Customer Reviews

Same Place, Same Things

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For the last ten years, short stories have repeatedly peaked my disinterest -- until I discovered Gautreaux. But while he captures the south Louisiana joie de vie better than any other writer (he's good at nailing north La. redneck life, too), that's not why I like him so much. I like him because he can flat out tell a story that is simultaneously meaningful and entertaining. And he's funny. Let me repeat that. He's funny. Too many writers are all blood and guts and whodunit and whowenttobedwithit. Few make you laugh. Gautreaux does. He's also hard- boiled at times and poignant, too. Little Frogs in a Ditch, The Bug Man and Floyd's Girl are my favorites. His first novel, The Next Step in the Dance, is worth reading but he needs work on mastering the plotting and pacing components of the longer form. But don't miss the first short story collection to rival Flannery O'Connor's work.

Being of Cajun heritage, I enjoy reading Southern literature, but at its worst, it is a bad mix of standard stereotypes: white trash, hound dogs, trailer parks and bad men and loose women. Gim Gautreaux gets it right! He gently (often humorously) takes a good, long look at Louisiana, and his vision is sharp without getting mired in cliches. The title story is dark and poignant, and its characters are interesting and multi-dimensional. I want to read more of Mr. Gautreaux; his view of the world is just quirky enough to be fascinating, but not so strange that I don't want to visit that place! And besides, I never knew anyone who ever actually wrote about Catahoula!

"Returnings," "Deputy Sid's Gift," and "The Bug Man," were my favorites, but anyone who has ever lived in or visited Louisiana can relate to and identify with these Louisiana life experiences about simple life that is not always so simple. The author once taught me creative writing during my time at SLU in Hammond, Louisiana, and as I read his books, he continues to teach me with his literary writing that puts a sparkle in any Louisiana tale with his elegant wit, style, and humor. I recommend this book for any writer who wants to learn to write well-written short stories and any reader who loves a good Louisiana tale!!! I devoured these tales as they took me back to Louisiana and another time and place. Barbara J. Robinson

I had the privilege of attending a writer's conference in Indiana where the author was an instructor. He was the kind of person one wants to observe, to be around. Funny, smart, very gentlemanly toward his wife and the attendees! His stories in this book reflect Mr. Gautreaux's innate ability to observe people of all sorts. His is a rare talent. Highly recommend this book to readers to enjoy all fiction, especially Southern fiction.

Fabulous book by a great writer. Got turned on to his short stories in various "Best Short Stories" anthologies and I've been hooked ever since. Great character development and compelling plots make this writer one of my favorites. Buy this book! No, buy all his books.

The only way I could tell you what these stories are "like" would be to hand you the book and say, "Go read some." Only the words of the stories, themselves, can communicate their content--which, come to think of it, is a good definition of successful new art. To label these stories would just spoil your pleasure in discovering them.

Better for me simply to tell you that a person like me loved them, and is rushing to get Tim Gautreaux's other books. And who is a person like me?--a busy, successful, perceptive, cynical, and creative scientist who dislikes both manipulative sentimentality and self-referential academic rhetoric. I generally prefer history or Richard Dawkins to fiction. When I need an escape, I read Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe). Now I'm going to read Tim Gautreaux, who is an escape into reality.

I had never heard of this writer,but the book looked like it might be a good read.What a surprise,Gautreaux is as good as it gets,when reading about the earthy life of the Deep South.I have been a big fan of Erskine Caldwell for many years and have read all his novels and many of his short stories. Like Caldwell,
Gautreax's short stories are so good ,it is like reading a chapter of one book,and you are left wishing the story would continue.Then again,many of Caldwell's novels take place in only a couple of days.Good examples are "God's Little Acre" and "Tobacco Road".One can only imagine what the life story ,filled with the trials and tribulations of this hard scrabble life would be.
If you like this type of reading,you're probably already familiar with Caldwell,Steinbeck,Williams and other great Southern writers.There's no doubt in my mind that Gautreaux belongs in that company.I understand he was a Creative English teacher and now retired.Much the same as Frank McCourt of Angela's Ashes.How about it Tim,I'm sure you could give us another great Southern novel.It's been too long since "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof","Streetcar Named Desire","East of Eden" or "Tobacco
Road".
You can see his skill in these lines:

"He had been in this country long enough to know that farm
people did not want you on their porches unless you were
a relative or a neighbor."

"Lady,people around here wonder what the trees are up to when
they lean with the breeze.What you think someone that sees
us is going to think?"

"That story's sadder'n a armless old man in a room full of
skeeters.You sorry sons of bitches tell the depressingest
lies I ever heard."

"Please don't try to explain nothin',I wouldn't understand
what you was talking about if you did."

"Sometimes I think we think too much."

"At twenty-five his grandson had the economic sense of a
sixty-year old Russian peasant."

"Hell no,son.They don't have a education.They got a license to
steal."

Pretty hard to beat,what do you think?

After writing this,I checked and find he has written a couple of novels...Oops!

I enjoyed this volume of Gautreaux's short stories almost as much as WELDING WITH CHILDREN - his writing seems to flow effortlessly from him (but I'm sure it's hard work, as good as it is). As with the stories in that later collection, the author infuses each tale with a gentle humor - even those stories that would be completely morose in the hands of another writer sparkle here and there with an `inner smile'. Gautreaux never belittles his characters, never makes fun of them - but he allows the humorous aspects of their lives and situations and personalities to shine through whatever darkness fate has chosen to settle around them. This - and his amazing character drawing skills - makes his fiction a joy to read.

The stories here that stood out the most for me are `Same place, same things', `The bug man', `Returnings' and `Deputy Syd's gift' - and these last two are simply amazing works. They could stand up well alongside the writing of anyone.

Gautreaux has a definite gift - his novel THE NEXT STEP IN THE DANCE is on my table at home, waiting its turn.

Tim Gautreaux's stories and characters come to life as you read. His attention to detail is wonderful. He makes you feel what life is like in south Louisiana for these characters. Loved the stories within the story in "Died and Gone to Vegas" , as well as the description of playing 'Bouree'. Reminds me of earlier years with my Cajun family in south Louisiana, where my roots and my heart still are. Although I've lived in the New Orleans metro area all my life, I spent many weekends and summers with family in rural Acadiana. It's good to have such an excellent writer tell the stories of these folks. There is more to Louisiana than life in New Orleans, and Tim Gautreaux seems to have a way of capturing this in his stories and characters. Can't wait to read his new book, "The Next Step in the Dance". Thanks, Tim, for such a good read.

I have to say that I was an English major at the same college where T. Gautreauux now teaches, and I loved this book!! However, I wonder why good Southern writers have to play upon the "weird and odd" that constitutes the South. I find his writing both refreshing and alarming!! Somewhat in the same vein as James Wilcox!!