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Scouting for the Reaper
Each of the characters in Scouting for the Reaper faces an unanticipated challenge: transporting a truckload of penguins across the country, arranging a proper Jewish burial for the remains of Gregor Samsa, selling tombstones dressed as a Girl Scout. These stories explore the domestic and professional adventures of people in over their heads, while leavening their struggles with humor.
Jacob M. Appel is the author of more than two hundred published short stories and is a past winner of the Boston Review Short Fiction Competition.
Jacob M. Appel is the author of more than two hundred published short stories and is a past winner of the Boston Review Short Fiction Competition.
185 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2013
73 people are currently reading
3829 people want to read
About the author
Jacob M. Appel
36 books1,594 followers**Please note: A limited number of complimentary electronic copies of several of my books are available for review. Please email me directly if you are interested**
Jacob M. Appel's first novel, The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up, won the Dundee International Book Award in 2012. His short story collection, Scouting for the Reaper, won the 2012 Hudson Prize. He has published short fiction in more than two hundred literary journals including Agni, Conjunctions, Gettysburg Review, Southwest Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, and West Branch. His work has been short listed for the O. Henry Award (2001), Best American Short Stories (2007, 2008), Best American Essays (2011, 2012), and received "special mention" for the Pushcart Prize in 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2013.
Jacob holds a B.A. and an M.A. from Brown University, an M.A. and an M.Phil. from Columbia University, an M.S. in bioethics from the Alden March Bioethics Institute of Albany Medical College, an M.D. from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, an M.F.A. in creative writing from New York University, an M.F.A. in playwriting from Queens College, an M.P.H. from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He currently practices psychiatry in New York City.
Jacob M. Appel's first novel, The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up, won the Dundee International Book Award in 2012. His short story collection, Scouting for the Reaper, won the 2012 Hudson Prize. He has published short fiction in more than two hundred literary journals including Agni, Conjunctions, Gettysburg Review, Southwest Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, and West Branch. His work has been short listed for the O. Henry Award (2001), Best American Short Stories (2007, 2008), Best American Essays (2011, 2012), and received "special mention" for the Pushcart Prize in 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2013.
Jacob holds a B.A. and an M.A. from Brown University, an M.A. and an M.Phil. from Columbia University, an M.S. in bioethics from the Alden March Bioethics Institute of Albany Medical College, an M.D. from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, an M.F.A. in creative writing from New York University, an M.F.A. in playwriting from Queens College, an M.P.H. from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He currently practices psychiatry in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
June 30, 2016
"Scouting The Reaper", is a terrific collection of 8 short stories. I love Jacob's physical
books...so I did buy this one.
I've written a number of reviews about how I feel about Jacob's stories -- I LOVE THEM!
In this review -- I'll share a few excepts - without spoiling anything. I just noticed this book is on sale - Kindle download - for 99 cents. I paid much more for the book. 99 cents is a bargain!
The first story in this collection is called: "Choose Your Own Genetics"....
............Just a few family problems...( ha, ha)
Here's a little EXCERPT
"I arrived home to find my parents arguing bitterly. This was a ritual they'd gone through at least once a month since my earliest memories – – a Jewish variation on
kabuki theatre. My father sat silently at the kitchen table, looking like an old time
newspaper editor with his tie hanging loose around his neck and his shirtsleeves bunched up at the elbows. It was impossible to tell whether his grim expression reflected displeasure, or merely indifference. Meanwhile, my mother paced the
linoleum in her threadbare orange bathrobe. She rubbed her hands anxiously--like Lady MacBeth in the senior class play--and called my father a "shit-fucker" and
"selfish bastard" who couldn't be trusted. She accused him of ruining her life, of using
up her "good years" and spitting her out once she'd passed forty. The offense, in this instance, is that my father had agreed to deliver a lecture in Denver Colorado the following Saturday, without first consulting her. Neither of them seem to care that I come home so late. I raided the refrigerator and leaned against the granite countertop
in the cooking island, gorging myself on cold pizza".
"I'm sorry there's no dinner, Louise " said my mother. "Your asshole of a father got me too upset to cook anything".
"It's okay " I said. "But please stop shouting".
"Nobody's shouting", shouted my mother".
In "Creve Coeur"......
The narrator is a young teenager ( like the first story)....
Here's an EXCERPT: FIRST SENTENCE:
"The woman who is not my mother was named Sheila Stanton and at the age of nineteen she was held captive for 91 days by the Red Ribbon Strangler".
"Scouting For Reaper":
...............this is the last story with a 'teen' narrator - 3 stories in all have a teen narrator in this collection.
"Papa was still introducing me to potential clients as his 11-year-old beauty. It didn't matter that, unlike my sisters, I'd never actually been a Girl Scout. Or that my chest had outgrown my hand-me-down jade green vest".
In those first three stories it's clear - that the teenagers are clear - that their parents have problems. They each deal with different issues. I was left 'thinking' and 'reflecting' as I always do with Jacob's stories. I'm left thinking about how hard it is to break dysfunction patterns from generation to generation in families.
The other thing...I never know how Jacob is going to end his stories.... I'm at times puzzled in the SAME way I am with another short story writer, Etgar Keret. I'm surprised by endings...curious....yet often deeply satisfied no matter what emotion I'm feeling.
For example...I've read the collection of short stories in "Suddenly A Knock On The Door", by Etgar Keret a few times. Every reading, I come away with a new way to think about the conclusion of the story. Like Keret, Appel, doesn't give us his finite conclusion --we're left to figure things out. Both these short story authors - very different from each other-have a knack at being able to sweep the rug out from under us.
The next five stories are ALL DIFFERENT-- (no longer have teen narrators).
You'll read about Penguins, a hitchhiker, a blind rabbit, neighbors, a widow, a gardner, a Rabbi, a truck driver, death, family members, medical school and medical treatment, a tombstone salesman, a disillusionment, anxiety, a secret, love, etc. etc etc........
Edgy, witty, wonderful!
***TO JACOB: if you are reading this ---get your name in soon -- (ALL AUTHORS interested should do the same), if you have interest in being a speaker at The Bay Area Book Festival next year in June 2017. Applications are being accepted now. Fills up quickly. As many get turned away as accepted.
books...so I did buy this one.
I've written a number of reviews about how I feel about Jacob's stories -- I LOVE THEM!
In this review -- I'll share a few excepts - without spoiling anything. I just noticed this book is on sale - Kindle download - for 99 cents. I paid much more for the book. 99 cents is a bargain!
The first story in this collection is called: "Choose Your Own Genetics"....
............Just a few family problems...( ha, ha)
Here's a little EXCERPT
"I arrived home to find my parents arguing bitterly. This was a ritual they'd gone through at least once a month since my earliest memories – – a Jewish variation on
kabuki theatre. My father sat silently at the kitchen table, looking like an old time
newspaper editor with his tie hanging loose around his neck and his shirtsleeves bunched up at the elbows. It was impossible to tell whether his grim expression reflected displeasure, or merely indifference. Meanwhile, my mother paced the
linoleum in her threadbare orange bathrobe. She rubbed her hands anxiously--like Lady MacBeth in the senior class play--and called my father a "shit-fucker" and
"selfish bastard" who couldn't be trusted. She accused him of ruining her life, of using
up her "good years" and spitting her out once she'd passed forty. The offense, in this instance, is that my father had agreed to deliver a lecture in Denver Colorado the following Saturday, without first consulting her. Neither of them seem to care that I come home so late. I raided the refrigerator and leaned against the granite countertop
in the cooking island, gorging myself on cold pizza".
"I'm sorry there's no dinner, Louise " said my mother. "Your asshole of a father got me too upset to cook anything".
"It's okay " I said. "But please stop shouting".
"Nobody's shouting", shouted my mother".
In "Creve Coeur"......
The narrator is a young teenager ( like the first story)....
Here's an EXCERPT: FIRST SENTENCE:
"The woman who is not my mother was named Sheila Stanton and at the age of nineteen she was held captive for 91 days by the Red Ribbon Strangler".
"Scouting For Reaper":
...............this is the last story with a 'teen' narrator - 3 stories in all have a teen narrator in this collection.
"Papa was still introducing me to potential clients as his 11-year-old beauty. It didn't matter that, unlike my sisters, I'd never actually been a Girl Scout. Or that my chest had outgrown my hand-me-down jade green vest".
In those first three stories it's clear - that the teenagers are clear - that their parents have problems. They each deal with different issues. I was left 'thinking' and 'reflecting' as I always do with Jacob's stories. I'm left thinking about how hard it is to break dysfunction patterns from generation to generation in families.
The other thing...I never know how Jacob is going to end his stories.... I'm at times puzzled in the SAME way I am with another short story writer, Etgar Keret. I'm surprised by endings...curious....yet often deeply satisfied no matter what emotion I'm feeling.
For example...I've read the collection of short stories in "Suddenly A Knock On The Door", by Etgar Keret a few times. Every reading, I come away with a new way to think about the conclusion of the story. Like Keret, Appel, doesn't give us his finite conclusion --we're left to figure things out. Both these short story authors - very different from each other-have a knack at being able to sweep the rug out from under us.
The next five stories are ALL DIFFERENT-- (no longer have teen narrators).
You'll read about Penguins, a hitchhiker, a blind rabbit, neighbors, a widow, a gardner, a Rabbi, a truck driver, death, family members, medical school and medical treatment, a tombstone salesman, a disillusionment, anxiety, a secret, love, etc. etc etc........
Edgy, witty, wonderful!
***TO JACOB: if you are reading this ---get your name in soon -- (ALL AUTHORS interested should do the same), if you have interest in being a speaker at The Bay Area Book Festival next year in June 2017. Applications are being accepted now. Fills up quickly. As many get turned away as accepted.
May 1, 2014
I liked that the eight stories in this collection are slightly longer - 20-plus pages - than many I've been reading lately. You really get to know the characters and the worlds they inhabit. Appel writes in many different voices, both male and female, young and old, but the predominant theme seems to be longing and loneliness.
--A precocious girl's self-administered blood test during biology class leaves her questioning her ancestry and opens a whole can of nasty worms when she brings the matter up with her parents.
--An electrician reconnects with an old flame while his teenage son yearns for her step-daughter.
--This one is oddly similar to the previous story, only this time, it's a tombstone salesman and his daughter who do the lusting.
--A recently widowed woman's newfound romantic interest in her husband's accountant may be shaken when she discovers a secret.
--Finding the cause of a pet rabbit's sudden blindness becomes a librarian's obsession.
--An elderly folklorist finds herself lost when her handyman, whom she's known for decades, doesn't show up for work one day.
--A trucker hauling live cargo experiences some unusual problems.
--And in my favorite story, a rabbi reluctantly agrees to help the distraught Samsa family dispose of their son Gregor's remains.
A fine collection of tales from an award-winning author.
--A precocious girl's self-administered blood test during biology class leaves her questioning her ancestry and opens a whole can of nasty worms when she brings the matter up with her parents.
--An electrician reconnects with an old flame while his teenage son yearns for her step-daughter.
--This one is oddly similar to the previous story, only this time, it's a tombstone salesman and his daughter who do the lusting.
--A recently widowed woman's newfound romantic interest in her husband's accountant may be shaken when she discovers a secret.
--Finding the cause of a pet rabbit's sudden blindness becomes a librarian's obsession.
--An elderly folklorist finds herself lost when her handyman, whom she's known for decades, doesn't show up for work one day.
--A trucker hauling live cargo experiences some unusual problems.
--And in my favorite story, a rabbi reluctantly agrees to help the distraught Samsa family dispose of their son Gregor's remains.
A fine collection of tales from an award-winning author.
September 14, 2018
EXCERPT: 'I want to say something,' I said.
They both looked up. They seemed surprised that I was still in the room.
'What's wrong, honey, ' said my mother. 'You aren't getting sick, are you?'
She crossed the kitchen and felt my brow with the back of a chilly hand. I pulled my head away. 'She feels warm to me, Gordon,' said my mother.
'I have type-B blood, ' I announced.
My mother tried to feel my brow again but I wouldn't let her. 'I think she's coming down with something.'
'You're not listeningto me,' I said. Louder. 'We did an experiment in Miss Stanley's class and my blood clumped when it was exposed to Type-B antibodies. That means I can't be the biological child of a Type-A father and a Type-O mother.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Each of the characters in Scouting for the Reaper faces an unanticipated challenge: transporting a truckload of penguins across the country, arranging a proper Jewish burial for the remains of Gregor Samsa, selling tombstones dressed as a Girl Scout. These stories explore the domestic and professional adventures of people in over their heads, while leavening their struggles with humor.
MY THOUGHTS: I love Jacob M Appel's writing. He has the best of opening sentences; ones that grab your attention and then simply do not let go.
I have previously read Einstein's Beach House and Miracles and Conundrums of the Secondary Planets, both of which I loved and still treasure. So I was very excited to receive Jacob's latest offering, Scouting for the Reaper. And I was not disappointed.
I would be hard pressed to pick a favourite from this exceptional collection of stories; stories about relationships between people, and I don't mean love stories, or maybe I do, but not in the traditional sense.
I could give you a brief outline of each of the eight stories contained in this volume, but no description I could give would reveal the deeper threads and undercurrents. I just recommend that you read this book. It is a keeper for me.
THE AUTHOR: Jacob M. Appel's first novel, The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up, won the Dundee International Book Award in 2012. His short story collection, Scouting for the Reaper, won the 2012 Hudson Prize. He has published short fiction in more than two hundred literary journals including Agni, Conjunctions, Gettysburg Review, Southwest Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, and West Branch. His work has been short listed for the O. Henry Award (2001), Best American Short Stories (2007, 2008), Best American Essays (2011, 2012), and received "special mention" for the Pushcart Prize in 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2013.
Jacob holds a B.A. and an M.A. from Brown University, an M.A. and an M.Phil. from Columbia University, an M.S. in bioethics from the Alden March Bioethics Institute of Albany Medical College, an M.D. from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, an M.F.A. in creative writing from New York University, an M.F.A. in playwriting from Queens College, an M.P.H. from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He currently practices psychiatry in New York City.
DISCLOSURE:Thank you to author Jacob M Appel for the gift of a copy of Scouting for the Reaper in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
They both looked up. They seemed surprised that I was still in the room.
'What's wrong, honey, ' said my mother. 'You aren't getting sick, are you?'
She crossed the kitchen and felt my brow with the back of a chilly hand. I pulled my head away. 'She feels warm to me, Gordon,' said my mother.
'I have type-B blood, ' I announced.
My mother tried to feel my brow again but I wouldn't let her. 'I think she's coming down with something.'
'You're not listeningto me,' I said. Louder. 'We did an experiment in Miss Stanley's class and my blood clumped when it was exposed to Type-B antibodies. That means I can't be the biological child of a Type-A father and a Type-O mother.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Each of the characters in Scouting for the Reaper faces an unanticipated challenge: transporting a truckload of penguins across the country, arranging a proper Jewish burial for the remains of Gregor Samsa, selling tombstones dressed as a Girl Scout. These stories explore the domestic and professional adventures of people in over their heads, while leavening their struggles with humor.
MY THOUGHTS: I love Jacob M Appel's writing. He has the best of opening sentences; ones that grab your attention and then simply do not let go.
I have previously read Einstein's Beach House and Miracles and Conundrums of the Secondary Planets, both of which I loved and still treasure. So I was very excited to receive Jacob's latest offering, Scouting for the Reaper. And I was not disappointed.
I would be hard pressed to pick a favourite from this exceptional collection of stories; stories about relationships between people, and I don't mean love stories, or maybe I do, but not in the traditional sense.
I could give you a brief outline of each of the eight stories contained in this volume, but no description I could give would reveal the deeper threads and undercurrents. I just recommend that you read this book. It is a keeper for me.
THE AUTHOR: Jacob M. Appel's first novel, The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up, won the Dundee International Book Award in 2012. His short story collection, Scouting for the Reaper, won the 2012 Hudson Prize. He has published short fiction in more than two hundred literary journals including Agni, Conjunctions, Gettysburg Review, Southwest Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, and West Branch. His work has been short listed for the O. Henry Award (2001), Best American Short Stories (2007, 2008), Best American Essays (2011, 2012), and received "special mention" for the Pushcart Prize in 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2013.
Jacob holds a B.A. and an M.A. from Brown University, an M.A. and an M.Phil. from Columbia University, an M.S. in bioethics from the Alden March Bioethics Institute of Albany Medical College, an M.D. from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, an M.F.A. in creative writing from New York University, an M.F.A. in playwriting from Queens College, an M.P.H. from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He currently practices psychiatry in New York City.
DISCLOSURE:Thank you to author Jacob M Appel for the gift of a copy of Scouting for the Reaper in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 28, 2021
Jacob Appel is a marvel. His stories are fresh and surprising and substantive. Eventually I must read all of his many, many books.
April 26, 2017
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I give this 4.5 stars which rounds up to 5.
This was another solid collection of short stories by Appel and I enjoyed all of the stories. Once again I loved how creative the stories were and how interesting the characters were. I don't know how he comes up with them but I love it!
I give this 4.5 stars which rounds up to 5.
This was another solid collection of short stories by Appel and I enjoyed all of the stories. Once again I loved how creative the stories were and how interesting the characters were. I don't know how he comes up with them but I love it!
May 27, 2017
I really liked this collection of short stories.
I hate reviewing story collections, so I'll just say they are good and you should read them.
My one complaint? I figured out that all of the pictures on the cover correspond to a story in the collection. 8 pictures, 8 stories.... but I could not figure out which picture could correspond with the story about the widow and the accountant. And two of the pictures seem to correspond to the first story in the collection.
This is going to keep me up at night wondering about.
I hate reviewing story collections, so I'll just say they are good and you should read them.
My one complaint? I figured out that all of the pictures on the cover correspond to a story in the collection. 8 pictures, 8 stories.... but I could not figure out which picture could correspond with the story about the widow and the accountant. And two of the pictures seem to correspond to the first story in the collection.
This is going to keep me up at night wondering about.
June 1, 2015
*I received an ARC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I love books dearly, and so I always give them my honest review. It's rare for me to say that I have NOTHING negative to say about a book. Well, ok, I did see two or three grammatical errors, but I loved the book so much that I just couldn't be bothered with small mistakes; I was strongly compelled by my love for this book to keep on reading.
It was fantastic to see that Jacob Appel used very little foul language (a miniscule amount compared to what is found in many books today). I have found that writers who do use that type of colored speech in their works often do so for emphasis, but a good writer doesn't need to, as Mr. Appel proves in the excellence of his own writing. It's one thing to use it to emphasize a particular moment, but it becomes an ugly extension of an author when one decides to use it throughout a story and ends up tainting the entire work.
The stories within Scouting for the Reaper were deliciously mysterious with surprising kicks at each conclusion. Not once was I able to determine how the stories would end until the final few sentences, and, sometimes, not until the very last moment. Each time my stomach would flip with excitement, like I was going down a roller coaster, when I discovered the twisted fate of Jacob Appel's characters.
I was lulled at each beginning with, what were for the most part, every day settings and scenarios that I believe most people can imagine falling into or picture themselves witnessing. Following a very interesting laying of the storyline, suddenly and out of nowhere, a climax grows with great speed. Then, BAM! I was swept off my feet with a disturbing-yet-strangely-satisfying ending. Or was it the end?
This book is intelligent, witty, tragic, gratifying, and I definitely want more of it. It is also a deeply probing sketch into the depths of the souls of humanity. It is what we don't see in others, in ourselves - or what we refuse to look at - but is always right in front of us. Mr. Appel brings out the raw, painful details of the hidden personas and desires many of us attempt to forget. Maybe we just can't bear the idea of their reality, so we create an alternate of our own that eventually will catch up with us.
I love books dearly, and so I always give them my honest review. It's rare for me to say that I have NOTHING negative to say about a book. Well, ok, I did see two or three grammatical errors, but I loved the book so much that I just couldn't be bothered with small mistakes; I was strongly compelled by my love for this book to keep on reading.
It was fantastic to see that Jacob Appel used very little foul language (a miniscule amount compared to what is found in many books today). I have found that writers who do use that type of colored speech in their works often do so for emphasis, but a good writer doesn't need to, as Mr. Appel proves in the excellence of his own writing. It's one thing to use it to emphasize a particular moment, but it becomes an ugly extension of an author when one decides to use it throughout a story and ends up tainting the entire work.
The stories within Scouting for the Reaper were deliciously mysterious with surprising kicks at each conclusion. Not once was I able to determine how the stories would end until the final few sentences, and, sometimes, not until the very last moment. Each time my stomach would flip with excitement, like I was going down a roller coaster, when I discovered the twisted fate of Jacob Appel's characters.
I was lulled at each beginning with, what were for the most part, every day settings and scenarios that I believe most people can imagine falling into or picture themselves witnessing. Following a very interesting laying of the storyline, suddenly and out of nowhere, a climax grows with great speed. Then, BAM! I was swept off my feet with a disturbing-yet-strangely-satisfying ending. Or was it the end?
This book is intelligent, witty, tragic, gratifying, and I definitely want more of it. It is also a deeply probing sketch into the depths of the souls of humanity. It is what we don't see in others, in ourselves - or what we refuse to look at - but is always right in front of us. Mr. Appel brings out the raw, painful details of the hidden personas and desires many of us attempt to forget. Maybe we just can't bear the idea of their reality, so we create an alternate of our own that eventually will catch up with us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2015
Scouting For The Reaper is a Hudson Prize winning collection of 8 short stories authored by Jacob M. Appel. Many thanks to Black Lawrence Press for the ARC for the purpose of this review.
Among the first noticeable things of this astonishing story collection is how original and true to life of the story themes and characters of each finely detailed story. The first three stories feature coming-of-age teens: in "Choose Your Own Genetics" Natalie discovers her physician father would rather blame outsiders then discuss the real reason of family difficulties. Wade meets his fathers former girlfriend (and her daughter) who had been held captive by the "Red Ribbon Strangler" and is hired to design a Christmas display at her home: in "Creve Coeur". Another girl in "Scouting For The Reaper" accompanies her father dressed in a Girl Scout uniform while he sells grave markers. All the teens learn that their parents marriages are not as happy or stable as they appear to be.
"Ad Valorem" a widow discovers a second chance at love and romance.
"Rods and Cones" a unique story about an obsessive pet owner who discovers her rabbit is blind and seeks appointments with veterinarians for a cure. Another story featuring mammals, "Hazardous Cargoes": a trucker is transporting penguins to a zoo, and meets a young female hitch-hiker who wants to see the birds.
"The Extinction of Fairytales" a widow owns a large estate and hires the same gardener as the previous owners to care for the grounds, when he suddenly vanishes without a word, her neighbors seem overly concerned about how the property will be cared for.
Appel explores the human condition in his stories, with situations involving a degree of the unknown and mystery where endings occur unpredictably. This is what I loved most about these stories, also the true to life realism, knowing the stories could actually happen. In addition to being a multi-prize winning author of short stories, Jacob M. Appel is a physician, bioethicist, and an attorney. He lives in NYC.
Among the first noticeable things of this astonishing story collection is how original and true to life of the story themes and characters of each finely detailed story. The first three stories feature coming-of-age teens: in "Choose Your Own Genetics" Natalie discovers her physician father would rather blame outsiders then discuss the real reason of family difficulties. Wade meets his fathers former girlfriend (and her daughter) who had been held captive by the "Red Ribbon Strangler" and is hired to design a Christmas display at her home: in "Creve Coeur". Another girl in "Scouting For The Reaper" accompanies her father dressed in a Girl Scout uniform while he sells grave markers. All the teens learn that their parents marriages are not as happy or stable as they appear to be.
"Ad Valorem" a widow discovers a second chance at love and romance.
"Rods and Cones" a unique story about an obsessive pet owner who discovers her rabbit is blind and seeks appointments with veterinarians for a cure. Another story featuring mammals, "Hazardous Cargoes": a trucker is transporting penguins to a zoo, and meets a young female hitch-hiker who wants to see the birds.
"The Extinction of Fairytales" a widow owns a large estate and hires the same gardener as the previous owners to care for the grounds, when he suddenly vanishes without a word, her neighbors seem overly concerned about how the property will be cared for.
Appel explores the human condition in his stories, with situations involving a degree of the unknown and mystery where endings occur unpredictably. This is what I loved most about these stories, also the true to life realism, knowing the stories could actually happen. In addition to being a multi-prize winning author of short stories, Jacob M. Appel is a physician, bioethicist, and an attorney. He lives in NYC.
June 12, 2016
This is another fascinating compilation of eight varied stories. They are interesting and entertaining. I love the variety Jacob M. Appel provides in his compilation books. He has such a unique perspective and it comes through in every story.
I can recommend this book to anyone that likes unusual and original short stories. They are great. I got a copy of this book for my son. He is reading it now and so far he is loving it as much as I did.
I can recommend this book to anyone that likes unusual and original short stories. They are great. I got a copy of this book for my son. He is reading it now and so far he is loving it as much as I did.
November 25, 2017
I love short stories and Jacob Appel has come up with quite a list. I understand that Jacob is a psychiatrist and makes a living getting into peoples’ heads. Well, Jacob, I would like to get into YOUR head. Where did you come up with the ideas for these stories?? They are QUITE entertaining and original, at least to me.
Here are the seven stories with, hopefully, no spoilers. Just enough to get you interested.
Choose Your Own Genetics
A 14 year old whose father is a genetics professor knows more about genetics than is good for her.
Creve Coeur
That’s Creve Coeur, RI. A chandelier, a Christmas display, a smitten teen-age boy.
Scouting for the Reaper
A mortician’s old flame needs …
Ad Valorem
An ad valorem tax.. based on the value of the property at the time of the transaction. What is it really worth?
Rods and Cones
The bunny is blind. What can anybody do about it? (I especially smiled when the Rabbi (named Rabbi Tait) got involved. Get it… Rabbi T.
The Extinction of Fairy Tales
A female author and her gardener.
Hazardous Cargoes
A truck driver and penguins and much more.
The Vermin Episode
Based on the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. What happens after Gregor dies!!
188 pages. Reading goes fast and is engagingly fruitful!!
Here are the seven stories with, hopefully, no spoilers. Just enough to get you interested.
Choose Your Own Genetics
A 14 year old whose father is a genetics professor knows more about genetics than is good for her.
Creve Coeur
That’s Creve Coeur, RI. A chandelier, a Christmas display, a smitten teen-age boy.
Scouting for the Reaper
A mortician’s old flame needs …
Ad Valorem
An ad valorem tax.. based on the value of the property at the time of the transaction. What is it really worth?
Rods and Cones
The bunny is blind. What can anybody do about it? (I especially smiled when the Rabbi (named Rabbi Tait) got involved. Get it… Rabbi T.
The Extinction of Fairy Tales
A female author and her gardener.
Hazardous Cargoes
A truck driver and penguins and much more.
The Vermin Episode
Based on the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. What happens after Gregor dies!!
188 pages. Reading goes fast and is engagingly fruitful!!
May 7, 2015
Scouting for the Reaper was one of the most gripping collections of short stories that I've ever gotten to read. Each story caught my attention completely, giving me a chance to not only read about the characters, but start to understand their motivations in a way that is very rare in mainstream literature these days.
The back cover reads, "Jacob Appel's stories echo with secrets. There are the secrets we keep from those closest to us, of course... throughout this fine collection he is concerned with another kind of secret: that which, when revealed, doesn't solve anything... Revelation, in the end, isn't the end at all. It's the beginning."
As I was taught in all my English classes, the format for plot development is a gentle sweep upwards, and then, after the climax, there is a much more steep curve back down to the end of the book.The reason, I believe, Appel's ability to grab the reader by the throat is the different method of writing he employs for his plot development. Instead of the gradual up and down, almost the entirety of each story leads up TO the climax. And there the story hangs as it ends.
I believe that because Appel's stories end where they do, he gives the stories a kind of power over the reader. Instead of tying everything up in a nice pretty bow, there's a certain rawness of reality that leaves the reader wondering what would happen if the story did continue. As a result, the characters stay with the reader long after the final words. This gives the messages and ideas of
the story a chance to really steep in the reader's mind, giving them a chance to examine more deeply not only what was written, but also how it would apply to their own lives.
I highly recommend Scouting for the Reaper as the stories are not only well written and beautifully executed, but because each of the stories pulls at our own heartstrings in a unique and personal way.
The back cover reads, "Jacob Appel's stories echo with secrets. There are the secrets we keep from those closest to us, of course... throughout this fine collection he is concerned with another kind of secret: that which, when revealed, doesn't solve anything... Revelation, in the end, isn't the end at all. It's the beginning."
As I was taught in all my English classes, the format for plot development is a gentle sweep upwards, and then, after the climax, there is a much more steep curve back down to the end of the book.The reason, I believe, Appel's ability to grab the reader by the throat is the different method of writing he employs for his plot development. Instead of the gradual up and down, almost the entirety of each story leads up TO the climax. And there the story hangs as it ends.
I believe that because Appel's stories end where they do, he gives the stories a kind of power over the reader. Instead of tying everything up in a nice pretty bow, there's a certain rawness of reality that leaves the reader wondering what would happen if the story did continue. As a result, the characters stay with the reader long after the final words. This gives the messages and ideas of
the story a chance to really steep in the reader's mind, giving them a chance to examine more deeply not only what was written, but also how it would apply to their own lives.
I highly recommend Scouting for the Reaper as the stories are not only well written and beautifully executed, but because each of the stories pulls at our own heartstrings in a unique and personal way.
August 22, 2015
This Was a First Reads Book
Scouting for the Reaper by Jacob M. Appel is a far cry from my usual reads. While I read a bit of everything from History and Science to Sci-Fi and Fantasy my favored fare usually involve something with more action and violence.
Scouting for the Reaper is a collection of eight short stories that gave me flashes of reading Garrison Keillor, Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine or other pieces of literary work that ooze with real life people experiencing the moments that will color their personalities in the future.
Everyone has those moments in their life that they look back on, whether fondly or with dread that are representative of turning points in their history. Moments that color us, moments that feel that they are just ours. Most of Appel's stories have this feel and it's when he's at his best. They run the gamut of childhood to death and are very well written pieces that feel very personal...for the most part. The last story "The Vermin Episode" is more Kurt Vonnegut than Garrison Keillor and stands apart from the others in tone.
For me the Stories that took place around the town of Creve Coeur had an even more intimate and personal feel to them and I wouldn't mind visiting there again. Appel is surely a talented writer with a great grasp on the skill of putting clear and concise ideas and sentences down on paper, and clearly has something to say. His stories and characters feel very real and you can't help but wonder if these are people that have been in his life or experiences that have touched him first hand.
This is a good book to sit down with your on a long winter's night, favorite blanket and tea close by and just enjoy the experience of sharing these characters lives.
Scouting for the Reaper by Jacob M. Appel is a far cry from my usual reads. While I read a bit of everything from History and Science to Sci-Fi and Fantasy my favored fare usually involve something with more action and violence.
Scouting for the Reaper is a collection of eight short stories that gave me flashes of reading Garrison Keillor, Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine or other pieces of literary work that ooze with real life people experiencing the moments that will color their personalities in the future.
Everyone has those moments in their life that they look back on, whether fondly or with dread that are representative of turning points in their history. Moments that color us, moments that feel that they are just ours. Most of Appel's stories have this feel and it's when he's at his best. They run the gamut of childhood to death and are very well written pieces that feel very personal...for the most part. The last story "The Vermin Episode" is more Kurt Vonnegut than Garrison Keillor and stands apart from the others in tone.
For me the Stories that took place around the town of Creve Coeur had an even more intimate and personal feel to them and I wouldn't mind visiting there again. Appel is surely a talented writer with a great grasp on the skill of putting clear and concise ideas and sentences down on paper, and clearly has something to say. His stories and characters feel very real and you can't help but wonder if these are people that have been in his life or experiences that have touched him first hand.
This is a good book to sit down with your on a long winter's night, favorite blanket and tea close by and just enjoy the experience of sharing these characters lives.
December 27, 2015
Although not as compelling as Miracles and Conundrums of the Secondary Planets (what could be?), I still thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories. Jacob is a fine writer and should be better known, IMHO. These stories deal with real people experiencing real events (except for the Kafkian final story). The first few deal with young, mostly unrequited love, the later stories deal more with older individuals. My particular favorite dealt with an older woman whose husband has died who needs to take care of her taxes. She uses their long-time accountant and proceeds to learn some interesting things about herself and the accountant. My other favorite involved a woman who "inherits" a Black gardener when she buys a house. Their relationship is not completely clear, yet essentially involves much caring and concern.
These stories usually deal with secrets, some minor and some rather profound. And yet, the path at the end of the stories is not often clear, with something left unresolved. As with any collection of short stories, some are better than others and had more of an effect both intellectually and emotionally on me. And although this was the weakest of the three collections I have read by the author (though not by much), I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to his next opus.
These stories usually deal with secrets, some minor and some rather profound. And yet, the path at the end of the stories is not often clear, with something left unresolved. As with any collection of short stories, some are better than others and had more of an effect both intellectually and emotionally on me. And although this was the weakest of the three collections I have read by the author (though not by much), I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to his next opus.
July 14, 2014
First, I love the cover of this book — not just the front, but a sneaky little surprise on the spine! Unusual, stark, surprising, and inviting — similar to the stories which are so diverse I wonder how Appel became such an expert in so many venues.
The first three stories are from the point of view of teenagers (a boy and two girls, convincingly written) and felt like Y.A. literature. Since I prefer an older point of view, I was ready to put this book down; the stories are good, but I assumed I was not the right audience. I looked at some of the other Goodreads reviews. Hmm, older stuff on the way, I deduced. So I kept reading. Boy, am I glad I did.
I love stories that present an honest look at our species — full of contradictions and the kind of conscious bad decisions that we are loathe to admit. But in the hands of a good storyteller, responsibility and awareness and all the secret thoughts behind our actions are exposed. Jacob Appel is a good storyteller. The stories in this book are complex and honest, wise and very grownup. Very nice work.
The first three stories are from the point of view of teenagers (a boy and two girls, convincingly written) and felt like Y.A. literature. Since I prefer an older point of view, I was ready to put this book down; the stories are good, but I assumed I was not the right audience. I looked at some of the other Goodreads reviews. Hmm, older stuff on the way, I deduced. So I kept reading. Boy, am I glad I did.
I love stories that present an honest look at our species — full of contradictions and the kind of conscious bad decisions that we are loathe to admit. But in the hands of a good storyteller, responsibility and awareness and all the secret thoughts behind our actions are exposed. Jacob Appel is a good storyteller. The stories in this book are complex and honest, wise and very grownup. Very nice work.
October 3, 2015
Full disclosure: I won this volume of short stories as a goodreads giveaway, but hat in no way affects this review.
This, the third collection of short stories I've read by Jacob Appel, is another winner! His characters and scenarios are so true-to-life that the stories are really very poignant and enjoyable. I loved the other two collections, too, and look forward to more of his slightly quirky, unusual, but excellent writing!
This, the third collection of short stories I've read by Jacob Appel, is another winner! His characters and scenarios are so true-to-life that the stories are really very poignant and enjoyable. I loved the other two collections, too, and look forward to more of his slightly quirky, unusual, but excellent writing!
April 18, 2015
This book was a generous gift from an unknown author. I am terribly remiss in taking so long to get my review up.
When the book arrived I was in the midst of an eclectic group of books, including a collection of short stories by Stephen King. Usually I would wait and not mix two books of short stories, but these seemed compatible, so I broke my rule. And I'm glad.
This collection of short stories held its own against some of the best Stephen King short stories I've had the pleasure to read. The authors voices are different and the subject matters just different enough, there was no need to even try to say what was better. One day I read from one book, the next day or two from the other, and I continued to be equally delighted each time.
Enough time has passed I can't say for sure if I had a favorite, though "Ad Valorem" has haunted me. There was not one that I didn't like and I wouldn't mind reading much more.
And I don't usually like short stories.
When the book arrived I was in the midst of an eclectic group of books, including a collection of short stories by Stephen King. Usually I would wait and not mix two books of short stories, but these seemed compatible, so I broke my rule. And I'm glad.
This collection of short stories held its own against some of the best Stephen King short stories I've had the pleasure to read. The authors voices are different and the subject matters just different enough, there was no need to even try to say what was better. One day I read from one book, the next day or two from the other, and I continued to be equally delighted each time.
Enough time has passed I can't say for sure if I had a favorite, though "Ad Valorem" has haunted me. There was not one that I didn't like and I wouldn't mind reading much more.
And I don't usually like short stories.
June 27, 2014
I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
This author is truly well educated & has a fine grasp on the English language. While there was nothing grammatically wrong with this small tome of short stories, I felt the stories lacked a certain something that was needed to grab my attention & keep it. I would also have to say that while there was a theme to this book, that theme wasn't Scouting for the Reaper (that's just the name of one of the short stories within the book). The theme, I think, was secrets & specifically secrets of the marital type, for the most part. Unfortunately, as well written as the stories were they were sadly short lived, and about the time I got attached to any one character the story concluded, without closure. I wanted to like the authors short stories, but never quite found something to grab onto & love. Perhaps his story telling just wasn't for me & is simply meant for a different type of audience.
This author is truly well educated & has a fine grasp on the English language. While there was nothing grammatically wrong with this small tome of short stories, I felt the stories lacked a certain something that was needed to grab my attention & keep it. I would also have to say that while there was a theme to this book, that theme wasn't Scouting for the Reaper (that's just the name of one of the short stories within the book). The theme, I think, was secrets & specifically secrets of the marital type, for the most part. Unfortunately, as well written as the stories were they were sadly short lived, and about the time I got attached to any one character the story concluded, without closure. I wanted to like the authors short stories, but never quite found something to grab onto & love. Perhaps his story telling just wasn't for me & is simply meant for a different type of audience.
April 13, 2014
Jacob Appel is just a stunning voice in contemporary fiction. His short stories are full, complex and extremely unsettling, like a lot of his work. The near misses, the unanswered questions and the representation of human fallibility and insecurity make this collection wonderful to read. Thanks, again, Appel, for amusing me and making me uncomfortable at the same time.
April 14, 2014
Appel never ceases to keep me reading until late into the night, but not because his books are fast paced thrillers or paranormal wonders. No, Appel deals in the ordinary American existence, and he does so beautifully. Appel writes characters who are selfish and self conscious, lonely and searching, in love or looking for love or lusting: he writes the human experience in a way that keeps readers invested in the everyday pitfalls, woes, traumas, anguish and relationships of people with which they have very little in common because he crafts humanity into his characters in such a way that relating to them is relating to the everyday ridiculousness that is life.
On top of this, Appel has a way with keeping resolution out of his books, both in his novels and in this short story collection. And I applaud him for it. The books in which happy resolutions occur, where everyone ends satisfied, and where there is a clear (usually happy) ending for all feel nice, but they are not reality. Appel writes reality in all its uncertainty.
He also writes death and sickness into many of the pages of this book. There is an undertone of mortality, which, as I get older and have children and see my loved ones pass, is a refreshing thing. I loved the characters struggling with youth, with their own mortality and the mortality of those around them. The characters in the story were not always likable, nor did they always deal with the anxiety of death and loss and loneliness very adeptly, but that made the experience all the more gratifying. I felt, reading the tales of love, loss, lust, death, failure, mistakes and relationships, that though I have been confronted with the same type feelings/misgivings the characters in the stories deal with it, I tend to deal with it with less eccentricity. This made me feel better about myself and also amused me greatly.
Appels characters are definitely interesting and amusing. They are strange, but just normal enough to relate to. As for his writing, Appel is polished, intelligent, and sardonically dark. His voice carries throughout the story, neither female or male, but wise. It was strange, at times, to read from the perspective of the protagonists in this way, as some of them are young and do not have youthful voices. It made me think that they were telling the story as fully grown adults, writing down their lives while they were still aware, and had a distance from the events taking place. This allowed for more understanding on their part, and I really liked that choice.
Loved this collection and am quickly becoming Appel's number one fan. Keep them coming!
On top of this, Appel has a way with keeping resolution out of his books, both in his novels and in this short story collection. And I applaud him for it. The books in which happy resolutions occur, where everyone ends satisfied, and where there is a clear (usually happy) ending for all feel nice, but they are not reality. Appel writes reality in all its uncertainty.
He also writes death and sickness into many of the pages of this book. There is an undertone of mortality, which, as I get older and have children and see my loved ones pass, is a refreshing thing. I loved the characters struggling with youth, with their own mortality and the mortality of those around them. The characters in the story were not always likable, nor did they always deal with the anxiety of death and loss and loneliness very adeptly, but that made the experience all the more gratifying. I felt, reading the tales of love, loss, lust, death, failure, mistakes and relationships, that though I have been confronted with the same type feelings/misgivings the characters in the stories deal with it, I tend to deal with it with less eccentricity. This made me feel better about myself and also amused me greatly.
Appels characters are definitely interesting and amusing. They are strange, but just normal enough to relate to. As for his writing, Appel is polished, intelligent, and sardonically dark. His voice carries throughout the story, neither female or male, but wise. It was strange, at times, to read from the perspective of the protagonists in this way, as some of them are young and do not have youthful voices. It made me think that they were telling the story as fully grown adults, writing down their lives while they were still aware, and had a distance from the events taking place. This allowed for more understanding on their part, and I really liked that choice.
Loved this collection and am quickly becoming Appel's number one fan. Keep them coming!
January 9, 2015
Choose Your Own Genetics my favorite.
Georgia Natalie Stanley (23) was the 9th grade Biology/Science teacher at Commodore Perry in Creve Coeur, RI. Natalie Limberg (Louise, 9th grader) goes to school there. Her family is: Dr. Gordon (Charlie, Charles) Limberg (father, electrician), Jeanne Limeberg (mother, Gwen) Katie Limberg (sister/daughter) & Wade Limberg (brother/son).
Other students are: Jonah Driscoll (9th grader), Shorty Foust (9th grader), Becky Timms (9th grader), Zach Dorsey (9th grader), Lori Beckwith (9th grader), Mia Zorinsky (twin, 9th grader), Tia Zorinsky (twin, 9th grader), Sean Fuccillo (9th grader) & Samantha Malinek (9th grader).
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. 8 fairly well written unique different short stories (book). Most were very easy to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of quirky characters to keep track of. The book was just OK for me. A very easy rating of 5 stars for all of them.
Thank you for the free book (Author PDF)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Georgia Natalie Stanley (23) was the 9th grade Biology/Science teacher at Commodore Perry in Creve Coeur, RI. Natalie Limberg (Louise, 9th grader) goes to school there. Her family is: Dr. Gordon (Charlie, Charles) Limberg (father, electrician), Jeanne Limeberg (mother, Gwen) Katie Limberg (sister/daughter) & Wade Limberg (brother/son).
Other students are: Jonah Driscoll (9th grader), Shorty Foust (9th grader), Becky Timms (9th grader), Zach Dorsey (9th grader), Lori Beckwith (9th grader), Mia Zorinsky (twin, 9th grader), Tia Zorinsky (twin, 9th grader), Sean Fuccillo (9th grader) & Samantha Malinek (9th grader).
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. 8 fairly well written unique different short stories (book). Most were very easy to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of quirky characters to keep track of. The book was just OK for me. A very easy rating of 5 stars for all of them.
Thank you for the free book (Author PDF)
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
August 28, 2014
I had the pleasure of receiving this book from the author. This is the second book that I have read from Jason Appel. The first, "The Biology of Luck, " is a novel that offers a fresh take on the current dating scene and is a favorite of mine. "Scouting for the reaper" is a well balanced collection of short stories that will entertain while allowing the reader to make up their own mind about what happens to the characters after the stories are over. My favorites were "The extinction of Fairy tales," "Scouting for the reaper," and "Choose your own gene." The stories are fast paced and Jason Appel's prose is engrossing, quick-witted,and fun. This collection makes for a great, quick read.
May 25, 2016
I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I'm a Jacob M. Appel fan, so have read other short story collections of his before this one. I loved this one just as much as the others. Appel's writing is very character driven with an underlying theme of melancholy in each of the stories. Some are absurd, some are funny, some are sad, but all of them are interesting.
If you love short stories, don't miss this collection of them. If you are looking for an introduction to Appel's writing, you can't go wrong with any of his collections, this book included.
I'm a Jacob M. Appel fan, so have read other short story collections of his before this one. I loved this one just as much as the others. Appel's writing is very character driven with an underlying theme of melancholy in each of the stories. Some are absurd, some are funny, some are sad, but all of them are interesting.
If you love short stories, don't miss this collection of them. If you are looking for an introduction to Appel's writing, you can't go wrong with any of his collections, this book included.
May 1, 2014
I've never gotten into short stories, but after winning this book in a Goodreads giveaway, I figured I'd give it a shot.
I thoroughly enjoyed Appel's writing style. The stories engaged me enough that it was tough to put the book down after starting one.
My only complaint was a couple of the stories seemed to have very rushed endings. I got into the characters and story line, and just as it was getting exciting, one paragraph would end the story abruptly. Again, I only felt this way about two of the stories, not each one.
I thoroughly enjoyed Appel's writing style. The stories engaged me enough that it was tough to put the book down after starting one.
My only complaint was a couple of the stories seemed to have very rushed endings. I got into the characters and story line, and just as it was getting exciting, one paragraph would end the story abruptly. Again, I only felt this way about two of the stories, not each one.
July 3, 2014
I received this book from the good reads wins. I like the short stories very much. This is the first time that I have read a complete book of short stories. They al amde me sit and try to guess the outcome of the story. THe stories kept you interested in them. Very interesting characters
My 2 favorite were the ones that met their fate. The electrician who got electuted and the old lady who did not want anyone else to mow her lawn.
Great stories.
My 2 favorite were the ones that met their fate. The electrician who got electuted and the old lady who did not want anyone else to mow her lawn.
Great stories.
August 12, 2014
Received this book from Goodreads giveaway.
This excellent book from Jacob M.Appel is a collection of short stories. Each narrative has a somewhat satisfying ending that hangs, much like his novel The Biology of Luck. While frustrating, it is important to realize that, by doing so, these different stories hold power over us. They very much mirror our reality: we do not know the future, so how can we say for sure how one specific story ends?
Highly recommend this!
This excellent book from Jacob M.Appel is a collection of short stories. Each narrative has a somewhat satisfying ending that hangs, much like his novel The Biology of Luck. While frustrating, it is important to realize that, by doing so, these different stories hold power over us. They very much mirror our reality: we do not know the future, so how can we say for sure how one specific story ends?
Highly recommend this!
August 28, 2014
This is another outstanding piece of work by Jacob Appel. This is my 3rd book of his and I have two more ready to go: "The Biology of Luck" and waiting for the release of "The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up". I have truly become an Appel fan. His short stories are well written and all contain, though sometimes well hidden, a fairly significant point. Life is full of issues and he lays his stories out to tell the tale!
Read
February 4, 2015"After reading so much contemporary fiction that is fretful, laboring in the shadow of modernist complexity or postmodern minimalism, there is solace in reading stories that beckon one into the lives of characters in situations that naturally evolve from satisfying plots." - W. M. Hagen, Oklahoma Baptist University
This book was reviewed in the January 2015 issue of World Literature Today. Read the full review by visiting our website: http://bit.ly/1yEh0KY
This book was reviewed in the January 2015 issue of World Literature Today. Read the full review by visiting our website: http://bit.ly/1yEh0KY
July 25, 2014
Another winner by Appel. If I had to choose a favorite from the 8 stories in this book, I'd have a hard time. I wonder why Mr. Appel chose 'Scouting for the reaper' as the title. I felt specially moved by 'The extinction of Fairy tale'. I love the unfolding of secrets in the stories which doesn't result in tangible resolution. I'd definitely read them all again.
July 6, 2014
This was a great set of stories the author really knows how to write short story with messages in them. I thoroughly enjoy this book I recommend this book to everyone. Thank you this was a Good reads Win.
July 19, 2016
QUIRKY.
“Nothing sells tombstones like a Girl Scout in uniform.” (Kindle Locations 1111-1112)
Phew. I dodged a bullet with this one. Polymath Jacob M. Appel’s collection of short stories, Scouting for the Reaper came very, very highly recommended by one of my most trusted goodreads friends. Then, when I read the author’s bio, my anticipation just flew off the scale. I couldn’t wait. I jumped his book to the head of a very long line.
Imagine my surprise, then; my quandary and disappointment, when I found myself not much liking the first couple of stories. They seemed rather uninteresting, to me, and laced with futility—without a single character with whom I could connect.
How was I going to write—i.e. tactically phrase—a negative (2, maybe 2.5 stars) review? I’d rather break my own heart than a friend’s.
No need. In the third, the title story, along comes Louise Natalie Limberg, eleven year old narrator/faux girl scout, cum tombstone merchandiser—and I’ve found my character to be comfortable and happy with. And it just kept getting better from there.
My favorite characters of all were Edie and Sammy, in The Extinction of Fairytales (my favorite story of the collection); and the unnamed narrator, Viktoria, and Short John Silver in my second favorite tale: Hazardous Cargos.
Recommendation: If you like cleverly outlandish, these are the tales for you.
“No matter how hard you try to mind your own business, eventually, no matter what precautions you take, you’re bound to find yourself surrounded by a bunch of flailing penguins.” (Kindle Locations 3660-3662)
Black Lawrence Press. Kindle Edition.
“Nothing sells tombstones like a Girl Scout in uniform.” (Kindle Locations 1111-1112)
Phew. I dodged a bullet with this one. Polymath Jacob M. Appel’s collection of short stories, Scouting for the Reaper came very, very highly recommended by one of my most trusted goodreads friends. Then, when I read the author’s bio, my anticipation just flew off the scale. I couldn’t wait. I jumped his book to the head of a very long line.
Imagine my surprise, then; my quandary and disappointment, when I found myself not much liking the first couple of stories. They seemed rather uninteresting, to me, and laced with futility—without a single character with whom I could connect.
How was I going to write—i.e. tactically phrase—a negative (2, maybe 2.5 stars) review? I’d rather break my own heart than a friend’s.
No need. In the third, the title story, along comes Louise Natalie Limberg, eleven year old narrator/faux girl scout, cum tombstone merchandiser—and I’ve found my character to be comfortable and happy with. And it just kept getting better from there.
My favorite characters of all were Edie and Sammy, in The Extinction of Fairytales (my favorite story of the collection); and the unnamed narrator, Viktoria, and Short John Silver in my second favorite tale: Hazardous Cargos.
Recommendation: If you like cleverly outlandish, these are the tales for you.
“No matter how hard you try to mind your own business, eventually, no matter what precautions you take, you’re bound to find yourself surrounded by a bunch of flailing penguins.” (Kindle Locations 3660-3662)
Black Lawrence Press. Kindle Edition.
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