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Acquainted with Squalor
Acquainted with Squalor delivers astonishing power of body-and-soul. Meteors fall, an old neighbor tosses an infrared Phoenix beacon into a cup of loose change, and a woman on the phone with a friend mentions nothing about her eviction notice. These nine stories nourish our sense of wonder and acknowledge our deepest despair. Who has the endearing audacity to call a lover "Governor General"? Who will sit down together on a hot day to eat frozen blueberries on a country lawn? Nath Jones captures what it means for us to be at home and still awash in the world, especially as one woman reaches for the angel sun-catcher hanging in a darkened window.
242 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2014
About the author
Nath Jones
18 books39 followersBest New American Voices nominee Nath Jones received an MFA in creative writing from Northwestern University. Her publishing credits include PANK Magazine, There Are No Rules, and Sailing World. She lives and writes in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 3, 2015
A collection worthy of Salinger yet still able to breathe on its own.
At times that breathing is a labored thing, yes, but that is the price for realism in this age of tedium. Fortunately only two of the stories had me skipping and skimming, the rest held me rapt. And the two that I did happen to skim had me going back to reread what I had missed, so I suppose there's not much to complain about after all. As a whole, all of these stories are well constructed. And some of them are rather funny to boot.
I rather enjoyed it and I think that you would too.
At times that breathing is a labored thing, yes, but that is the price for realism in this age of tedium. Fortunately only two of the stories had me skipping and skimming, the rest held me rapt. And the two that I did happen to skim had me going back to reread what I had missed, so I suppose there's not much to complain about after all. As a whole, all of these stories are well constructed. And some of them are rather funny to boot.
I rather enjoyed it and I think that you would too.
April 10, 2015
Through these beautifully detailed stories, Nath Jones gives us a strong sense of the beginnings and endings in life.
On the theme of home there is: the beginning of establishing a home with a couple bickering over seeming mundanities in "Roast Beef and Havarti"; a physically and emotionally wounded veteran gets help reestablishing a home from an older couple, who sacrifice their anniversary dinner in "Norma L." (love the pun title); to the character Libi in the masterful, heart-wrenching story "How to Cherish the Grief Stricken" who loses her home literally through incarceration due to a freak accident, and through the husband who is unable to forgive her for this selling their home and moving away, to the figurative loss of the home by how a place can be irrevocably changed because of the tragedies that occur there; to the child enjoying one last day with her friend on a river before she will have to leave everything she knows behind because of her parents' divorce in "Dust in the Cloud".
Then on the theme of relationships there is: the beginnings of young love among the workers in the corn and soy fields of "Rogues"; the end of an engagement in "The Hollow of a Poppy Stem" that just might be due to the jilted fiance's best friend (where the friend is in denial of an impending foreclosure - again exploring the loss of the home); to the insistently talkative divorcing lady at a bus stop in "Blindfolded on Some Old Pedestal"; to the loss of trust between a child and his parents in "The Nightmare State of Leduc"; and finally to the establishment of a new family dynamic when an older couple adopts the granddaughter they never knew existed, after their drug-addicted daughter is found murdered, in "Harbinger of Spring".
Through gorgeous language and skillful writing these stories explore loss, regret, change, and our need for connection - the "Squalor" of existing in a world of everyday tragedy. It isn't perfect - it can be too writerly at times (too much interior dialogue here; an overly literary dream there) - and some of her younger characters didn't ring true. But no collection of short stories can be perfect because taste is too subjective to allow it, and the majority of stories here are excellent, with the story "How to Cherish the Grief Stricken" alone worth the price of admission.
On the theme of home there is: the beginning of establishing a home with a couple bickering over seeming mundanities in "Roast Beef and Havarti"; a physically and emotionally wounded veteran gets help reestablishing a home from an older couple, who sacrifice their anniversary dinner in "Norma L." (love the pun title); to the character Libi in the masterful, heart-wrenching story "How to Cherish the Grief Stricken" who loses her home literally through incarceration due to a freak accident, and through the husband who is unable to forgive her for this selling their home and moving away, to the figurative loss of the home by how a place can be irrevocably changed because of the tragedies that occur there; to the child enjoying one last day with her friend on a river before she will have to leave everything she knows behind because of her parents' divorce in "Dust in the Cloud".
Then on the theme of relationships there is: the beginnings of young love among the workers in the corn and soy fields of "Rogues"; the end of an engagement in "The Hollow of a Poppy Stem" that just might be due to the jilted fiance's best friend (where the friend is in denial of an impending foreclosure - again exploring the loss of the home); to the insistently talkative divorcing lady at a bus stop in "Blindfolded on Some Old Pedestal"; to the loss of trust between a child and his parents in "The Nightmare State of Leduc"; and finally to the establishment of a new family dynamic when an older couple adopts the granddaughter they never knew existed, after their drug-addicted daughter is found murdered, in "Harbinger of Spring".
Through gorgeous language and skillful writing these stories explore loss, regret, change, and our need for connection - the "Squalor" of existing in a world of everyday tragedy. It isn't perfect - it can be too writerly at times (too much interior dialogue here; an overly literary dream there) - and some of her younger characters didn't ring true. But no collection of short stories can be perfect because taste is too subjective to allow it, and the majority of stories here are excellent, with the story "How to Cherish the Grief Stricken" alone worth the price of admission.
May 19, 2015
As is very often the case I received this book free for review but despite that I'll be honest as I believe authors benefit much more from honest feedback than from vapid and unfounded praise.
The book consists of a series of unconnected and very brief stories, but they are stories in only the loosest possible sense of the word. As narratives go, they don't really move anywhere so much as they do simply paint a vivid picture of one specific event disconnected from the associated circumstances. These events are always emotionally charged and extremely life-like and leave the reader extremely satisfied and a bit questioning.
To the positive side, the writing is very solid and the depictions are achingly real. One could easily believe the author lived through them and is merely jotting down notes as they went. The subject matter is varied and original and highly evocative. There's much to relate to in each of these vignettes.
To the negative, some readers will not be entirely satisfied since, as I noted previously, there's no real plot to any of these stories. They are remarkably detailed but they don't tend to move in any specific direction. Once the story begins the actual action has usually already happened and the characters are merely dealing with the aftermath of what has occurred.
In summary, this is a book I would recommend for a very awake evening with some tea to fortify and stimulate the brain. After a glass of wine or two readers would, I think find their minds wandering as they read. There is much to be drawn from this series of stories to be sure but they do require close attention.
The book consists of a series of unconnected and very brief stories, but they are stories in only the loosest possible sense of the word. As narratives go, they don't really move anywhere so much as they do simply paint a vivid picture of one specific event disconnected from the associated circumstances. These events are always emotionally charged and extremely life-like and leave the reader extremely satisfied and a bit questioning.
To the positive side, the writing is very solid and the depictions are achingly real. One could easily believe the author lived through them and is merely jotting down notes as they went. The subject matter is varied and original and highly evocative. There's much to relate to in each of these vignettes.
To the negative, some readers will not be entirely satisfied since, as I noted previously, there's no real plot to any of these stories. They are remarkably detailed but they don't tend to move in any specific direction. Once the story begins the actual action has usually already happened and the characters are merely dealing with the aftermath of what has occurred.
In summary, this is a book I would recommend for a very awake evening with some tea to fortify and stimulate the brain. After a glass of wine or two readers would, I think find their minds wandering as they read. There is much to be drawn from this series of stories to be sure but they do require close attention.
March 30, 2020
From the back cover: “these nine stories nourish our sense of wonder and acknowledge our deepest despair.”
No wonder to be found, just long, flowery descriptions of meaningless days. No deep despair, either; just the sense you’re going through an old photo-album you picked at some random garage sale, with the photos abandoned along with it.
Received via Goodreads/Librarything giveaway
April 27, 2015
Acquainted With Squalor - Short Stories
Nath Jones
Life Lift Press/ Random International
2015
"Acquainted With Squalor" by Nath Jones is a lovely little book of short stories about the human condition.
"Dust in the Cloud" tells a tale of the conflict within of an 8 year old and whether or not to tell a friend she is moving. Memories of jumping off bridges into slow moving rivers quickly arise in the reader.
Then the story "Norma L" reveals the conflict within a pair of elderly people and their growing difficulties with their present living conditions. Unfortunately, their conflict involves a young crippled Vet - someone they are conflicted about making his life harder to ease their own.
Then author Nath Jones uncovers secrets among friends - one whose husband cheated, the other is being evicted. Can they turn to each other - or inevitably turn against each other?
Acquainted With Squalor quickly enveloped me, and I kept picking it up to read - to see a little complicated glimpse into other lives.
I received this book for free to review, I am a member of Goodreads, Librarything, and NetGalley. I maintain a book review blog at dbettenson.wordpress.com.
Nath Jones
Life Lift Press/ Random International
2015
"Acquainted With Squalor" by Nath Jones is a lovely little book of short stories about the human condition.
"Dust in the Cloud" tells a tale of the conflict within of an 8 year old and whether or not to tell a friend she is moving. Memories of jumping off bridges into slow moving rivers quickly arise in the reader.
Then the story "Norma L" reveals the conflict within a pair of elderly people and their growing difficulties with their present living conditions. Unfortunately, their conflict involves a young crippled Vet - someone they are conflicted about making his life harder to ease their own.
Then author Nath Jones uncovers secrets among friends - one whose husband cheated, the other is being evicted. Can they turn to each other - or inevitably turn against each other?
Acquainted With Squalor quickly enveloped me, and I kept picking it up to read - to see a little complicated glimpse into other lives.
I received this book for free to review, I am a member of Goodreads, Librarything, and NetGalley. I maintain a book review blog at dbettenson.wordpress.com.
January 11, 2015
I'm not typically a huge fan of short stories since I often find it difficult to become invested in the characters in such a short span of writing. However, Nath Jones does such a good job of creating characters that each have something important to say, that I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. While the whole collection was good, clear standouts for me were the stories "Norma L." and "Rogues". Both created intriguing characters (one an older woman-Norma L. and one a teenage girl- Rogues) that drew upon a wide range of emotions to tell their stories. I would recommend this collection without reservation.
Note of disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review
Note of disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review
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March 24, 2015Vibrantly written, this is a masterfully done book of stories that vicariously thrust me into each character's life and richly, colorfully described world. Be it the crusty, middle-aged city woman, or the tentative, rural girl experiencing first love, every character is beautifully,expertly uncovered and developed through precise, realistic language. This wonderful experience of a book left me wanting more at the finish. Excellent work, I highly recommend- and this from a person who gravitates toward non-fiction.
March 31, 2015
Vibrantly written, this is a masterfully done book of stories that vicariously thrust me into each character's life and richly, colorfully described world. From the crusty, middle-aged city woman, to the tentative, rural young girl experiencing first love, every character is beautifully and expertly developed and uncovered. This wonderful experience of a book left me wanting more at the finish. Excellent work, I highly recommend-and this from a person that gravitates toward non-fiction!
April 13, 2015
Acquainted With Squalor is a book of short stories that is a mixed bag. Some of the stories were good, some were not. All the stories had what I felt were abrupt, or at least not well formed, endings. It is an ok book to read to pass the time if you don't have a lot of time to read, however, for my part, there are better books to be read if you have a chunk of time to spend reading.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
August 5, 2015
Nath Jones offers vivid glimpses of American life that engage intelligently with that country’s myths and nightmares. Ostensibly they are domestic tales of ordinary people living unremarkable lives, but these commonplace scenarios are always loaded with significance because Jones has the knack of finding meaning in the mundane. They are moving and compassionate, steering clear of sentimentality. The writer’s empathy and compassion shine through.
Rubery Book Award
Rubery Book Award
October 22, 2014
Loved reading these "slice of life" stories that written with such detail that you think the author must have lived through each episode herself. They draw you in and keep you hooked until the last page.
December 24, 2014
I love seeing the world through Nath Jones’ eyes. It’s no wonder that she’s won so many awards. Just give her most recent blog post, “Christmas Eve,” a quick read and you’ll be hooked on this author as I am. To steal a line from John Green, “I’d read her grocery lists.”
January 2, 2015
These stories (as with any good collection of short stories) left me wanting to know more, and I had fun dreaming up extra chapters for most of the characters. Looking forward to discussing these stories with my book club!
January 3, 2015
This book reflects the human need for connection and the sacrifices made to create and keep those connections. Each story is a lovely, well-crafted, and precise little snapshot of lives lived in this world which does not care that we are in it.
October 9, 2014
Great book! Enjoyable and poignant.
December 29, 2014
With an interesting writing style and a masterful grasp of interactions between characters, this book is a short story collection not to be missed.
April 12, 2015
Great collection of short stories, I am glad I read this book. It's a must read for all.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews