Call It What You Want, a stunning story collection inhabited by dreams and disappointments, good intentions and small triumphs, chronicle... read full description
reviews
May 08, 2011
Jacob
rated it: 
First Reads win. The question here is not "is it good?", but "is it good enough to justify provoking the rage of other, less fortunate, less full-of-win Goodreaders?"
Almost, fellow readers. Almost.
The nice thing about short story collections is that it provides multiple samples of an author's work, so the gems get a chance to outshine the occasional dud. It almost happened here. Don't get me wrong: when he's good, he's pretty darn good, but the writing More...
Almost, fellow readers. Almost.
The nice thing about short story collections is that it provides multiple samples of an author's work, so the gems get a chance to outshine the occasional dud. It almost happened here. Don't get me wrong: when he's good, he's pretty darn good, but the writing More...
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Aug 31, 2010
Jeremy
rated it:
This was a gift from my father, who has never chosen a book for me, until now, that was a quite right fit.
Morris is a good writer, not a great one. But he finds some elegant solutions to problems any writer might find him or herself addressing, and that indicates, to me, that he's got a fine, clever mind for fiction.
An example: In one story the protagonist is forced, though he tries hard to avoid it, to contemplate his wife's probably infidelity. He makes the discovery More...
Morris is a good writer, not a great one. But he finds some elegant solutions to problems any writer might find him or herself addressing, and that indicates, to me, that he's got a fine, clever mind for fiction.
An example: In one story the protagonist is forced, though he tries hard to avoid it, to contemplate his wife's probably infidelity. He makes the discovery More...
May 01, 2010
Kate
rated it: 
A modern Grimm's Fairy Tales
I received a copy of this book as a FirstReads winner through Goodreads - what a stroke of luck!
This book of short stories belongs to a sub-genre that I have only recently identified. I'm not sure what title to give it, but it involves short stories that are intense, gritty, and character driven, tend to dip over into magical realism at some point, and are almost universally really, really dark. One might almost say depressing. Except that Keith L More...
I received a copy of this book as a FirstReads winner through Goodreads - what a stroke of luck!
This book of short stories belongs to a sub-genre that I have only recently identified. I'm not sure what title to give it, but it involves short stories that are intense, gritty, and character driven, tend to dip over into magical realism at some point, and are almost universally really, really dark. One might almost say depressing. Except that Keith L More...
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Feb 09, 2011
Zach
rated it: 
I was first introduced to Keith’s work just this year in the winter issue of Tin House Magazine. His was the last story in the issue, and I read it, and it was so good. Normally, this is the part where I’d explain why it was so good, but I’m afraid that’s another thing I just don’t know. The story worked so well that it transcends my ability to discuss the reasons that it worked so well. And it’s the same for all his writing. You get to the end, and everything has happened so perfectly that
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Jun 09, 2010
Lori
rated it:
ARC from publisher
"Call It What You Want" is another in a long line of short story collections that I have found myself reading this year. I suppose you could say this is the year of "Unintentionally Reading Short Stories".
This particular book was sent to me from Tin House Books when I requested a copy of "Hot Springs", and the description on the inside flap intrigued me.
One of things I enjoy most about short stories c More...
"Call It What You Want" is another in a long line of short story collections that I have found myself reading this year. I suppose you could say this is the year of "Unintentionally Reading Short Stories".
This particular book was sent to me from Tin House Books when I requested a copy of "Hot Springs", and the description on the inside flap intrigued me.
One of things I enjoy most about short stories c More...
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Jan 19, 2011
Linda
rated it:
"Visitation." What a weird and perfect story. I think the weakest link was the first story, "Testimony," but I read it in an airport, so I may not have given it its rightful attention. What I really found touching about these stories was the angle of regular guys, going nowhere fast, often making bad decisions. But the result isn't some huge calamity or domino effect, rather they just continue slogging on. I went to school with these guys; they are my relatives, so I feel lik
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Jan 08, 2012
John
rated it:
I first became aware of Keith Lee Morris by reading his novel, The Dart League King, an impressive work that stayed with me long after I finished it. This story collection is equally impressive. Be prepared, though, for two very different experiences reading the first and second half. The first half is filled with straightforward, realistically told stories that are some of the most moving pieces I've ever read about the pain we can uncaringly inflict on others ("Testimony") or the sad
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Jul 31, 2010
Becca
rated it:
Overall, this was an extremely provocative collection of short-stories. The underlying theme is the goals and dreams that we set for ourselves and how we can be both confined and freed by them. The way that Morris plays with dreams -- both too lofty and not lofty enough -- being captors of the dreamer was a unique take to me, and one I found very compelling.
Many of the stories share features in common aside from the theme: a male, disaffected main character with a distant relations More...
Many of the stories share features in common aside from the theme: a male, disaffected main character with a distant relations More...
Apr 14, 2010
Kevin
rated it:
I loved The Dart League King and so was interested in seeing Morris work in short stories. I was not disappointed.
Although the stories share a similar form and focus - the "dreams and disappointments, good intentions and small triumphs, chronicles the lives of men lost in the liminal spaces between adolescence and adulthood" - each one has a unique angle and feel to it.
Morris has a honesty to his writing that comes from honing his craft so that just the essentia More...
Although the stories share a similar form and focus - the "dreams and disappointments, good intentions and small triumphs, chronicles the lives of men lost in the liminal spaces between adolescence and adulthood" - each one has a unique angle and feel to it.
Morris has a honesty to his writing that comes from honing his craft so that just the essentia More...
Sep 30, 2010
Brad
rated it:
I have a hard time reading short stories. This is my favorite collection that I can remember reading. Absolutely brilliant unpretentious writing. Most writing about 'regular' folk drives me crazy. It never seems to capture the characters accurately. I cannot praise Mr Morris highly enough for his skill as a short story writer.
Jul 11, 2010
David
rated it:
This is another great book by Keith Lee Morris. It is a book of short stories that span the gamut of depressing, yet inspiring daily life of many situations. I have a hard time staying with a book but this guy grabs me and won't let go.
Jun 18, 2010
Cindy
rated it:
"I was afraid of dying, even though it seemed like the least complicated way out of my difficulties"
"I had dreams in highschool..."
"I had dreams in highschool..."
Apr 10, 2010
Christy
rated it: 
A short story needs to have something to say and Morriss has nothing to say to me.
He drew the line, not me.
He drew the line, not me.
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Jul 18, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
Some good stories and some stinkers in this collection. "The Culvert" and "Tired Heart" are particularly devastating.
May 20, 2010
I am reading this to review for PopMatters. So far I find it to be powerful, riveting and heartbreaking.
Nov 09, 2010
Stacey
rated it:
Won this in the first reads contest. I was not impressed with this book. Some of the stories were ok and some of them started out really good and then the ending was either bad or it didn't have an end. The more I read the more bizarre the stories got. I would have liked to see the good stories have a good ending and it would have made for a much better book.
Nov 16, 2010
Joanie
rated it:
This collection of short stories was sometimes heart breaking but it went to imaginative and then out-landish! Don't let 2 stories "sour" you for the rest of the book. 11 out of 13 stories makes for a good read. I am not a "short story" person but it was and entertaining read and you CAN "call it what you want"!!! first read winner #8
Feb 07, 2011
Georgiann
rated it:
Overall this was an extremely provocative collection of short stories. The underlying theme is the goals and dreams that we set for ourselves and how we can be both confined and freed by them
Jul 27, 2010
Matt
rated it:
Frustrated short stories told through the voices of the residents of Sandpoint, Idaho.
Jan 13, 2012
Jan 11, 2012
Jan 08, 2012
