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Butterball
This story was originally published in Day One, a weekly literary journal dedicated to short fiction and poetry from emerging writers.
Syd Davis learned how to roast a perfect turkey when she was a girl. Now on her own and with bills to pay, she works at the Butterball Turkey Emergency Squad, fielding phone calls from folks in desperate need of turkey-prep advice. As she faces another Thanksgiving, estranged from her family and pining after her married best friend, she receives a series of calls that force her to confront the reality of her deepening loneliness.
With turns both humorous and heartbreaking, Butterball explores one woman’s hopeful attempts to connect during the holidays.
Syd Davis learned how to roast a perfect turkey when she was a girl. Now on her own and with bills to pay, she works at the Butterball Turkey Emergency Squad, fielding phone calls from folks in desperate need of turkey-prep advice. As she faces another Thanksgiving, estranged from her family and pining after her married best friend, she receives a series of calls that force her to confront the reality of her deepening loneliness.
With turns both humorous and heartbreaking, Butterball explores one woman’s hopeful attempts to connect during the holidays.
18 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2014
37 people are currently reading
1354 people want to read
About the author
Brit Bennett
21 books12.1k followersBorn and raised in Southern California, Brit Bennett graduated from Stanford University and later earned her MFA in fiction at the University of Michigan, where she won a Hopwood Award in Graduate Short Fiction as well as the 2014 Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, and her debut novel The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller. Her second novel The Vanishing Half was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Her essays have been featured in The New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, and Jezebel.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 3, 2018
This book is only 18 pages long (or short lol) depending on how you look at it.
It’s sweet, sometimes funny and sometimes sad.
Based around Thanks giving, Turkey, cooking and loneliness.
What I thought:
Too short to be of any readers consequence.
March 10, 2020
Butterball
A very interesting story about the adventures of Syd Davis. She works at the Butterball Turkey Emergency Squad on the call line. This book chronicles her various calls she answers. It’s too funny!
A very interesting story about the adventures of Syd Davis. She works at the Butterball Turkey Emergency Squad on the call line. This book chronicles her various calls she answers. It’s too funny!
February 27, 2022
Honestly did not get the point of this short story. I have been hearing rave reviews about Brit Bennett and thought I'd check out this story for her writing style, but it's left me bewildered. There's nothing really which stands out or catches my eye in terms of storytelling, except for the slight build up at the beginning. But even that falls very short when it comes to the end.
*Aside: I understand the need for a fictitious agency where Syd, the protagonist, has to work but this one is just too implausible to be taken seriously!
*Aside: I understand the need for a fictitious agency where Syd, the protagonist, has to work but this one is just too implausible to be taken seriously!
December 29, 2021
A short, and mildly entertaining story about a young woman who works at the Butterball Turkey Emergency Squad during the holidays. To keep herself entertained, she makes up stories about herself as she helps frantic home cooks prepare their turkeys. There is a backstory to her life and how she will spend the holiday away from her family.
July 21, 2020
Not a story where anyone would say “it’s been done.” I found this short story both sad and humorous. My first exposure to Brit Bennett. Looking forward to reading more.
August 17, 2020
This was an all right story. It is well written. I just was not happy with the abruptness of the ending. There was no real resolution to anything.
August 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this story! I would love to see it fleshed out into a full novel! There’s so much she could do with it. It was great though!
August 31, 2020
Short but wonderful
A real short story for when you have 15 minutes or so. Perfect.
I read this after reading The Vanishing Half.
A real short story for when you have 15 minutes or so. Perfect.
I read this after reading The Vanishing Half.
September 19, 2020
Cute Thanksgiving theme.
This was a cute story. I sense a much bigger story in the making with these same characters. It definitely ended too soon.
This was a cute story. I sense a much bigger story in the making with these same characters. It definitely ended too soon.
November 16, 2020
Disturbingly sad story about a girl who doesn’t really know who she is and makes up different images of herself during every phone call on the
Butterball hotline.
Butterball hotline.
December 11, 2020
Depressing!
From the title, I thought it might be humorous but gosh was I wrong. So sad and not much thankfulness!
From the title, I thought it might be humorous but gosh was I wrong. So sad and not much thankfulness!
February 7, 2021
Cute short story of little consequence
January 5, 2022
A lovely and throughly engrossing short story about finding family, friendships and love in the most unusual of places!
December 30, 2022
A fantastic short story. Recommended reading around Thanksgiving time, ideally.
December 31, 2022
Short and snappy
May 11, 2023
Short, sweet, a little heart-wrenching.
February 7, 2024
A poignant short story about one woman’s hopeful attempts to connect during the holidays.
Synopsis: This story was originally published in Day One, a weekly literary journal dedicated to short fiction and poetry from emerging writers. Syd Davis learned how to roast a perfect turkey when she was a girl. Now on her own and with bills to pay, she works at the Butterball Turkey Emergency Squad, fielding phone calls from folks in desperate need of turkey-prep advice. As she faces another Thanksgiving, estranged from her family and pining after her married best friend, she receives a series of calls that force her to confront the reality of her deepening loneliness.
I really enjoyed this short story. This story is my first exposure to Brit Bennett, I knew that she wrote 'The Vanishing Half' and then saw that this was on Kindle Unlimited so I downloaded it. In such few pages, I was shocked at how much it moved me, without her saying much at all. I found myself feeling happy and sad for Syd, whilst also realising that you don't realise how every interaction (no matter how pointless) with someone can really affect them deeply in some way.
I would love to see Butterball fleshed out into a full novel as there is so much Brit could do with it. Also, this book is best read around November/Thanksgiving time, as that is the main focus point of the story!
Synopsis: This story was originally published in Day One, a weekly literary journal dedicated to short fiction and poetry from emerging writers. Syd Davis learned how to roast a perfect turkey when she was a girl. Now on her own and with bills to pay, she works at the Butterball Turkey Emergency Squad, fielding phone calls from folks in desperate need of turkey-prep advice. As she faces another Thanksgiving, estranged from her family and pining after her married best friend, she receives a series of calls that force her to confront the reality of her deepening loneliness.
I really enjoyed this short story. This story is my first exposure to Brit Bennett, I knew that she wrote 'The Vanishing Half' and then saw that this was on Kindle Unlimited so I downloaded it. In such few pages, I was shocked at how much it moved me, without her saying much at all. I found myself feeling happy and sad for Syd, whilst also realising that you don't realise how every interaction (no matter how pointless) with someone can really affect them deeply in some way.
I would love to see Butterball fleshed out into a full novel as there is so much Brit could do with it. Also, this book is best read around November/Thanksgiving time, as that is the main focus point of the story!
July 22, 2020
Butterball began delightfully, playing into the anonymity of helpline personnel doing and saying things that entertain themselves. Of course there was the background of Syd being alone on a holiday when most people join together to celebrate being part of something better. But, like a deflating balloon, the story lost any humor and painted a picture of those alone. But Syd would have been alone in any gathering that didn't give her what she wanted and expected. . .
December 23, 2021
A short story about Syd: she's working in a call centre over Thanksgiving and helping desperate callers with their turkey-prep emergencies. These were the only bits of the story which interested me. I didn't care for her personal life. I could have easily read more about the ridiculous queries she receives. Having worked in many call centres myself, I could relate.
July 20, 2016
Did not care for this book
August 31, 2025
When I rate a book 4stars it means I highly enjoyed the book and admire it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews