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Vinyl Cafe #1
Stories From the Vinyl Cafe
What would drive a law-abiding housewife to shoplift a sausage?
Whether you're a long-time friend of Dave and the gang or this is your first time in Stuart McLean territory, once you enter the world of the Vinyl Cafe, you'll want to visit again and again. Now you can. Beautifully repackaged and featuring Canada's much-loved fictional family - Dave, Morley, Stephanie and Sam - Stories From the Vinyl Cafe introduces a host of wonderfully imagined characters such as Margaret Dwyer, a housewife who startles herself by shoplifting a pepperoni sausage, and Flora Perriton, who is consumed with thoughts of lost opportunities when an old friend passes away. Then there's Ed, who - overcome by the death of his favourite singer - embarks on a pilgrimage to New York City to seek out the pop star's widow.
Rewarding and irreverent, these eight stories prove that Stuart McLean is indeed a national treasure.
Whether you're a long-time friend of Dave and the gang or this is your first time in Stuart McLean territory, once you enter the world of the Vinyl Cafe, you'll want to visit again and again. Now you can. Beautifully repackaged and featuring Canada's much-loved fictional family - Dave, Morley, Stephanie and Sam - Stories From the Vinyl Cafe introduces a host of wonderfully imagined characters such as Margaret Dwyer, a housewife who startles herself by shoplifting a pepperoni sausage, and Flora Perriton, who is consumed with thoughts of lost opportunities when an old friend passes away. Then there's Ed, who - overcome by the death of his favourite singer - embarks on a pilgrimage to New York City to seek out the pop star's widow.
Rewarding and irreverent, these eight stories prove that Stuart McLean is indeed a national treasure.
226 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
45 people are currently reading
1916 people want to read
About the author
Stuart McLean
106 books268 followersLibrarian Note: There was more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
From the Vinyl Cafe web site: Stuart McLean was a best-selling author, award-winning journalist and humorist, and host of CBC Radio program The Vinyl Cafe.
Stuart began his broadcasting career making radio documentaries for CBC Radio's Sunday Morning. In 1979 he won an ACTRA award for Best Radio Documentary for his contribution to the program's coverage of the Jonestown massacre.
Following Sunday Morning, Stuart spent seven years as a regular columnist and guest host on CBC's Morningside. His book, The Morningside World of Stuart McLean, was a Canadian bestseller and a finalist in the 1990 City of Toronto Book Awards.
Stuart has also written Welcome Home: Travels in Small Town Canada, and edited the collection When We Were Young. Welcome Home was chosen by the Canadian Authors' Association as the best non-fiction book of 1993.
Stuart's books Stories from the Vinyl Cafe, Home from the Vinyl Cafe, Vinyl Cafe Unplugged, Vinyl Cafe Diaries, Dave Cooks the Turkey, Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe and Extreme Vinyl Cafe have all been Canadian bestsellers. Vinyl Cafe Diaries was awarded the Canadian Authors' Association Jubilee Award in 2004. Stuart was also a three-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour for Home from the Vinyl Cafe, Vinyl Cafe Unplugged and, most recently, Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe.
Vinyl Cafe books have also been published in the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
Stuart was a professor emeritus at Ryerson University in Toronto and former director of the broadcast division of the School of Journalism. In 1993 Trent University named him the first Rooke Fellow for Teaching, Writing and Research. He has also been honored by: Nipissing University (EdD(H)); University of Windsor (Lld) and Trent University (DLH). Stuart served as Honorary Colonel of the 8th Air Maintenance Squadron at 8 Wing, Trenton from 2005 to 2008.
Since 1998 Stuart has taken The Vinyl Cafe to theatres across Canada, playing in both large and small towns from St. John's, Newfoundland to Whitehorse in the Yukon.
Close to one million people listen to The Vinyl Cafe every weekend on CBC Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio and on a growing number of Public Radio stations in the United States. The program is also broadcast on an occasional basis on the BBC.
From the Vinyl Cafe web site: Stuart McLean was a best-selling author, award-winning journalist and humorist, and host of CBC Radio program The Vinyl Cafe.
Stuart began his broadcasting career making radio documentaries for CBC Radio's Sunday Morning. In 1979 he won an ACTRA award for Best Radio Documentary for his contribution to the program's coverage of the Jonestown massacre.
Following Sunday Morning, Stuart spent seven years as a regular columnist and guest host on CBC's Morningside. His book, The Morningside World of Stuart McLean, was a Canadian bestseller and a finalist in the 1990 City of Toronto Book Awards.
Stuart has also written Welcome Home: Travels in Small Town Canada, and edited the collection When We Were Young. Welcome Home was chosen by the Canadian Authors' Association as the best non-fiction book of 1993.
Stuart's books Stories from the Vinyl Cafe, Home from the Vinyl Cafe, Vinyl Cafe Unplugged, Vinyl Cafe Diaries, Dave Cooks the Turkey, Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe and Extreme Vinyl Cafe have all been Canadian bestsellers. Vinyl Cafe Diaries was awarded the Canadian Authors' Association Jubilee Award in 2004. Stuart was also a three-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour for Home from the Vinyl Cafe, Vinyl Cafe Unplugged and, most recently, Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe.
Vinyl Cafe books have also been published in the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
Stuart was a professor emeritus at Ryerson University in Toronto and former director of the broadcast division of the School of Journalism. In 1993 Trent University named him the first Rooke Fellow for Teaching, Writing and Research. He has also been honored by: Nipissing University (EdD(H)); University of Windsor (Lld) and Trent University (DLH). Stuart served as Honorary Colonel of the 8th Air Maintenance Squadron at 8 Wing, Trenton from 2005 to 2008.
Since 1998 Stuart has taken The Vinyl Cafe to theatres across Canada, playing in both large and small towns from St. John's, Newfoundland to Whitehorse in the Yukon.
Close to one million people listen to The Vinyl Cafe every weekend on CBC Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio and on a growing number of Public Radio stations in the United States. The program is also broadcast on an occasional basis on the BBC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
December 18, 2022
Small town Canada writ large!
In STORIES FROM THE VINYL CAFÉ, Stuart McLean has presented a picture of Canadian life, culture and values that will recall Garrison Keillor's successful portrayal of life in small town America in LAKE WOBEGON DAYS.
There's no thread or plot to speak of - only a randomly collected grouping of fictional short stories that are brilliantly distilled from McLean's singularly astute observations of Canadian people as a skilled journalist. There's a father struggling to cope with his teenage daughter who wants to get a tattoo; the wife who can't figure out how to tell her husband that she was collared for shop-lifting; the difficulties of buying a jock strap; the lighter side of blood pressure machines in the local pharmacy; the man who works his knickers into a frenzied knot over a neighbour he fancies stole his favourite shirt off their clothesline; the young boys wrestling with the moral dilemma of finding $2300 in an envelope in front of the local bank machine; and many more.
If these sound inane, I can't help but agree! But what better way to reflect the realities of our daily lives?
McLean's mastery of story-telling and dialogue hits the Canadian nail right on the head with a writing style that is at once witty, quirky, heart-warming, earnest, humorous, compelling and utterly charming! I should have read this years ago.
Paul Weiss
In STORIES FROM THE VINYL CAFÉ, Stuart McLean has presented a picture of Canadian life, culture and values that will recall Garrison Keillor's successful portrayal of life in small town America in LAKE WOBEGON DAYS.
There's no thread or plot to speak of - only a randomly collected grouping of fictional short stories that are brilliantly distilled from McLean's singularly astute observations of Canadian people as a skilled journalist. There's a father struggling to cope with his teenage daughter who wants to get a tattoo; the wife who can't figure out how to tell her husband that she was collared for shop-lifting; the difficulties of buying a jock strap; the lighter side of blood pressure machines in the local pharmacy; the man who works his knickers into a frenzied knot over a neighbour he fancies stole his favourite shirt off their clothesline; the young boys wrestling with the moral dilemma of finding $2300 in an envelope in front of the local bank machine; and many more.
If these sound inane, I can't help but agree! But what better way to reflect the realities of our daily lives?
McLean's mastery of story-telling and dialogue hits the Canadian nail right on the head with a writing style that is at once witty, quirky, heart-warming, earnest, humorous, compelling and utterly charming! I should have read this years ago.
Paul Weiss
February 9, 2025
I used to listen to Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe on the radio for many years and enjoyed his story telling very much. This is my second book by him and like most short story books I've read, I really enjoyed a few, liked a few and others, well not so much.
I enjoyed all the stories featuring Morley and Dave (his fav characters), with the exception of "Make Money, Get Prizes" To me, they could be anyone we know. Funny, touching and heart-warming describe these stories.
The others I enjoyed were The Pig, Jock Strap, Skunks, Sports Injuries and Shirts.
I enjoyed all the stories featuring Morley and Dave (his fav characters), with the exception of "Make Money, Get Prizes" To me, they could be anyone we know. Funny, touching and heart-warming describe these stories.
The others I enjoyed were The Pig, Jock Strap, Skunks, Sports Injuries and Shirts.
March 24, 2019
Warm. Comforting. Short
What else can I say?
What else can I say?
August 18, 2019
I was worried that this book would be the Canadian version of Prairie Home Companion - I mean, it is a collection of vignettes about the quirks and minor travails of small town white people. And it is that. But McLean's stories are a bit more melancholy, and structured more interestingly. I'd be interested in hearing them as they were originally written - as radio stories.
November 6, 2016
I'm even more convinced now that you can feel the most emotions after reading a story that doesn't describe any emotions of characters at all. Very good short stories book!
March 5, 2023
If you haven't read these in a while, you might note that they tend to run a little shorter and a lot more somber than the stories you might remember from the last 20 years of Vinyl Cafe. You can still see Stuart trying to find his storytelling voice and maybe carrying around the short story baggage dropped into the arms of aspiring writers by Cheever, Carver, et al.
The stories here are still quite excellent, both in their own right and as anthropological evidence from the evolution of one of Canada's greatest storytellers. I first encountered McLean when he was much more established (I would like to say "fully formed" but I think he would disagree that he was ever that), and it's wonderful - wistful, but wonderful - to think of him as young and aspirational and not yet sure of what type of writer he would be.
I ding the collection a rating star, however, because of the exclusion of the story "Polaroids" from my volume. It's one of my all-time favorite stories and I have no idea where to find it anymore.
And I can't even write Stuart McLean a crazy fan letter complaining about it.
Re-reading this collection made me very sad. I miss Stuart McLean about as much as a person can miss anyone they never actually met. This collection hit me a lot harder than I expected because it's so much about aging and mortality, and I couldn't help but picture him as a young artist, in his 30s or 40s, writing these stories, thinking about his country, his community, his aging parents, and looking down the barrel of the rest of his life.
But it also filled me with joy to think about his journey and what he was able to give to the world and to reflect back on my relationship with him, his stories, and his program. To paraphrase McLean in "Driving Lessons," aging, hell life, is not for sissies.
The stories here are still quite excellent, both in their own right and as anthropological evidence from the evolution of one of Canada's greatest storytellers. I first encountered McLean when he was much more established (I would like to say "fully formed" but I think he would disagree that he was ever that), and it's wonderful - wistful, but wonderful - to think of him as young and aspirational and not yet sure of what type of writer he would be.
I ding the collection a rating star, however, because of the exclusion of the story "Polaroids" from my volume. It's one of my all-time favorite stories and I have no idea where to find it anymore.
And I can't even write Stuart McLean a crazy fan letter complaining about it.
Re-reading this collection made me very sad. I miss Stuart McLean about as much as a person can miss anyone they never actually met. This collection hit me a lot harder than I expected because it's so much about aging and mortality, and I couldn't help but picture him as a young artist, in his 30s or 40s, writing these stories, thinking about his country, his community, his aging parents, and looking down the barrel of the rest of his life.
But it also filled me with joy to think about his journey and what he was able to give to the world and to reflect back on my relationship with him, his stories, and his program. To paraphrase McLean in "Driving Lessons," aging, hell life, is not for sissies.
August 31, 2022
A good collection of the late Stuart McLean's short stories. Stuart McLean used to host a radio show called the Vinyl Cafe, which was broadcasted on CBC. Later, he began to do live performances as well, and I even got to attend one when he was in town. A lot of the stories in here are not recorded. The performances and recordings don't including any swearing that was in the books, and are much more lighthearted when read by Stuart. I've listened to the Vinyl Cafe for years, and I still laugh at all the stories!
April 15, 2022
Everyone needs to enjoy the stories by the late Stuart McLean. He was a masterful storyteller and his stories ring true with the drama and hilarity of day to day lives in a way that we can all relate to. I am still chuckling about his comment about walking the dog seeming like he was walking a vacuum cleaner! As always, his stories make me smile, chuckle and hear his voice in my head as I read.
August 1, 2017
A nice, relaxing re-read of this one. My original rating of 3-stars seemed a little low. Nice visit with Dave, Morley and the gang.
April 26, 2025
An easy read after Pride and Prejudice. Funny and heartwarming. Love all the Canadian references <3
May 10, 2020
Stuart McLean is one of the quintessential Canadian storytellers; a man whose tales have filled the CBC airwaves for as long as I can remember. The first book from the Vinyl Café series is replete with these stories, albeit in a perhaps less polished form than they eventually took on as Dave and Morley evolved as characters.
I really enjoyed the introduction to this 2009 edition by McLean, reflecting on some of the changes to the stories and modifications in how they're curated into this volume. His reflections on coming to know Dave and Morley as people and characters over the years was touching and intriguing, setting the tone for an enjoyable volume.
A few of the stories haven't aged quite as well as one might hope and, as someone who was introduced to Vinyl Café later in life, it was a bit odd to encounter much less emphasis on Dave and Morley than what I'd come to associate with the series. It's also a more complex, somewhat darker, and - at times - melancholic and forlorn set of stories than the laughable moments I remember from CBC and highlights we'd share around. Of course, this isn't a bad thing, just slightly different than those childhood memories.
However, it's still a wonderful volume, ranging from comedy to melancholy, and a very enjoyable and light read. I'm really looking forward to working through the rest of the volumes.
I really enjoyed the introduction to this 2009 edition by McLean, reflecting on some of the changes to the stories and modifications in how they're curated into this volume. His reflections on coming to know Dave and Morley as people and characters over the years was touching and intriguing, setting the tone for an enjoyable volume.
A few of the stories haven't aged quite as well as one might hope and, as someone who was introduced to Vinyl Café later in life, it was a bit odd to encounter much less emphasis on Dave and Morley than what I'd come to associate with the series. It's also a more complex, somewhat darker, and - at times - melancholic and forlorn set of stories than the laughable moments I remember from CBC and highlights we'd share around. Of course, this isn't a bad thing, just slightly different than those childhood memories.
However, it's still a wonderful volume, ranging from comedy to melancholy, and a very enjoyable and light read. I'm really looking forward to working through the rest of the volumes.
August 3, 2019
I think I got this book from a teacher of mine in high school, when we bonded over our love for the Vinyl Cafe stories. Now i'm taking it with me on a trip and re-visiting this book again. I was not prepared for how sad and sombre some stories are in this book. Either I had forgotten about them altogether or the younger me just did not feel the same sadness as I feel today. These stories deal with difficult topics like growing old, losing your parents, wishing for a better life, lost opportunities of love, parenting a growing child who's not a child anymore. They made me so sad but they portray real life just the way it is, with all its complexities. There are certainly the funny bits (much credits to Dave, of course), and the heartwarming parts. Dave and his family will forever have a place in my heart and I will revisit these stories again and again over the years.
February 18, 2019
Some of the stories were much darker than I had anticipated, but this was a great read. Stuart McLean had an amazing ability to snapshot life.
May 28, 2019
Reading this reminded me of the last time he was in Vancouver, as he wrote like he spoke. Utterly delightful; hilarious then poignant stories that made me feel very Canadian. I'm so glad for him.
September 7, 2021
I wish I could give this 0 stars.
What was the point of this? I live my own mundane life, why do I need to read about someone else's?
What was the point of this? I live my own mundane life, why do I need to read about someone else's?
July 26, 2025
Very nostalgic! I liked how the first and last stories were connected unlike other collections of short stories that I’ve read.
February 19, 2022
Ive listened to Stuart McLean tell many a Dave and Morely story on CBC, so it was cute to read some here and hear his voice in my head again telling stories.
June 15, 2025
Since I have started reading recently and my mom has been cleaning out the house, she brought up a collection of books she got me for Christmas many years ago: The Stuart McLean Vinyl Cafe Collection. At the time she hoped it would be inspire me to read, especially with the short story format making it more palatable for a new reader. Unfortunately, I didn't really take to it, and I maybe read one of the short stories from the first book.
So when she brought the collection up, she asked me if I was going to read them this time around, or if she should give them away. Little bit of a guilt trip maybe, but I am locked in to reading more, and I suddenly owned (or re-owned?) four more books, by another Canadian author no less. So The Vinyl Cafe Collection became my next books to read.
Overall, it's cute. Dave and Morley are funny characters, and the style and tone is easily digestible; my mother was certainly right about the palatable writing. There's laughs to be had though in the ridiculous things Dave does, but despite Dave's wild undertakings or musings, McLean injects a lot of wacky authenticity. There's an intimate understanding on how quirky humans tick, or maybe just a goofy understanding of Canadians tick.
Some of the best bits are just references to places or things in Canada or Toronto. It's basically me doing the DiCaprio meme pointing to all the references I know.
Speaking on things I know, like I said earlier, I do kind of recall the first story The Pig, which gets the tone of the stories and the character Dave across well. My favourite though would another animal one though, Skunks, or maybe the last one Remembrance Day which ended on something a little more serious.
Overall, it's enjoyable, and I plan to go through all the books I've owned and neglected over the years. Physical media matters, and I am now (partly) literate.
So when she brought the collection up, she asked me if I was going to read them this time around, or if she should give them away. Little bit of a guilt trip maybe, but I am locked in to reading more, and I suddenly owned (or re-owned?) four more books, by another Canadian author no less. So The Vinyl Cafe Collection became my next books to read.
Overall, it's cute. Dave and Morley are funny characters, and the style and tone is easily digestible; my mother was certainly right about the palatable writing. There's laughs to be had though in the ridiculous things Dave does, but despite Dave's wild undertakings or musings, McLean injects a lot of wacky authenticity. There's an intimate understanding on how quirky humans tick, or maybe just a goofy understanding of Canadians tick.
Some of the best bits are just references to places or things in Canada or Toronto. It's basically me doing the DiCaprio meme pointing to all the references I know.
Speaking on things I know, like I said earlier, I do kind of recall the first story The Pig, which gets the tone of the stories and the character Dave across well. My favourite though would another animal one though, Skunks, or maybe the last one Remembrance Day which ended on something a little more serious.
Overall, it's enjoyable, and I plan to go through all the books I've owned and neglected over the years. Physical media matters, and I am now (partly) literate.
August 1, 2022
I first read this book probably 25 years ago and am pleased to say that it is still as good as it was then. The late Stuart McLean was a great storyteller in the tradition of Stephen Leacock and he also had fantastic delivery when narrating his own stories. I used to love listening to The Vinyl Cafe on CBC radio on Sunday mornings.
Some of the stories are laugh-out-loud funny ("The Jock Strap"), a few are quite sad ("Polaroids"), but all are charming, nuanced, and often a good deal more complex than they might seem on the surface. My favourite stories are the ones that feature Dave and Morley and their two kids, Stephanie and Sam.
We miss you, Stuart!
Some of the stories are laugh-out-loud funny ("The Jock Strap"), a few are quite sad ("Polaroids"), but all are charming, nuanced, and often a good deal more complex than they might seem on the surface. My favourite stories are the ones that feature Dave and Morley and their two kids, Stephanie and Sam.
We miss you, Stuart!
February 26, 2012
The Vinyl Cafe books are some of the best books I've read. Each chapter is a separate story, but all of the stories are about the same people and their interactions with each other, friends, and neighbors. Some are funny, some are touching, some make you cry and some make you laugh for days after you have read them. The best part? You can read a few chapters, lay the book down, read something else for weeks and come back and enjoy a few more chapters. It's the perfect "pick-me-up" read after a sad or heavy book.
April 23, 2017
Rating - 7.8
Reading in reverse chronology provides for an interesting perspective of how McLean recognizes what it successful and what is not; Also noticeable is a different writing style that is short & structured
As with the other Vinyl Café's it is the antics & humanity of Dave & family that make for the most entertaining reading; Incorporates a good blend of humour & values that provide life lessons du jour
Reading in reverse chronology provides for an interesting perspective of how McLean recognizes what it successful and what is not; Also noticeable is a different writing style that is short & structured
As with the other Vinyl Café's it is the antics & humanity of Dave & family that make for the most entertaining reading; Incorporates a good blend of humour & values that provide life lessons du jour
February 11, 2023
What a lovely treat. I finished this collection of short stories in a day. (Not difficult to do) Some of the stories are quirky and fun (Shirts as well as Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Some combine humour and pathos (Stanley). Some frustrate and infuriate (Sports Injuries) and some break your heart (Polaroids).
The writing is simple but top notch, with plenty of reminders of my Canadian home. I loved it.
The writing is simple but top notch, with plenty of reminders of my Canadian home. I loved it.
June 7, 2015
Stewart McLean is an author who opens my soul, his talent for words, his characters and their lives make mine a little more worth living. Wonderful collection of laughs, a few tears, and amazing stories
January 1, 2020
I loved this book, it made me think and it made me laugh out loud, it made me a bit sad. It’s a great easy read!
January 10, 2021
Stuart Mclean started The Vinyl Café on CBC Radio in 1994. Half of the shows in a season were recorded in the studio and the other half were performed with live audiences in theaters across Canada with a few in the United States. McLean always made a point to visit small out-of-the-way communities and towns which seldom had the benefits of live theater because their audiences were so small. He started each show with a monologue focused on the town’s history, its character, the people who lived there and its particular place in the Canadian landscape. Music was a big part of the show and McLean tried to use local talent and introduce listeners to new up and coming artists, using recordings for the studio shows and live performance while on tour.
Most shows included a story about Dave and Morley, the fictional couple McLean created that were popular with his listeners from his appearances on other radio shows. Dave and Morley lived in suburban Toronto where Dave owned a small record store and where he and Morley brought up their two children Sam and Stephanie. Dave is a bumbling, good natured, well-meaning fellow, always keen to try something new, but always careening headlong into whatever pitfalls might be waiting for him no matter what project or activity he took on. Things just seem to happen to him. Morley his wife, is smart, kind, always says exactly what she means and is always, always very understanding. The two kids Sam and Stephanie are pretty much like most kids their age and Dave and Morley have the same challenges parenting as everyone else. And that was the key. Everyone could relate to these stories because they were about experiences most listeners commonly had at some point in their lives. They included all the various trials and tribulations of a growing family, misunderstandings with friends and neighbours as well as stories about the simple quiet moments in life. Many of them were uproariously funny and listeners naturally related them to their own experiences, thoughts and emotional feelings. The stories never mentioned sex, never dealt with controversial material, always ended well and often included cute dogs and kids, making them pleasant and heart-warming to listen to.
McLean collected stories from these shows and published them in a series of books. This is the first, published in 1995. Several more would follow over the next years and they always sold well.
For this collection McLean included a story about guinea pigs with expensive but operable tumours, one on the scary mix of aging parents with cataracts and a car and another about a daughter who decides to become a witch after reading an article on Wicca in Mademoiselle magazine. It also introduced Margaret Dwyer a suburban housewife who startles herself by shoplifting a pepperoni sausage, Flora Perriton, who thinks about lost opportunities when an old friend dies and Ed who is overcome by the death of his favourite rock star and heads to New York City to meet the singer’s widow.
Reading these stories could never match the experience of hearing the story in McLean’s own voice on the radio or in a theater. He was as much a performer as he was a writer and knew exactly how to deliver a story in a way that made the best impact. He had ways of hesitating during a sentence, carefully planned pauses he inserted in specific parts of the narrative, a canny but effective use of repetition and a feigned fumbling and comedic timing that made the stories even more memorable than what the reader experiences reading them on a page. But they are still enjoyable to read.
Most shows included a story about Dave and Morley, the fictional couple McLean created that were popular with his listeners from his appearances on other radio shows. Dave and Morley lived in suburban Toronto where Dave owned a small record store and where he and Morley brought up their two children Sam and Stephanie. Dave is a bumbling, good natured, well-meaning fellow, always keen to try something new, but always careening headlong into whatever pitfalls might be waiting for him no matter what project or activity he took on. Things just seem to happen to him. Morley his wife, is smart, kind, always says exactly what she means and is always, always very understanding. The two kids Sam and Stephanie are pretty much like most kids their age and Dave and Morley have the same challenges parenting as everyone else. And that was the key. Everyone could relate to these stories because they were about experiences most listeners commonly had at some point in their lives. They included all the various trials and tribulations of a growing family, misunderstandings with friends and neighbours as well as stories about the simple quiet moments in life. Many of them were uproariously funny and listeners naturally related them to their own experiences, thoughts and emotional feelings. The stories never mentioned sex, never dealt with controversial material, always ended well and often included cute dogs and kids, making them pleasant and heart-warming to listen to.
McLean collected stories from these shows and published them in a series of books. This is the first, published in 1995. Several more would follow over the next years and they always sold well.
For this collection McLean included a story about guinea pigs with expensive but operable tumours, one on the scary mix of aging parents with cataracts and a car and another about a daughter who decides to become a witch after reading an article on Wicca in Mademoiselle magazine. It also introduced Margaret Dwyer a suburban housewife who startles herself by shoplifting a pepperoni sausage, Flora Perriton, who thinks about lost opportunities when an old friend dies and Ed who is overcome by the death of his favourite rock star and heads to New York City to meet the singer’s widow.
Reading these stories could never match the experience of hearing the story in McLean’s own voice on the radio or in a theater. He was as much a performer as he was a writer and knew exactly how to deliver a story in a way that made the best impact. He had ways of hesitating during a sentence, carefully planned pauses he inserted in specific parts of the narrative, a canny but effective use of repetition and a feigned fumbling and comedic timing that made the stories even more memorable than what the reader experiences reading them on a page. But they are still enjoyable to read.
May 26, 2023
I think there should be a rule about making direct recommendations to associates, something like “don’t make recommendations unless you’ve known the person long enough to understand what they like.” My massage therapist told me that I should read this book, and I later learned that she had made the recommendation based on the radio broadcast readings of the stories, and not the text itself. Which may have made some difference, as the text was… not what I have been used to reading for the past couple of years. And perhaps that is something that I need to consider on this literary journey of mine: I should be taking in at least a little “fluff” reading from time to time. I do not know what the exact healthy ratio should be, but it seems that zero to one hundred is not great when it comes to reading stuff like Stuart McLean.
This is a collection of short stories that lack metaphor. They are, in essence, “plain tales from the hills”. They are all beautifully written, and many of them provide clear realizations of everyday thoughts and events in the lives of ordinary people. They are funny and elicit outright laughter when read out loud in front of eager audiences—again, as it seems these were meant to be. If that is your jam, then get your bread ready. McLean has a YouTube channel chock full of his performances. As far as a “reading for writing” exercise goes, there is a lot to be learned from the way that McLean crafts his little vignettes. I can see how he did what he did, and my own sensibilities balk at the absolute simple purity of his craftsmanship. I like gritty, crunchy, complex, and far-flung things. These stories are the opposite of all of those. I will say, though, that the story “Polaroids” in this collection came out of left field with just how dark it was. As I sit here writing this review, it is the only story that I can recall in vivid detail, but I suppose one out of a dozen is not bad.
At any rate, this book took me away from Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life, and Others. Because I will, without exception, prioritize something that someone I trust tells me I must read. So please, be careful with your recommendations. I have already had to donate a stack of Clive Cussler paperbacks this week, I would just as soon rather not repeat that.
This is a collection of short stories that lack metaphor. They are, in essence, “plain tales from the hills”. They are all beautifully written, and many of them provide clear realizations of everyday thoughts and events in the lives of ordinary people. They are funny and elicit outright laughter when read out loud in front of eager audiences—again, as it seems these were meant to be. If that is your jam, then get your bread ready. McLean has a YouTube channel chock full of his performances. As far as a “reading for writing” exercise goes, there is a lot to be learned from the way that McLean crafts his little vignettes. I can see how he did what he did, and my own sensibilities balk at the absolute simple purity of his craftsmanship. I like gritty, crunchy, complex, and far-flung things. These stories are the opposite of all of those. I will say, though, that the story “Polaroids” in this collection came out of left field with just how dark it was. As I sit here writing this review, it is the only story that I can recall in vivid detail, but I suppose one out of a dozen is not bad.
At any rate, this book took me away from Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life, and Others. Because I will, without exception, prioritize something that someone I trust tells me I must read. So please, be careful with your recommendations. I have already had to donate a stack of Clive Cussler paperbacks this week, I would just as soon rather not repeat that.
September 24, 2020
More of a 3.5 than the 3 I gave.
I bought Stories From the Vinyl Cafe a couple of years ago without realizing Stuart McLean was a Canadian author and he wrote and hosted the popular CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) Radio show The Vinyl Cafe. Pretty sad on my part considering I'm Canadian, and never having heard of him. But I guess I was too busy in 1994 and onward with one newborn and an toddler to have time for such luxuries of ever being able to listen to talk shows back in those days. Ha! Then in 2000, with 3 children under 7, we moved to the States. And that's where I bought my book (2018), in some second hand book store in Florida. Probably a "snow bird" donated it. LOL
This is Stuart McLean's first book of many. I am so glad I lucked out in buying it.
Anyho, as it says in the name of the book, "Stories", and these are 18 short stores. After the first story, The Pig, I thought oh dear what have I gotten myself into, I'm not so sure about this. It turns out I shouldn't had worried. I enjoyed the remaining 17.
These stories are mainly about Dave, who owns the record store, his wife Morley and their children, Stephanie and Sam. The other chapters are with other characters.
Written in 1995 the stories are dated. Some of that dated material bought back memories like Doug and Bob McKenzie. Holy, a blast from the past for any Canadian. The stories take place in areas of my hometown, Toronto, the outskirts or other provinces.
There were a few times that I laughed out loud and some stories were dark. Dave and his antics reminded me of the show, Curb Your Enthusiasm.
This is a fast read. I read part of it the first day and read the majority of it the second day. If I were to come across anymore Stuart McLean's books in my second hand book store travels, I will definitely be purchasing them.
I bought Stories From the Vinyl Cafe a couple of years ago without realizing Stuart McLean was a Canadian author and he wrote and hosted the popular CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) Radio show The Vinyl Cafe. Pretty sad on my part considering I'm Canadian, and never having heard of him. But I guess I was too busy in 1994 and onward with one newborn and an toddler to have time for such luxuries of ever being able to listen to talk shows back in those days. Ha! Then in 2000, with 3 children under 7, we moved to the States. And that's where I bought my book (2018), in some second hand book store in Florida. Probably a "snow bird" donated it. LOL
This is Stuart McLean's first book of many. I am so glad I lucked out in buying it.
Anyho, as it says in the name of the book, "Stories", and these are 18 short stores. After the first story, The Pig, I thought oh dear what have I gotten myself into, I'm not so sure about this. It turns out I shouldn't had worried. I enjoyed the remaining 17.
These stories are mainly about Dave, who owns the record store, his wife Morley and their children, Stephanie and Sam. The other chapters are with other characters.
Written in 1995 the stories are dated. Some of that dated material bought back memories like Doug and Bob McKenzie. Holy, a blast from the past for any Canadian. The stories take place in areas of my hometown, Toronto, the outskirts or other provinces.
There were a few times that I laughed out loud and some stories were dark. Dave and his antics reminded me of the show, Curb Your Enthusiasm.
This is a fast read. I read part of it the first day and read the majority of it the second day. If I were to come across anymore Stuart McLean's books in my second hand book store travels, I will definitely be purchasing them.
December 29, 2021
Stuart McLean was a Canadian radio broadcaster, who my parents listened to all the time. He told stories, which varied from funny to serious to sad. The book evolved out of a summer series featuring a second-hand record store. Dave & Morley are a couple who are featured in many of the short stories. This book was a national bestseller and was one of a series of Vinyl Café books, four of which won awards for humour (Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour for 3, Canadian Author’s Association Jubilee Award for 1). He was also awarded the Officer of the Order of Canada for contributions to Canadian culture as a storyteller (and other details). The book came highly recommended. I wasn’t enamoured of it. Though as one person told me, with short stories you might find some that you like. I did find some that I liked and were funny (to me), others that were groaners, others that were sad, and a lot that just didn’t interest me. Many stories are quite believable as they could happen to “real” people. My favourite ones were the elderly driver (God help us from them!!) and the skunks (never in my backyard, please!). It’s certainly not going to make on my “top 10 of 2021” list, but who knows…maybe you have a different sense of humour than I have.
January 4, 2024
I'm a bit torn on this one. I loved the Vinyl Cafe radio show, still do. I have tried to read the stories as a book before and came to the conclusion that they are better performed orally, then read on the page. But, I was curious about the early stories. I read the 10th anniversary edition of this book, and was interested to read in the preface that some of the stories were modified slightly to match established storylines, ex. Dave's hometown. The preface also acknowledges how the stories and style have evolved over time, and I can see that.
I don't love every Vinyl Cafe story, but the ones I really like are, in a single word, "bittersweet". They make you think about some of the hard things in life, but are ultimately heartwarming. I feel like most of these stories didn't strike that balance. That being said, I did enjoy some of the stories (Ex. Remembrance Day)...but there were a number I did not like at all, (ex. The Pig). So, I waffled between 2 and 3 stars and ultimately landed on 3 because I know that these stories are the foundation for what came later....but if this had been my first exposure to the Vinyl Cafe, I don't think I would wanted to read/hear more.
I don't love every Vinyl Cafe story, but the ones I really like are, in a single word, "bittersweet". They make you think about some of the hard things in life, but are ultimately heartwarming. I feel like most of these stories didn't strike that balance. That being said, I did enjoy some of the stories (Ex. Remembrance Day)...but there were a number I did not like at all, (ex. The Pig). So, I waffled between 2 and 3 stars and ultimately landed on 3 because I know that these stories are the foundation for what came later....but if this had been my first exposure to the Vinyl Cafe, I don't think I would wanted to read/hear more.
October 10, 2022
I really waffled in this one - I nearly gave it a 2. I think that would have been unfair though. It wasn’t a bad book of short stories, it just wasn’t the Vinyl Café that I know and love. I have read many of the others, listened to them on the radio, and saw Stuart McLean live more than once. None of these stories gave me the same highs and lows I’m used to.
They were good, but they made me uncomfortable. Now, usually I like a good short story that makes me uncomfortable, or where the characters are complicated and messy. I did not open this book expecting Dave to have a crush on a university student, or to read a short story listing all of the small animal deaths the main character has witnessed. Again, good stories in their own right, but not at all what I look for in a Vinyl Café story.
Goes to show how much these characters grew into themselves over the years!
They were good, but they made me uncomfortable. Now, usually I like a good short story that makes me uncomfortable, or where the characters are complicated and messy. I did not open this book expecting Dave to have a crush on a university student, or to read a short story listing all of the small animal deaths the main character has witnessed. Again, good stories in their own right, but not at all what I look for in a Vinyl Café story.
Goes to show how much these characters grew into themselves over the years!
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