A collection of stories and novellas about the choices we face and where those decisions lead us, including “A Day Meant to Do Less,” a...
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reviews
Jan 18, 2009
Nate
rated it: 
Blew me away. Seriously. I had not expected a book from a small publisher to compare favorably with the Andre Dubus or Alice Munro or Jhumpa Lahiri collections I love. But In the Devil's Territory does.
The first thing to notice about the book is the way the author is very, very bold about form. The opening story (San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl Party) is a first person, single motion story about a single character, and covers a very short span of time. The second story More...
The first thing to notice about the book is the way the author is very, very bold about form. The opening story (San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl Party) is a first person, single motion story about a single character, and covers a very short span of time. The second story More...
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May 16, 2009
Carolyn
rated it:
This book made me cry at least six times. In the opening story where the women go upstairs and leave the men alone, at the end of the second story where the woman is dying and the son doesn't know it's because she thinks he is the boy who hurt her in the tobacco field, in the third story where the man realizes he doesn't know if he will leave his wife, in the fourth story where the boy and his father paint over the words onthe interstate, in the fifth story where the woman looks at her body in t
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May 05, 2009
Tim
rated it:
Holy shit wow, this was one of the most incredible things I've read in a long time. I couldn't put it down, I was completely absorbed, it caused me to feel things deeply, and I feel that I will at some future point recall reading this collection and summon residual bits of those feelings, like the book will leave an imprint. I was really struck by the empathy Minor feels for his characters, all of them, and these stories are about the real shit in their lives, real trauma, miscommunication and d
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Nov 15, 2009
Roland
rated it: 
In his debut collection, Kyle Minor displays serious writing chops and a real talent for developing strong stories with memorable themes and characters that resonate beyond their reading.
“In the Devil’s Territory” is composed of four traditional-length shorts and two novella-length stories. Like the stories of William Gay, there’s a dark grittiness common to several, particularly “A Day Meant to Do Less” and “goodbye Hills, hello night,” which include the recounting of violent scene More...
“In the Devil’s Territory” is composed of four traditional-length shorts and two novella-length stories. Like the stories of William Gay, there’s a dark grittiness common to several, particularly “A Day Meant to Do Less” and “goodbye Hills, hello night,” which include the recounting of violent scene More...
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Aug 24, 2009
Shaindel
rated it:
In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll admit that Kyle Minor is an online writing friend. That being said, this book thoroughly deserves five stars. Kyle Minor is one of those young writers you keep hearing about--and he's worth all the hype. One of the longer stories in this book, actually a novella, called "A Day Meant to Do Less" was a selection for Best American Mystery Stories in 2008. What I found most beautiful were the intertwining stories with recurring characters. I absolutel
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Jul 25, 2011
Brian
rated it:
An absolutely stunning piece of fiction. The stories within are the kind that force a reader to pause after reading and consider what's just happened on the page. Like the best kind of literature, In The Devil's Territory introduce characters making tough and ultimately painful decisions that reveal their strengths and weaknesses. The actions are captivating, the insights are meaningful, and the endings are always real (i.e., not always happy). Read this book and involve yourself in life.
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Nov 30, 2009
Sally
rated it:
Amazing. I really can't say anything beyond that. It's one you MUST read. Each story is compelling and leaves you feeling raw as you come to terms with the emotions conjured.
I had the privilege of hearing Kyle read in Fayetteville at Nightbird Books last winter. It was a rare experience. All 3 authors hit the perfect notes on a cold winter night.
I had the privilege of hearing Kyle read in Fayetteville at Nightbird Books last winter. It was a rare experience. All 3 authors hit the perfect notes on a cold winter night.
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Oct 06, 2010
Brad
rated it: 
An inconsistent collection of mostly depressing stories. The writing itself is pretty unremarkable. Reads like a grad student's thesis. Ultimately, pretty forgettable stuff.
Apr 22, 2010
Al
rated it:
Really well-done stories. Fascinating characters. Great use of dialect. I'll be on the lookout for more from Kyle Minor, a major new talent.
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Jul 23, 2009
Joel
rated it:
This book made me feel very sad. I could not put the stories out of my mind when it was done. It must be the work of a genius.
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Aug 01, 2010
Heidi
rated it:
oh wow did this book trip me up crying for days
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Jun 02, 2010
Casey
rated it:
This collection was different than I expected, but not at all in a bad way. Minor's writing certainly lives up to all I'd heard and read about it. I look forward to reading whatever he does next.
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Jan 10, 2011
Charles
rated it:
Will have a review and interview with the author up at the blog in the next couple of weeks.
Jun 02, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
Almost finished it straight through in one sitting - looking forward to the next book!
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