my favorites are "Charactered Pieces," "An Optimist is the Human Personification of Spring" <--- probably my favorite of the favorites, and "The Camp."
These are twisty (but not necessarily twistED) stories that will take you to places you don't expect to go, but you'll also see that those places make perfect sense when you get to them.
Thanks to the author for the inspiring "Special Note to You, the Reader" at the beginning of the book. Even before I read the stories, I knew I would love them and this author, just on the strength of that opening Note alone.
Do yourself a favor and read this book.
Being a cheapskate, but more importantly, wanting instant gratification, I opted for the PDF ebook edition.
These are great stories; stories that will stick with you, and with characters that will stick with you. Although there's not a bad story in the bunch, my favorites are "Charactered Pieces," "An Optimist is the Human Personification of Spring" <--- probably my favorite of the favorites, and "The Camp."
These are twisty (but not necessarily twistED) stories that will take you to places you don't expect to go, but you'll also see that those places make perfect sense when you get to them.
Thanks to the author for the inspiring "Special Note to You, the Reader" at the beginning of the book. Even before I read the stories, I knew I would love them and this author, just on the strength of that opening Note alone.
Do yourself a favor and read this book.
April 16, 2012
I had read another book by this author and it really wasn't my thing. However he was nice enough to send me this book also so I thought "What the hell? What have I got to lose." WEll...
THANK YOU , CALEB ROSS !!
(screamed with sarcasm and eye rolling)
I have had nightmares all day and night from the story "Charactered Pieces". Oh My God !! At the end, when Lori sits down to paint Monicas toes, I thought I was going to die, from laughing so hard and yet being sooooo grossed out at the same time. Really, even thinking about it now makes me giggle yet my skin is crawling .
I believe that a good story brings out emotions. Good emotions and bad ones. So for that I say KUDOS to the author, because I feel like chuckling yet am completely replused by the scenario of the story. Seriously though, I tip my hat to you for that one.
The book on a whole just was not my thing, again. Everything was depressing and contained a lot of what I think must have been metaphoric stories. I'm just not that deep of a person, so alot of it was lost on me.
THANK YOU , CALEB ROSS !!
(screamed with sarcasm and eye rolling)
I have had nightmares all day and night from the story "Charactered Pieces". Oh My God !! At the end, when Lori sits down to paint Monicas toes, I thought I was going to die, from laughing so hard and yet being sooooo grossed out at the same time. Really, even thinking about it now makes me giggle yet my skin is crawling .
I believe that a good story brings out emotions. Good emotions and bad ones. So for that I say KUDOS to the author, because I feel like chuckling yet am completely replused by the scenario of the story. Seriously though, I tip my hat to you for that one.
The book on a whole just was not my thing, again. Everything was depressing and contained a lot of what I think must have been metaphoric stories. I'm just not that deep of a person, so alot of it was lost on me.
January 8, 2011
Caleb J. Ross's 66 page chapbook titled Charactered Pieces should be read and discussed. It's simply worth talking about. So if I may...
Incisively honest, nauseatingly powerful, borderline voyeuristic. All in the best way.
This collection leads you along a razor's edge of human vulnerability and frailty, poised to catch you off guard at every turn and cradle you the moment you break. And you will break, if you have a heart at all.
But these stories don't scar you, they stir the memory of your own ghosts long forgotten (or maybe not so long) and it is this unexpected rapport that breaks your fall, keeps you coming back to the collection like a moth to the flame. Maybe these stories will lead you a little close, maybe you'll be singed when you're through, but you'll feel more alive for it.
Ross reliably constructs the type of scenarios we all walk away from carrying a deeper appreciation, in time, of the painful memories that have made us exactly who we are.
Incisively honest, nauseatingly powerful, borderline voyeuristic. All in the best way.
This collection leads you along a razor's edge of human vulnerability and frailty, poised to catch you off guard at every turn and cradle you the moment you break. And you will break, if you have a heart at all.
But these stories don't scar you, they stir the memory of your own ghosts long forgotten (or maybe not so long) and it is this unexpected rapport that breaks your fall, keeps you coming back to the collection like a moth to the flame. Maybe these stories will lead you a little close, maybe you'll be singed when you're through, but you'll feel more alive for it.
Ross reliably constructs the type of scenarios we all walk away from carrying a deeper appreciation, in time, of the painful memories that have made us exactly who we are.
April 16, 2012
Charactered Pieces is such an interesting read. Some of the stories are very disturbing in nature. The gritty, stark and sometimes depraved nature of how these stories are written is both disturbing and provoking. I had many emotions and thoughts as I went from story to story. The Camel Of Morocco stands out as one that made me feel the most disgust as I visualized the bloodletting and drinking. The story that I enjoyed the most is The Camp for the sheer human emotion felt at the loss of a loved one and how those left behind deal with the pain of this loss.
Many thanks to the author for bringing these stories to publication.
P.S.: I also want to thank the author Caleb J Ross for providing me with a free edownload copy of his book.
Many thanks to the author for bringing these stories to publication.
P.S.: I also want to thank the author Caleb J Ross for providing me with a free edownload copy of his book.
January 5, 2010
While there is weirdness in these stories, not to mention biblical allegories and tales of suicide and the holocaust, what lingers is an underlying thread about the impact parents, fathers in particular, have on our lives whether through their presence or more often their absence. Ultimately, the stories are like a collective punch to the chest, though none more so than An Optimist is the Human Personification of Spring which caused me to lose my breath for a fleeting moment as I sat on the train and still haunts me even as I write this.
January 17, 2010
Much like the scratch-n-dent jewelry of the title story's namesake, these flawed characters make their way through the treacherous literary terrain of Ross's imagination, blasted by sandstorms and demolition crews, derided by their families and coworkers, wracked with guilt, and and seeking redemption in the fleeting margins between their text and your thumb. As seen under the cruel magnification of a loupe, these defects are but facets, however, and Ross's sales pitch emphasizes the sentimental value in knowing their complete selves.
May 12, 2010
Bottom line and up front: Ross has got some serious talent.
That much becomes obvious on the first page and with each successive one. In "Charactered Pieces," Ross plays doctor on the reader, either by tugging on the heart strings or twisting the knife in your gut. Each story has an intended effect, whether it's a nostalic longing or an uncomfortable self-awareness to our flaws, and Ross showcases his ability with succint accuracy and haunting wordplay. These are the kind of stories you think about long after you've read them.
I wait with great anticipation for his next.
That much becomes obvious on the first page and with each successive one. In "Charactered Pieces," Ross plays doctor on the reader, either by tugging on the heart strings or twisting the knife in your gut. Each story has an intended effect, whether it's a nostalic longing or an uncomfortable self-awareness to our flaws, and Ross showcases his ability with succint accuracy and haunting wordplay. These are the kind of stories you think about long after you've read them.
I wait with great anticipation for his next.
March 6, 2010
I read this book in one sitting while I was in the doctor's office having a stomach test. The collection of short stories make the time go by quickly. As I read the book, the cryptic front cover image suddenly became apparent. This book is published by the folks at the Outsider Writers Collective. I recommend that you support work like this - words written by writers who exist outsider of the mainstream.
May 17, 2010
Writing that moves you is hard to find while wading through the debris of mainstream literature.
Caleb’s homespun flavor of modern tragedy will move you–surely as a swan dive into oncoming traffic.
Character Pieces might be compared to being in a bad relationship: you fall deeper and deeper in love as your heart breaks over and over again. You won’t forget these words, even if (for some ungodly reason) you wanted to.
All you really want is more.
Caleb’s homespun flavor of modern tragedy will move you–surely as a swan dive into oncoming traffic.
Character Pieces might be compared to being in a bad relationship: you fall deeper and deeper in love as your heart breaks over and over again. You won’t forget these words, even if (for some ungodly reason) you wanted to.
All you really want is more.
April 6, 2011
a wonderful, surreal journey
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