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Beneath the Bonfire
Young couples gather to participate in an annual "chainsaw party," cutting down trees for firewood in anticipation of the winter. A group of men spend a weekend hunting for mushrooms in the wilderness where they grew up and where some still find themselves trapped. An aging environmentalist takes out his frustration and anger on a singular, unsuspecting target. One woman helps another get revenge against a man whose crime extends far beyond him to an entire community. Together, the ten stories in this dazzling, surprising collection evoke a landscape that will be instantly recognizable to anyone who has traveled the back roads and blue highways of America, and they completely capture the memorable characters who call it home.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 9, 2014
43 people are currently reading
1466 people want to read
About the author
Nickolas Butler
22 books1,211 followersNickolas Butler is the author of the novel "Shotgun Lovesongs" and a collection of short stories entitled, "Beneath the Bonfire".
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, he was educated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. His work has appeared in: Ploughshares, The Christian Science Monitor, The Kenyon Review Online, Narrative, The Progressive, and many other publications.
Along the way he has worked as: a meatpacker, a Burger King maintenance man, a liquor store clerk, a coffee roaster, an office manager, an author escort, an inn-keeper (twice), and several other odd vocations.
He presently lives on 16 acres of land in rural Wisconsin adjacent to a buffalo farm. He is married with two children.
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, he was educated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. His work has appeared in: Ploughshares, The Christian Science Monitor, The Kenyon Review Online, Narrative, The Progressive, and many other publications.
Along the way he has worked as: a meatpacker, a Burger King maintenance man, a liquor store clerk, a coffee roaster, an office manager, an author escort, an inn-keeper (twice), and several other odd vocations.
He presently lives on 16 acres of land in rural Wisconsin adjacent to a buffalo farm. He is married with two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
December 9, 2020
Interesting but not my cup of tea.
There are ten short stories in this collection There were a few of these stories that I liked but the most part I just didn't enjoy them.
The Chainsaw Soiree
Our narrator and Nancy are dating while Bear and Luna (formerly called Shelly until the renaming ceremony) are about to have a baby. They're all together for the annual Winter Solstice Party - a time-honored tradition...only this time Bear commits the ultimate betrayal, leaving Luna and our narrator to pick up the pieces.
Rainwater
A grandfather is in a position that he never thought he would be - raising his grandson in place of the junkie mom skips town. This one was so wholesome and endearing - melted my heart.
Sven & Lily
Sven was the kind of guy who's untouchable. He's got the perfect life, the perfect wife, the perfect everything....that is until one dark and dangerous night, he makes a fatal error - costing him the friendship of his truest friend.
Morels
Mushroom picking between "the guys" is a time-honored tradition. However, this time it ends disastrously...or so they thought. Now the guys have to consider a whole new problem...like how to cover up a body.
Leftovers
A man clears out his late-mother's house with the help of his wife. Every step of the way leads the couple closer to confronting long buried fears and discontents. Will their marriage crumble? And would they even care if it did?
Beneath the Bonfire
This was a weird one. It's tradition for one small town to burn all of the Christmas trees on the middle of the lake. The man (Peter) is unstable, and the woman (Kate) is blindingly stupid. Not a fan.
Sweet Light Crude
After the devastating oil spill - one that permanently destroyed hundreds of lives - one old man takes it upon himself to extract revenge. This one wavered from a 'hell yeah!' to 'waaay over the line' - ultimately, didn't like it.
In Western Counties
One broken, beaten woman needs help. One aging, broken woman wants to give help. But neither are able to anything until one decides to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Train People Move Slow
A man falls in love with a crazy, wild and free woman. But the longer he's with her, the more he realizes that what he thought he wanted was never what he needed. He takes in her two girls and finds himself a far happier man for it.
Apples
I actually enjoyed this one. An old man, not quite ready to retire decides to take up a few spare jobs and soon finds meaning in his drifting life.
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There are ten short stories in this collection There were a few of these stories that I liked but the most part I just didn't enjoy them.
The Chainsaw Soiree
Our narrator and Nancy are dating while Bear and Luna (formerly called Shelly until the renaming ceremony) are about to have a baby. They're all together for the annual Winter Solstice Party - a time-honored tradition...only this time Bear commits the ultimate betrayal, leaving Luna and our narrator to pick up the pieces.
Rainwater
A grandfather is in a position that he never thought he would be - raising his grandson in place of the junkie mom skips town. This one was so wholesome and endearing - melted my heart.
Sven & Lily
Sven was the kind of guy who's untouchable. He's got the perfect life, the perfect wife, the perfect everything....that is until one dark and dangerous night, he makes a fatal error - costing him the friendship of his truest friend.
Morels
Mushroom picking between "the guys" is a time-honored tradition. However, this time it ends disastrously...or so they thought. Now the guys have to consider a whole new problem...like how to cover up a body.
Leftovers
A man clears out his late-mother's house with the help of his wife. Every step of the way leads the couple closer to confronting long buried fears and discontents. Will their marriage crumble? And would they even care if it did?
Beneath the Bonfire
This was a weird one. It's tradition for one small town to burn all of the Christmas trees on the middle of the lake. The man (Peter) is unstable, and the woman (Kate) is blindingly stupid. Not a fan.
Sweet Light Crude
After the devastating oil spill - one that permanently destroyed hundreds of lives - one old man takes it upon himself to extract revenge. This one wavered from a 'hell yeah!' to 'waaay over the line' - ultimately, didn't like it.
In Western Counties
One broken, beaten woman needs help. One aging, broken woman wants to give help. But neither are able to anything until one decides to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Train People Move Slow
A man falls in love with a crazy, wild and free woman. But the longer he's with her, the more he realizes that what he thought he wanted was never what he needed. He takes in her two girls and finds himself a far happier man for it.
Apples
I actually enjoyed this one. An old man, not quite ready to retire decides to take up a few spare jobs and soon finds meaning in his drifting life.
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December 27, 2017
What else can I say about Nickolas Butler that I've not already said in my other reviews of his work? Simply put: the man is a genius. His writing is affecting, endearing, and utterly absorbing. A true treasure of Midwestern literature.
July 19, 2018
L’amaro sapore della vita
È l’America rurale delle fattorie isolate e degli sperduti villaggi lontani dai rumori assordanti delle grandi città, l’America dei boschi magicamente rischiarati dalla luce dei falò e degli affascinanti laghi ghiacciati, delle stazioni di servizio e delle strade polverose dove corrono stancamente i pick-up e la malinconia delle vecchie canzoni country, quella ritratta con assoluta maestria in questa bellissima raccolta di Nickolas Butler.
Al suo interno, dieci racconti, dieci piccole storie che trasudano una umanità tormentata e disillusa, spesso smarrita, talvolta rabbiosa e violenta, ma anche desiderosa d’amore o, almeno, di un sogno o un ideale in cui credere.
Una scrittura incisiva, semplice e priva di fronzoli, a tratti essenziale e ruvida quanto le stesse storie narrate, ma non meno magnetica e coinvolgente, fin da subito trasporta chi legge nel vivo di vicende intense e struggenti che la penna dell’autore statunitense riesce a esporre con poche sapienti pennellate. Se scrivere racconti è un arte rara e preziosa non comune a tutti, allora Butler è un vero artista poiché, in uno spazio pur sempre limitato anche nel caso dei testi più lunghi, dimostra di saper concentrare un tale intreccio di sentimenti ed emozioni da non far rimpiangere affatto il più ampio respiro tipico del romanzo.
Forse, come ha scritto Le Monde recensendo il libro, “ogni racconto di questa raccolta riesce a imprimersi nell’anima del lettore come un pezzo della sua esistenza”; di certo, in molti di essi si possono ritrovare frammenti di sé, delle proprie inquietudini, paure, speranze. Tra le storie più belle che meritano di essere citate, “Acqua piovana”, “Sotto il falò”, che ha dato il titolo all’intera raccolta, “Petrolio dolce”, capace tra l’altro di somministrare una dose di suspense non di poco conto, “Nelle contee occidentali” e “La gente dei treni va piano”, tutte dal finale che rimane amaramente aperto e con personaggi spesso scandagliati nel profondo; le ultime tre, in particolare, per trama e stile narrativo, sono meritevoli come minimo di cinque stelle ciascuna, piccoli capolavori che parlano di donne e uomini in cerca di giustizia, sia pure sommaria, o semplicemente di una strada da seguire.
Nativo della Pennsylvania e cresciuto nel Wisconsin, Nickolas Butler è un scrittore vincitore di prestigiosi premi nel suo Paese e ora molto apprezzato anche in Europa. In Italia, la casa editrice Marsilio ha già pubblicato “Shotgun Lovesongs” (2014) e “Il cuore degli uomini” (2017), a cui adesso si aggiunge questa nuova pubblicazione che, considerando l’alta qualità del contenuto, non tarderà – è ipotizzabile – a ottenere significativi riconoscimenti di critica e pubblico.
“Rimasero sedute insieme nel vento, i capelli coprivano i loro volti. Le imbarcazioni da carico sul lago si muovevano piano formando delle creste bianche che si infrangevano contro i moli e le scogliere.
Sopra di loro, silos per il grano ormai abbandonati si stagliavano nel cielo blu e uno stormo di piccioni si muovevano in cerchio. Videro un cane a tre zampe trotterellare in mezzo a una distesa di camioncini arrugginiti, il naso nero ad annusare nell’aria la brezza d’acqua dolce.” (Dal racconto “Nelle contee occidentali”)
È l’America rurale delle fattorie isolate e degli sperduti villaggi lontani dai rumori assordanti delle grandi città, l’America dei boschi magicamente rischiarati dalla luce dei falò e degli affascinanti laghi ghiacciati, delle stazioni di servizio e delle strade polverose dove corrono stancamente i pick-up e la malinconia delle vecchie canzoni country, quella ritratta con assoluta maestria in questa bellissima raccolta di Nickolas Butler.
Al suo interno, dieci racconti, dieci piccole storie che trasudano una umanità tormentata e disillusa, spesso smarrita, talvolta rabbiosa e violenta, ma anche desiderosa d’amore o, almeno, di un sogno o un ideale in cui credere.
Una scrittura incisiva, semplice e priva di fronzoli, a tratti essenziale e ruvida quanto le stesse storie narrate, ma non meno magnetica e coinvolgente, fin da subito trasporta chi legge nel vivo di vicende intense e struggenti che la penna dell’autore statunitense riesce a esporre con poche sapienti pennellate. Se scrivere racconti è un arte rara e preziosa non comune a tutti, allora Butler è un vero artista poiché, in uno spazio pur sempre limitato anche nel caso dei testi più lunghi, dimostra di saper concentrare un tale intreccio di sentimenti ed emozioni da non far rimpiangere affatto il più ampio respiro tipico del romanzo.
Forse, come ha scritto Le Monde recensendo il libro, “ogni racconto di questa raccolta riesce a imprimersi nell’anima del lettore come un pezzo della sua esistenza”; di certo, in molti di essi si possono ritrovare frammenti di sé, delle proprie inquietudini, paure, speranze. Tra le storie più belle che meritano di essere citate, “Acqua piovana”, “Sotto il falò”, che ha dato il titolo all’intera raccolta, “Petrolio dolce”, capace tra l’altro di somministrare una dose di suspense non di poco conto, “Nelle contee occidentali” e “La gente dei treni va piano”, tutte dal finale che rimane amaramente aperto e con personaggi spesso scandagliati nel profondo; le ultime tre, in particolare, per trama e stile narrativo, sono meritevoli come minimo di cinque stelle ciascuna, piccoli capolavori che parlano di donne e uomini in cerca di giustizia, sia pure sommaria, o semplicemente di una strada da seguire.
Nativo della Pennsylvania e cresciuto nel Wisconsin, Nickolas Butler è un scrittore vincitore di prestigiosi premi nel suo Paese e ora molto apprezzato anche in Europa. In Italia, la casa editrice Marsilio ha già pubblicato “Shotgun Lovesongs” (2014) e “Il cuore degli uomini” (2017), a cui adesso si aggiunge questa nuova pubblicazione che, considerando l’alta qualità del contenuto, non tarderà – è ipotizzabile – a ottenere significativi riconoscimenti di critica e pubblico.
“Rimasero sedute insieme nel vento, i capelli coprivano i loro volti. Le imbarcazioni da carico sul lago si muovevano piano formando delle creste bianche che si infrangevano contro i moli e le scogliere.
Sopra di loro, silos per il grano ormai abbandonati si stagliavano nel cielo blu e uno stormo di piccioni si muovevano in cerchio. Videro un cane a tre zampe trotterellare in mezzo a una distesa di camioncini arrugginiti, il naso nero ad annusare nell’aria la brezza d’acqua dolce.” (Dal racconto “Nelle contee occidentali”)
December 14, 2017
Why do writers write? Is it to tell the world what they’re thinking or is it to try to experience the world through someone else’s eyes?
Butler has facility with a phrase; he is a literary writer. In “Sven & Lily,” one of my favorite stories that comes early in the collection, Butler writes
In the title story, a returned soldier terrifies his girlfriend when he tries to jumpstart his own sense of giving-a-shit. In “Morels,” three men who attended high school together have a deep connection that for them turns wrong into right. All these stories feature the mysterious inner feelings of men unaccustomed to speaking what they feel, a phenomenon common to the bars and dives of midwestern states. It’s not limited to the masculine, though this book is.
In “Sweet Light Crude,” an oil executive is kidnapped and told he must drink his own drilled oil before he will be let go. Butler manages to make both men sympathetic, defiant, and brave.
Another favorite story, “In Western Counties,” has a woman in it: a woman with agency. She is a cop with long red hair and she is close to retirement. She knows a thing or two from her time on the force, but she feels her skills slipping away, every week a new indignity of forgetting. But she still knows how to shoot and she knows how to be kind. Those things she did not forget.
Truth be told, by the last two stories of this collection, I was reading long past lunchtime, the space I had allotted myself in the middle of the day to read. I understood the attraction of long-legged black-haired Sunny in “Train People Drive Slow” in a visceral way. She was dangerous--sexy and lethal--with a radioactive aura. Some men prefer to die of radiation.
Wisconsin. That’s where they were when he caught the fifty-pound common carp in the river filled with gravel, junked cars, and “old I beams laying around like pickup sticks from some other, more brutal time.” But he survived, nicked & scarred.
Yes, this is a collection that one reads on and on, much longer and later than one intended. But the last story, “Apples,” tells us what we needed to know. What on earth do we do with all the apples?
Butler has facility with a phrase; he is a literary writer. In “Sven & Lily,” one of my favorite stories that comes early in the collection, Butler writes
“Sven entered the bar first, ducking under the low doorway, me following behind him like an early-afternoon shadow smaller than its maker.”That story tells of a deep and wide generosity between two men that resulted in them beating each other to a pulp, all in the name of friendship. Alcohol was involved.
In the title story, a returned soldier terrifies his girlfriend when he tries to jumpstart his own sense of giving-a-shit. In “Morels,” three men who attended high school together have a deep connection that for them turns wrong into right. All these stories feature the mysterious inner feelings of men unaccustomed to speaking what they feel, a phenomenon common to the bars and dives of midwestern states. It’s not limited to the masculine, though this book is.
In “Sweet Light Crude,” an oil executive is kidnapped and told he must drink his own drilled oil before he will be let go. Butler manages to make both men sympathetic, defiant, and brave.
Another favorite story, “In Western Counties,” has a woman in it: a woman with agency. She is a cop with long red hair and she is close to retirement. She knows a thing or two from her time on the force, but she feels her skills slipping away, every week a new indignity of forgetting. But she still knows how to shoot and she knows how to be kind. Those things she did not forget.
Truth be told, by the last two stories of this collection, I was reading long past lunchtime, the space I had allotted myself in the middle of the day to read. I understood the attraction of long-legged black-haired Sunny in “Train People Drive Slow” in a visceral way. She was dangerous--sexy and lethal--with a radioactive aura. Some men prefer to die of radiation.
Wisconsin. That’s where they were when he caught the fifty-pound common carp in the river filled with gravel, junked cars, and “old I beams laying around like pickup sticks from some other, more brutal time.” But he survived, nicked & scarred.
Yes, this is a collection that one reads on and on, much longer and later than one intended. But the last story, “Apples,” tells us what we needed to know. What on earth do we do with all the apples?
February 3, 2015
Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Nickolas Butler's Shotgun Lovesongs made my list of the best books I read last year. He imbued his characters with emotion, complexity, and an amazing sense of place. I absolutely loved the way he told a story. So needless to say, when I saw he had a short story collection coming out later this year, I jumped on it as quickly as I possibly could. And the good news? Beneath the Bonfire is just about as good as Butler's first book, and his writing is still pretty fantastic.
The characters in Butler's 10 stories are all struggling in one way or another. They're struggling to find or keep love; they're struggling with the circumstances they've found themselves caught up in; they're struggling with family, friends, emotions, illness, even loneliness. These are stories which will make you feel, make you think, make you laugh, and perhaps even make you cry. (Or maybe that's just because I'm a sap.)
I honestly loved 9 of the 10 stories, and would love to read a full-length novel with the characters from many of them. There's the man struggling to keep his unexpected family intact despite the emotional instability of his girlfriend in "Train People Move Slow"; the story of childhood friends living very different lives in "Morels"; the policewoman fighting demons both real and unreal in "In Western Counties"; the grandfather wondering if he might need to be a parent again in "Rainwater"; and the beautiful poignancy, restlessness, and desperation described in both "The Chainsaw Soirée" and the fantastic title story.
This collection reinforces my belief that Butler is a writer to be reckoned with. If there's a downside to reading this collection a few months before it is to be released, it's that I'll have to wait even longer for his next book. But don't you wait—read Shotgun Lovesongs , and then wait for Beneath the Bonfire . Hopefully you'll be as blown away, and as touched, as I have been.
See all of my reviews (and other stuff) at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
Nickolas Butler's Shotgun Lovesongs made my list of the best books I read last year. He imbued his characters with emotion, complexity, and an amazing sense of place. I absolutely loved the way he told a story. So needless to say, when I saw he had a short story collection coming out later this year, I jumped on it as quickly as I possibly could. And the good news? Beneath the Bonfire is just about as good as Butler's first book, and his writing is still pretty fantastic.
The characters in Butler's 10 stories are all struggling in one way or another. They're struggling to find or keep love; they're struggling with the circumstances they've found themselves caught up in; they're struggling with family, friends, emotions, illness, even loneliness. These are stories which will make you feel, make you think, make you laugh, and perhaps even make you cry. (Or maybe that's just because I'm a sap.)
I honestly loved 9 of the 10 stories, and would love to read a full-length novel with the characters from many of them. There's the man struggling to keep his unexpected family intact despite the emotional instability of his girlfriend in "Train People Move Slow"; the story of childhood friends living very different lives in "Morels"; the policewoman fighting demons both real and unreal in "In Western Counties"; the grandfather wondering if he might need to be a parent again in "Rainwater"; and the beautiful poignancy, restlessness, and desperation described in both "The Chainsaw Soirée" and the fantastic title story.
This collection reinforces my belief that Butler is a writer to be reckoned with. If there's a downside to reading this collection a few months before it is to be released, it's that I'll have to wait even longer for his next book. But don't you wait—read Shotgun Lovesongs , and then wait for Beneath the Bonfire . Hopefully you'll be as blown away, and as touched, as I have been.
See all of my reviews (and other stuff) at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
July 27, 2015
Back in October 2014 I met the author at a book festival in Nashville. I went to his reading where he announced that his next book would be a collection of short stories. I thought "ugh, I'm not a short story fan" and added the title to my TBR list but really thought I wouldn't get to it too quickly once it was released. I really, really enjoyed Shotgun Lovesongs and felt he needed to write another novel. To make a long story short, I picked this book up a few days ago and it had me from page 1. There is not a single bad story. They are all perfect and placed together perfectly to make the collection. They are gritty and have less than perfect characters, but they are all solid stories. I have added this to my favorite list. The only other short stories collection I have liked is I Hate To See That Evening Sun Go Down: Collected Stories by William Gay. I'm not saying I haven't loved a short story before but as a whole I don't like a collection of short stories. Pick this one up sooner than later! If you haven't read his novel read it too.
December 14, 2020
Stories: The Chainsaw Soiree, Rainwater, Sven & Lily, Morels, Leftovers, Beneath the Bonfire, Sweet Light Crude, In Western Counties, Train People Move Slow, Apples
I'm getting caught up on a couple of Nickolas Butler's older works this month. This one is short stories, not my favorite unless there's a common character or theme. Fire apparently is what these have in common. The flames from these fires cast very little light on the stories, however. They are pretty dark. I like Butler's novels better, because the characters are better drawn, something difficult to do in shorts, and they aren't as dark as these are. Don't expect redemption here, or all happy endings. Or conclusive endings. But the characters still grab you and make you hope for them. I personally liked the stories in the second half of the collection over the first.
Shorts are popular now when our concentration levels are limited at best, so if you've never read Butler, maybe let this collection serve as an introduction to him. But when you finish, know that even though these stories pack a punch, the best is yet to come. He just gets better and better.
I'm getting caught up on a couple of Nickolas Butler's older works this month. This one is short stories, not my favorite unless there's a common character or theme. Fire apparently is what these have in common. The flames from these fires cast very little light on the stories, however. They are pretty dark. I like Butler's novels better, because the characters are better drawn, something difficult to do in shorts, and they aren't as dark as these are. Don't expect redemption here, or all happy endings. Or conclusive endings. But the characters still grab you and make you hope for them. I personally liked the stories in the second half of the collection over the first.
Shorts are popular now when our concentration levels are limited at best, so if you've never read Butler, maybe let this collection serve as an introduction to him. But when you finish, know that even though these stories pack a punch, the best is yet to come. He just gets better and better.
February 10, 2020
(Nearly 3.5) Butler returns with ten tales of moral complexity in America’s gritty heartland. Fire and recreational drugs are two powerful forces linking these Wisconsin-set stories. Opener “The Chainsaw Soirée” sets the tone by describing a failed utopia reminiscent of Lauren Groff’s Arcadia. Noah visits a group of squatters in a derelict church for their annual solstice party at which they chop the winter’s firewood. He comes with one girlfriend but leaves with another and whenever they pass that church in the coming years they think of all the secrets it held. In the title story Kat, Pieter and friends burn their Christmas trees on a frozen lake. They cut a hole in the ice and swim underneath the bonfire, provoking a detached numbness that mirrors Pieter’s PTSD from service in Afghanistan.
The stand-out in this collection is “Morels,” in which a few stoned friends go foraging for mushrooms in their dying rural community. The title’s similarity to “morals” is no coincidence: when the trio are involved in a hit-and-run they have to decide what they stand for. Likewise, “Sweet Light Crude” is based around an ethical dilemma: an aging eco-terrorist holds an oil baron hostage in his cabin as revenge for a recent oil spill. “Oil ain’t worth dying for. But this planet sure as hell is,” he declares.
Dog fighting provides the violent backdrop for “In Western Counties,” while an alcoholic mother abandons her two daughters in “Train People Move Slow.” Every relationship has darker possibilities: “Being in love with Sunny was like that; it was like a fistfight. She entered every relationship with brass knuckles, and I had a glass jaw for love.” Unsentimental but lyrically composed, these stories will appeal to fans of Ron Rash and David Vann.
The stand-out in this collection is “Morels,” in which a few stoned friends go foraging for mushrooms in their dying rural community. The title’s similarity to “morals” is no coincidence: when the trio are involved in a hit-and-run they have to decide what they stand for. Likewise, “Sweet Light Crude” is based around an ethical dilemma: an aging eco-terrorist holds an oil baron hostage in his cabin as revenge for a recent oil spill. “Oil ain’t worth dying for. But this planet sure as hell is,” he declares.
Dog fighting provides the violent backdrop for “In Western Counties,” while an alcoholic mother abandons her two daughters in “Train People Move Slow.” Every relationship has darker possibilities: “Being in love with Sunny was like that; it was like a fistfight. She entered every relationship with brass knuckles, and I had a glass jaw for love.” Unsentimental but lyrically composed, these stories will appeal to fans of Ron Rash and David Vann.
August 27, 2015
Powerfully realistic short stories by an author to watch. Of the classic triad "___, _____,and Rock'n'Roll", only the rock'n'roll seems to be missing. Very well written, this is in a stellar realm with the likes of William Gay or Raymond Carver. Not as crazy as Gay, not as sad as Carver. I already have Butler's novel 'Shotgun Lovesongs' to look forward to! Could have been a five, but I treat short stories like stepchildren, reserving 5 for novels.
August 3, 2015
There is nothing light hearted about this collection of stories. They are very raw and very real stories of dysfunctional relationships in one form or another. I think Mr. Butler is going to be the author to watch in the coming years. After reading Shotgun Lovesongs, I had to read Beneath the Bonfire: Stories because I was impressed with the authors storytelling ability. In Bonfire Stories I am impressed by his simple words that are spun into a thought provoking web.
October 3, 2019
Wow! This collection of short stories was absolutely gorgeous. The characters are so genuinely developed and vulnerably written. Definitely on my list of favorites for this year.
March 21, 2015
Nicholas Butler sure can write. Each of the stories in this collection is great. There is not one that does not hold up. Usually, a short story collection has a few great or good stories if the reader is lucky, and then some fair ones, and then a dog or two. These stories are all marvels and from the first one on, keep getting better and better.
The stories take place in the U.S. heartland, the midwest. The characters are varied but for the most part, the protagonists are men. There are plenty of women to keep them company and one of the stories has a female protagonist. The men are plain spoken, down to earth, and often in situations that they find difficult to explain or remove themselves from.
The first story in the collection is about love, betrayal, renewal, and second chances. These themes occur in several of the other stories and, though the themes are similar, their reprisals play out in many different ways.
In 'Sven and Lily' (short for Lilliputian), two close friends get into some unexpected trouble at a bar and it looks like it might cost them their friendship.
'Morels' is the story of three friends - Rimes, Coffee and Deere - who have known each other since childhood. Every year, they go out hunting for morels. Deere is the only one who has become traditionally successful with a good job, a McMansion, and a beautiful wife. What starts as a day filled with marijuana and booze, along with hope for a lot of morels, ends up in tragedy.
'Leftovers' is a short, short story but there is so much contained in such a few words. As Renee and Mason clean out Mason's mother's house after her death, the ashes of their marriage are observed. The life of these two people are revealed clearly, succinctly and poignantly.
The title story, "Beneath the Bonfires' is about a relationship that is shrouded in one partner's intense emotional need and the other's inability to feel anything but sex.
'Sweet, Light Crude' finds Foreman, once an ecological activist, now an old man, a dying widower who wants to take one last stand. The narrative takes place in the 69 hours that Foreman has Hazelwood, the CEO of the company responsible for a big oil spill, kidnapped in his cabin. Foreman wants Hazlewood to drink a glass of oil and then Foreman will drive hive to a hospital for care. He wants Hazelwood to experience what the fish, the dolphins, and other marine life will have to face. The story tells of their stand-off and interaction. I found the choice of name, Hazelwood, interesting, as that is the name of the Exxon Valdez captain who was responsible for the oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
'In Western Counties' both shocked and amazed me though I could have predicted the end. It combines domestic violence, dog fighting, an abused woman with a scarred face, and a retired female trooper who is slowly losing her mind to dementia, all alone but wanting to do the right thing for an injured woman.
'Train People Move Slow' starts with Bruce meeting Sunny lying on the ground in a suggestive position. He tells her to get up, the one and only order he ever gives her. Sunny is wild and alcoholic but it's love at first sight for Bruce. Soon, Sunny and her two girls move in with Bruce and its up and down with Sunny who is erratic, and unpredictable. What Bruce has is the unwavering hope that what he believes that they have together, can one day be reality.
After losing his job due to the economy, a man finds his meaning in his life by picking and sorting 'apples'. The glow of life returns to him in surprising ways.
This collection is a gem, a must-read for any lover of short stories and any lover of literary fiction. I took a chance on it through the Vine For All program and it is one of the best books I've read this year.
The stories take place in the U.S. heartland, the midwest. The characters are varied but for the most part, the protagonists are men. There are plenty of women to keep them company and one of the stories has a female protagonist. The men are plain spoken, down to earth, and often in situations that they find difficult to explain or remove themselves from.
The first story in the collection is about love, betrayal, renewal, and second chances. These themes occur in several of the other stories and, though the themes are similar, their reprisals play out in many different ways.
In 'Sven and Lily' (short for Lilliputian), two close friends get into some unexpected trouble at a bar and it looks like it might cost them their friendship.
'Morels' is the story of three friends - Rimes, Coffee and Deere - who have known each other since childhood. Every year, they go out hunting for morels. Deere is the only one who has become traditionally successful with a good job, a McMansion, and a beautiful wife. What starts as a day filled with marijuana and booze, along with hope for a lot of morels, ends up in tragedy.
'Leftovers' is a short, short story but there is so much contained in such a few words. As Renee and Mason clean out Mason's mother's house after her death, the ashes of their marriage are observed. The life of these two people are revealed clearly, succinctly and poignantly.
The title story, "Beneath the Bonfires' is about a relationship that is shrouded in one partner's intense emotional need and the other's inability to feel anything but sex.
'Sweet, Light Crude' finds Foreman, once an ecological activist, now an old man, a dying widower who wants to take one last stand. The narrative takes place in the 69 hours that Foreman has Hazelwood, the CEO of the company responsible for a big oil spill, kidnapped in his cabin. Foreman wants Hazlewood to drink a glass of oil and then Foreman will drive hive to a hospital for care. He wants Hazelwood to experience what the fish, the dolphins, and other marine life will have to face. The story tells of their stand-off and interaction. I found the choice of name, Hazelwood, interesting, as that is the name of the Exxon Valdez captain who was responsible for the oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
'In Western Counties' both shocked and amazed me though I could have predicted the end. It combines domestic violence, dog fighting, an abused woman with a scarred face, and a retired female trooper who is slowly losing her mind to dementia, all alone but wanting to do the right thing for an injured woman.
'Train People Move Slow' starts with Bruce meeting Sunny lying on the ground in a suggestive position. He tells her to get up, the one and only order he ever gives her. Sunny is wild and alcoholic but it's love at first sight for Bruce. Soon, Sunny and her two girls move in with Bruce and its up and down with Sunny who is erratic, and unpredictable. What Bruce has is the unwavering hope that what he believes that they have together, can one day be reality.
After losing his job due to the economy, a man finds his meaning in his life by picking and sorting 'apples'. The glow of life returns to him in surprising ways.
This collection is a gem, a must-read for any lover of short stories and any lover of literary fiction. I took a chance on it through the Vine For All program and it is one of the best books I've read this year.
April 2, 2019
Best described as a pastiche of life in the Midwest, most of these had a somber tone, but I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories. If you enjoyed the TV series Fargo, I would highly recommend this book.
March 5, 2015
I received an ARC of this book in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a while to finish this book. I have a tendency to put this book down between stories, and pick up another book to read between the stories in this one. So I guess I just lacked the motivation to keep reading it? I don't know. But either way, I finished it, and I'm impressed.
I'm not a fan of short stories. Mostly because I feel I can never really connect to the characters in the stories, because they lack description and depth - something to be expected, of course, when dealing with short stories.
That wasn't the case with this book. The ten stories in this book were beautifully written, with a connecting them of nature, and how it can bring people together or tear them apart. All of the stories were good, some better than others. They were beautifully written, and the writing flowed wonderfully. The stories definitely brought out some emotions, whether it be sadness, anger, or happiness - either way, when a book or story can do that, in my eyes, it is written wonderfully.
It took me a while to finish this book. I have a tendency to put this book down between stories, and pick up another book to read between the stories in this one. So I guess I just lacked the motivation to keep reading it? I don't know. But either way, I finished it, and I'm impressed.
I'm not a fan of short stories. Mostly because I feel I can never really connect to the characters in the stories, because they lack description and depth - something to be expected, of course, when dealing with short stories.
That wasn't the case with this book. The ten stories in this book were beautifully written, with a connecting them of nature, and how it can bring people together or tear them apart. All of the stories were good, some better than others. They were beautifully written, and the writing flowed wonderfully. The stories definitely brought out some emotions, whether it be sadness, anger, or happiness - either way, when a book or story can do that, in my eyes, it is written wonderfully.
May 12, 2015
This is a very strong collection of short stories. Having read Butler's novel I figured the writing would be superb and it was. The landscape and sense of place drew you into the story. And the characters felt real in their dialogue, feelings and faults, if not always in the action. The plots of the stories were very original but sometimes just to the very edge of strangeness. Not unbelievable but not situations that ever happened to you or those you know, except in theme - the fierce protection of a friend, loss of trust in a relationship, etc. I would recommend this beautifully written book.
July 20, 2022
10 compelling short stories, all exceptionally well-written and generally enjoyable and/or interesting and/or thought provoking.
July 24, 2022
A very slow start but the last 4 stories struck me.
October 30, 2020
Digital audiobook performed by Holter Graham, Luke Daniels and Andi Arndt
4****
In this collection of short stories Butler explores relationships: men and women; male bonding; fathers and children; people and the land.
In one story a group of young couples has a “chainsaw party” … cutting firewood for the coming winter, and two long-term friends’ paths diverge. In another an aging environmentalist takes matters into his own hands after he hears news of a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. And then there is the story of a group of men who annually hunt for morels in the woods of their youth, and find despair instead. A man and his wife work to clear out his recently deceased mother’s home, and he comes to a decision about their future. Two women help one another seek revenge against a man who has hurt many. A man inherits a family and grows into fatherhood.
The ten stories are dark and mesmerizing, Butler’s characters are lonely and yet reaching out for connection. I recognize the landscape which can be brutally unforgiving for the person not experienced or equipped to survive the dangers of the north woods. I’ve been in these bars, hiked the wooded trails, fished on the pristine lakes (but NOT ice-fishing), stayed in remote cabins where you’re more likely to see deer or even a bear than another human. I could smell the wood smoke, hear the squeak as I walked across a snow-packed path, taste the butter-soaked morels, feel the sting of icy sleet and the almost uncomfortable warmth of a blazing fire.
The audiobook is marvelously narrated by a trio of skilled voice artists. I have no idea which artist reads which stories, but they are all equally good. I can hear the gravelly, whisky-soaked, cigarette fueled rasp of a lonely man, and also the quiet, despair of a woman who has been beaten down by life. They give the listener the exuberance of youth and the quite confusion of an older woman’s encroaching dementia.
4****
In this collection of short stories Butler explores relationships: men and women; male bonding; fathers and children; people and the land.
In one story a group of young couples has a “chainsaw party” … cutting firewood for the coming winter, and two long-term friends’ paths diverge. In another an aging environmentalist takes matters into his own hands after he hears news of a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. And then there is the story of a group of men who annually hunt for morels in the woods of their youth, and find despair instead. A man and his wife work to clear out his recently deceased mother’s home, and he comes to a decision about their future. Two women help one another seek revenge against a man who has hurt many. A man inherits a family and grows into fatherhood.
The ten stories are dark and mesmerizing, Butler’s characters are lonely and yet reaching out for connection. I recognize the landscape which can be brutally unforgiving for the person not experienced or equipped to survive the dangers of the north woods. I’ve been in these bars, hiked the wooded trails, fished on the pristine lakes (but NOT ice-fishing), stayed in remote cabins where you’re more likely to see deer or even a bear than another human. I could smell the wood smoke, hear the squeak as I walked across a snow-packed path, taste the butter-soaked morels, feel the sting of icy sleet and the almost uncomfortable warmth of a blazing fire.
The audiobook is marvelously narrated by a trio of skilled voice artists. I have no idea which artist reads which stories, but they are all equally good. I can hear the gravelly, whisky-soaked, cigarette fueled rasp of a lonely man, and also the quiet, despair of a woman who has been beaten down by life. They give the listener the exuberance of youth and the quite confusion of an older woman’s encroaching dementia.
February 28, 2018
Long after I finished it, I have puzzled how to review these stories. Nickolas Butler is an excellent storyteller. His stories feature ordinary people facing life's limitations and in most stories they weigh in as the 99% up against the 1%. We identify with their frustrations and applaud their actions (or some of them anyway)! These stories unwind in such a manner that the reader has to read to the finish.
Overall, I liked the stories, a couple in particular have continued to stir in my conscious mind though I've read at least 6 novels and a memoir since I finished this collection. I don't generally read short stories, however, this collection was time well-spent.
I will caution those contemplating the purchase, that some stories contain some brutal scenes and a few violent sexual encounters. Additionally, some may find the presence of graphic language and disturbing imagery as too dark, (however, this may not offend everyone but if you avoid this in your reading and viewing then you may want to pass); ironically, these are the same stories I tend to continue to ponder. I would not recommend this for anyone under 17 except those emotionally mature for their age. If his other collections are as graphic, then I may not read them. I understand why he wrote certain stories in a gritty and brutal manner; I felt that the exacting detail given was unnecessary. That said, I suspect I'm in the minority on this matter.
Overall, I liked the stories, a couple in particular have continued to stir in my conscious mind though I've read at least 6 novels and a memoir since I finished this collection. I don't generally read short stories, however, this collection was time well-spent.
I will caution those contemplating the purchase, that some stories contain some brutal scenes and a few violent sexual encounters. Additionally, some may find the presence of graphic language and disturbing imagery as too dark, (however, this may not offend everyone but if you avoid this in your reading and viewing then you may want to pass); ironically, these are the same stories I tend to continue to ponder. I would not recommend this for anyone under 17 except those emotionally mature for their age. If his other collections are as graphic, then I may not read them. I understand why he wrote certain stories in a gritty and brutal manner; I felt that the exacting detail given was unnecessary. That said, I suspect I'm in the minority on this matter.
January 3, 2020
Every time I read what Nickolas Butler has wrought, novels that have elicited a callous but subtle Northern Midwesterner’s warmth, I find myself immersed empathically. That’s not to say the stories are as plain or as flat as the landscape and topography of the preferred setting with which they transpire. On the contrary, these are gems, as Beneath the Bonfire illuminates the grace and potency of short storytelling, not a single one among them misses. Butler explores unconventional family dynamics in Rainwater and Train People Move Slow and he continued with that theme in his full length novel Little Faith. I find this interesting considering the history of white, European settlements in the Northern Midwest and the Lutheran Protestant values they brought with them. His stories often include hard scrabble characters of instant relatability; working class, fraught with struggles or emotion, fleshed out with backdropped details of familiarity (loss of a loved one—oftentimes characters that strike the most resonance are the ones we see in ourselves). And of course, for good measure, a tale of good v evil in Sweet Light Crude, the elitist v the environmentalist. Yet, somehow he manages to elicit sympathy for that which many of us find easy to loathe. The characters and stories are drawn together, close to the vest of the upper Heartland, with a smoldering truth behind every scene. Well done.
December 8, 2016
In a collection of unrelated ten stories, Butler follows Shotgun Lovesongs with the common theme of life in rural America. However, there are vast differences in two works. Gone is the warmth that permeated the former novel. The stories found within can be dark and aspects of each tale can be deeply disturbing. But Butler proves that he is adept at developing well-drawn characters and developing interesting relationships between them. The fact that he accomplishes that within the structure of short stories is quite impressive, as I'm usually disappointed in with this aspect of short stories.
I am not usually a fan of short stories, but I do enjoy Butler's writing and this was no exception. However, it is the warmth of his first novel that endeared it to you I'm afraid you will be disappointed.
I am not usually a fan of short stories, but I do enjoy Butler's writing and this was no exception. However, it is the warmth of his first novel that endeared it to you I'm afraid you will be disappointed.
April 1, 2015
Seldom does a collection come along as strong as this. Each is involving, involving, original. With one exception, they are set in the midwest, with characters that speak with authenticity. Unlike so much fiction of this type, each story has at least one character the reader can respond to positively. These are not ironic naval gazing stories, but stories of character, meat and circumstance. If I had to pick a favorite, which would be difficult, I think I'd choose Train People Move Slow, in which a good man's love for a woman over her actions. But, even the shortest, Rainwater, holds a haunting quality. If the stories have anything in common, it's love but love like it's never been quite addressed before -- hopeless and transcendent. I rarely say this about a book of short stories, but highly recommended.
May 6, 2015
This is the first short story collection I've ever liked, let alone loved.
Review to come.
Review to come.
December 28, 2015
I am not a fan of short stories, but Butler truly has a way with words. I really enjoyed his first novel, Shotgun Lovesongs, and was just as mesmerized by this collection of short stories.
December 16, 2020
Each story in the book was beautifully written and made me feel an array of feelings to the max. As with others by Nickolas Butler, this book confirmed by satisfaction with his writing.
December 2, 2025
Very impressive collection.
September 25, 2015
I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this. The beauty in short stories is you never know where they’re going to end up. Each of the stories in Beneath the Bonfire: Stories is about people that all seem to have their own struggles. These struggles range from loneliness, emotions to friendship, marriage, family to loss and illness. It’s fantastic the way Nickolas Butler makes it so easy to empathize with the characters in each individual story. This book makes you feel things. You relate to the characters, you have felt ways the characters have felt. It brings out all kinds of emotions.
In particular, The Chainsaw Soirée, Rainwater, Sven & Lily, Morels, Beneath the Bonfire, Train People Move Slow, and Apples were my favorites. I know, that’s 7 out of 10. I could have named a couple others (which practically means the whole book). I could go through and describe each story, but that takes away from a bit of the mystery in each. Basically, these short stories are all quite fantastic and beautifully written.
Not to mention, I’m from the places in these short stories. I was constantly reminded of home and my past while reading which was just so wonderful in itself.
Nickolas Butler is a force to be reckoned with. This was my first time reading anything by him and it was thoroughly enjoyed.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.
In particular, The Chainsaw Soirée, Rainwater, Sven & Lily, Morels, Beneath the Bonfire, Train People Move Slow, and Apples were my favorites. I know, that’s 7 out of 10. I could have named a couple others (which practically means the whole book). I could go through and describe each story, but that takes away from a bit of the mystery in each. Basically, these short stories are all quite fantastic and beautifully written.
Not to mention, I’m from the places in these short stories. I was constantly reminded of home and my past while reading which was just so wonderful in itself.
Nickolas Butler is a force to be reckoned with. This was my first time reading anything by him and it was thoroughly enjoyed.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.
May 31, 2015
I'm not a huge fan of short stories, but I liked this collection very much and thought that the stories were all well written. There are 10 melancholy stories, and in all but one of which the protagonist is male. There is a fair amount of male bonding over drugs, alcohol, morel-hunting and chainsaws. The publisher's description says that the "landscape will be instantly recognizable to anyone who has traveled the back roads and blue highways of America". Well, although I grew up in a rural area, I admit that most of the characters in these stories felt as alien to me as Martians. It probably had something to do with the copious amounts of drugs and alcohol that most of the men consumed, generally leading to unfortunate events and sometimes tragedies. Nonetheless, each of the characters felt very real and fully fleshed out.
I didn't really care for two of the stories. Sweet Light Crude is an ecoterrorism story. I guess torture is just not my thing. I also disliked reading about the spousal and animal abuse in In Western Counties, the only story with a female protagonist.
The last two stories in the collection were my favorites.
Train People Move Slow was a more optimistic story than the previous eight and I liked it a lot, but I'm also a sucker for cats. The last story, Apples, left me feeling good for days. That is certainly not the case with most of the other stories, which don't exactly leave you hopeful about the state of the human race.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I didn't really care for two of the stories. Sweet Light Crude is an ecoterrorism story. I guess torture is just not my thing. I also disliked reading about the spousal and animal abuse in In Western Counties, the only story with a female protagonist.
The last two stories in the collection were my favorites.
Train People Move Slow was a more optimistic story than the previous eight and I liked it a lot, but I'm also a sucker for cats. The last story, Apples, left me feeling good for days. That is certainly not the case with most of the other stories, which don't exactly leave you hopeful about the state of the human race.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
June 25, 2015
I loved Nickolas Butler's Shotgun Lovesongs (If you've not read it yet, do!) so was incredibly excited to receive a reading copy of his latest, Beneath the Bonfire: a collection of short stories born during his time at the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
This is a wonderful exhibition of Nickolas' writing and ability to craft a place and its people in your mind as you read. From the melanchonic (Leftovers, Rainwater) to the dramatic (Sweet Light Crude, Morels), I loved each and every one of these stories in their own right, but also as part of the whole. Reading Beneath the Bonfire itself, I could smell the trees and feel the heat.
If I was pushed for a favourite, I'd probably highlight The Chainsaw Soirée for that true Nickolas Butler Winsconsin setting and feel, Sven & Lilly or Train People Move Slow for the kind-hearted soul that is Bruce. But if you're going to read one, read all.
This is a wonderful exhibition of Nickolas' writing and ability to craft a place and its people in your mind as you read. From the melanchonic (Leftovers, Rainwater) to the dramatic (Sweet Light Crude, Morels), I loved each and every one of these stories in their own right, but also as part of the whole. Reading Beneath the Bonfire itself, I could smell the trees and feel the heat.
If I was pushed for a favourite, I'd probably highlight The Chainsaw Soirée for that true Nickolas Butler Winsconsin setting and feel, Sven & Lilly or Train People Move Slow for the kind-hearted soul that is Bruce. But if you're going to read one, read all.
July 18, 2015
‘Beneath the Bonfire’ is a detailed study of relationships from many different angles; a grandfather’s loving relationship with his grandson, a man feeling trapped in a marriage to an abductor with his hostage and many more. The stories are set in the American Midwest, but the characters have a universal resonance.
The writing is not overtly lyrical, because the stories are expressed in plain English and in an apparently straightforward way. But it is this simplicity that belies the beautifully crafted narratives assured to pull powerfully on the reader’s emotions and grip their attention right up to the last perfectly placed word. The deft application of snatches of description creates a read of immense depth. This is short story writing at its very best and, although given a copy through NetGalley,’Beneath the Bonfire’ is a book I will be buying as a hardcopy to study in detail in order to better grasp how Nickolas Butler has achieved such excellence with every single narrative.
The writing is not overtly lyrical, because the stories are expressed in plain English and in an apparently straightforward way. But it is this simplicity that belies the beautifully crafted narratives assured to pull powerfully on the reader’s emotions and grip their attention right up to the last perfectly placed word. The deft application of snatches of description creates a read of immense depth. This is short story writing at its very best and, although given a copy through NetGalley,’Beneath the Bonfire’ is a book I will be buying as a hardcopy to study in detail in order to better grasp how Nickolas Butler has achieved such excellence with every single narrative.
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