Neighbors of Nothing

by Jason Ockert

Neighbors of Nothing examines characters who find themselves searching for new identities in worlds they no longer recognize. In "Piebald," parents assume the identity of their dead son; in "Everyday Murders," the sole survivor of a violent crime attempts to confront an online entrepreneur who sells football-style serial killer jerseys. Through odd, compelling, and sometimes futile gestures, these characters struggle against guilt and grief and the seemingly endless stretch of days. Influenced by absurdism and the southern gothic, Neighbors of Nothing offers intelligent and heartrending insights into the complex human struggle to exist with purpose.

225 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2013

Reviews

[Darkwalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, compelling collection of shorts by Ockert. I bought this on a whim while looking through the Iowa Review's blog. The collection gets better as you go along. "Sailor Man" and "Echo" were brilliant. I am a huge fan of the short story, and believe that it takes a certain kind of skill to master the craft (a skill a lot of novelists do not possess). Ockert did not disappoint. I am placing his name along my personal pantheon of short story writers that includes Raymond Carver, Tobias Wolff and George Saunders.

[Danny Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the exception of Ockert's opening story, Neighbors of Nothing moves sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly but always with a perfect combination of weird, Gothic-esque, small town, present tense narrative. While each story stood out--It's no surprise that Jakob Loomis appeared in the 2007 edition of Best American Mystery Stories--Sailor Man was, in my opinion, the diamond among a collection of gold.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique and intriguing collection of short stories.