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Going Away Shoes: Stories
The foibles of the people in Jill McCorkle’s world are so familiar that we want nothing so much as to watch them walk into—and then get out of—life’s inevitable traps. Here, in her first collection in eight years, McCorkle collects eleven brand-new stories bristling with her characteristic combination of wit and weight.
In honeymoon shoes, mud-covered hunting boots, or glass slippers, all of the women in these stories march to a place of new awareness, in one way or another, transforming their lives. They make mistakes, but they don’t waste time hiding behind them. They move on. They are strong. And they’re funny, even when they are sad.
These stories are the work of a great storyteller who knows exactly how—and why—to pair pain with laughter.
In honeymoon shoes, mud-covered hunting boots, or glass slippers, all of the women in these stories march to a place of new awareness, in one way or another, transforming their lives. They make mistakes, but they don’t waste time hiding behind them. They move on. They are strong. And they’re funny, even when they are sad.
These stories are the work of a great storyteller who knows exactly how—and why—to pair pain with laughter.
258 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2009
44 people are currently reading
850 people want to read
About the author
Jill McCorkle
54 books368 followersFive of Jill McCorkle's seven previous books have been named New York Times Notables. Winner of the New England Booksellers Award, the Dos Passos Prize for Excellence in Literature, and the North Carolina Award for Literature, she has taught writing at the University of North Carolina, Bennington College, Tufts University, and Harvard. She lives near Boston with her husband, their two children, several dogs, and a collection of toads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
April 21, 2010
I took a class with Jill McCorkle (at the past Tennessee Williams Fest just a couple months ago) before I really read anything by her, and I immediately fell in love with her as a teacher and a person -- she's got this great vibe about her. I got a chance to speak with her when I found her alone waiting to go into a panel on the last day of the Fest and she couldn't have been more gracious.
These stories remind me of something, yet it escapes me what that something is. And while they might not be the type of thing I usually read (another thing I can't quite put my finger on as to why), all the stories spoke to me at least a little bit (and a couple spoke to me so much it was almost spooky). There's humor, sadness and at least one small nugget of startling insight in each.
Some of the narrators were way too 'talky' for my tastes, but I did enjoy most of them. The story "Magic Words" is probably my favorite, esp in terms of the 'voice.'
These stories remind me of something, yet it escapes me what that something is. And while they might not be the type of thing I usually read (another thing I can't quite put my finger on as to why), all the stories spoke to me at least a little bit (and a couple spoke to me so much it was almost spooky). There's humor, sadness and at least one small nugget of startling insight in each.
Some of the narrators were way too 'talky' for my tastes, but I did enjoy most of them. The story "Magic Words" is probably my favorite, esp in terms of the 'voice.'
January 10, 2010
The thing with short story collections is that unless you're familiar with the author, you have to be careful because you're not going to know what you're getting into. My favorite short story author is Flannery O'Connor. That woman can do no wrong with the short story. They're so dementedly elegant that you can't put them down. But she is only one of a very few whose short stories I like. The rest . . . meh.
This is one of the meh. I'd never heard of Jill McCorkle before I snagged this book at BEA but I knew it was pretty chicky just from the title. Usually I like some variety with my short stories. This one . . . not so much.
Every single story, save for one, sounds like it could have been the same woman telling the same story over and over again. I didn't see any stretch of the imagination, I didn't see any stretch of writing talent; I just saw a woman cranky with the world telling the same miserable story over and over and over again. Needless to say, I was bored and disheartened.
The only short that carried any weight, that pulled me in at all an invigorated me with the words was "Magic Words." The way it's written reminded me of Ellen Hopkins's book Tricks, where you have a bunch of different stories converging into one plot by the end. That's what this one did and while is had the same disparaging "I am woman in bad relationship" tone, it was meatier, it meant more. The voices varied and I actually believed in the talent I was reading.
Other than that, at the end of the day, I couldn't tell any of the other stories from the rest. I understand the overall theme of the book but it is possible to write different stories within that theme. Really. If you get your hands on this book, pick a story at random and read it. You won't need to read any of the others because they're all the same. But make sure you read "Magic Words," if nothing else. That one's the best out of all of them, by far.
This is one of the meh. I'd never heard of Jill McCorkle before I snagged this book at BEA but I knew it was pretty chicky just from the title. Usually I like some variety with my short stories. This one . . . not so much.
Every single story, save for one, sounds like it could have been the same woman telling the same story over and over again. I didn't see any stretch of the imagination, I didn't see any stretch of writing talent; I just saw a woman cranky with the world telling the same miserable story over and over and over again. Needless to say, I was bored and disheartened.
The only short that carried any weight, that pulled me in at all an invigorated me with the words was "Magic Words." The way it's written reminded me of Ellen Hopkins's book Tricks, where you have a bunch of different stories converging into one plot by the end. That's what this one did and while is had the same disparaging "I am woman in bad relationship" tone, it was meatier, it meant more. The voices varied and I actually believed in the talent I was reading.
Other than that, at the end of the day, I couldn't tell any of the other stories from the rest. I understand the overall theme of the book but it is possible to write different stories within that theme. Really. If you get your hands on this book, pick a story at random and read it. You won't need to read any of the others because they're all the same. But make sure you read "Magic Words," if nothing else. That one's the best out of all of them, by far.
December 29, 2009
Before starting this book of short stories I read the praise on the back (still have yet to see a book with horrible, yet true things on the back). The three reviewers raved about how funny and lighthearted these stories were. After reading Going Away Shoes, I am left scratching my head. Did I read the same book as the reviewers? Some of the stories were funny and others were down right depressing. I liked how the stories were connected through death, divorce, abandonment, but these topics are not funny.
One of the stories that left a lasting impression was “Another Dimension” about a woman’s childhood. After her mother dies her father falls in love with someone completely different from her mother. I found the central characters in the story mean, vindictive, and spineless. Some of the other stories didn’t leave a lasting impression, but there were some that I really did enjoy. The last story “Me and Big Foot” was about a woman who invents an imaginary lover. I found myself smiling through that story (also try “PS”-another funny one).
Synopsis: not a horrible read, fast very-short stories, women are the central characters. Some stories will make you smile, others will leave you depressed. I saw her other books were more popular, so I might give those a try.
One of the stories that left a lasting impression was “Another Dimension” about a woman’s childhood. After her mother dies her father falls in love with someone completely different from her mother. I found the central characters in the story mean, vindictive, and spineless. Some of the other stories didn’t leave a lasting impression, but there were some that I really did enjoy. The last story “Me and Big Foot” was about a woman who invents an imaginary lover. I found myself smiling through that story (also try “PS”-another funny one).
Synopsis: not a horrible read, fast very-short stories, women are the central characters. Some stories will make you smile, others will leave you depressed. I saw her other books were more popular, so I might give those a try.
January 3, 2021
Years ago, a friend gave me another of McCorkle’s short story collections and I remember enjoying it. I picked up several more of her books when I saw Kindle versions on sale. I read this over several months, usually picking up between library books coming in. I like the author’s writing and dark wit, although I don’t recall much about the stories themselves beyond the final three or four that I read over the last few nights. Will be interested to see if her novel, Ferris Beach (which I also have), favorably compares to Joshilyn Jackson, whose style these stories definitely remind me of.
June 12, 2024
(2.5 stars)
I really wanted to like this book, but a lot of the stories blended together for me
I get the concept, I get what the author was trying to do, I just don’t think this author and I vibe
My favorite stories were probably intervention, magic words, and going away shoes
maybe this book is someone’s cup of tea but it just wasn’t mine
I really wanted to like this book, but a lot of the stories blended together for me
I get the concept, I get what the author was trying to do, I just don’t think this author and I vibe
My favorite stories were probably intervention, magic words, and going away shoes
maybe this book is someone’s cup of tea but it just wasn’t mine
June 8, 2024
Literary short stories, mostly depicting family dynamics. Sense of place. The title story, about an adult daughter caring for a dying mother who was proud of her sense of propriety and her outfits meanders through family reminiscences; memorable characters in a Welty way. In "Surrender," Rose, another apparently old-fashioned older woman, struggles to help her widowed daughter-in-law care for a small child who's a handful; Rose has a remarkable and yet believable pivot. Enjoyable, literary collection over all.
April 19, 2010
I really loved this. The epigraph is by Gloria Steinem ("If the shoe doesn't fit, must we change the foot?"), and every story in the book has a quiet feminist sensibility to it. I heard McCorkle read back in February, and I'm interested in reading more of her work.
Favorite quotes:
"This fear of nothingness is why many people stay put even when unhappy and disillusioned, daily sidestepping the problems and debris. It is why they ask the four questions again and again as they seek their own answer within. No, but really, how are you? Many choose comfort within the known boundaries--sticking with the Old World order as opposed to striking out for new lands and possibly falling off the edge of the earth" (57).
"She wanted to ask who had used him. She wanted to be the one who would make everything okay. It would be years before she realized what a dangerous position it was to be a self-appointed missionary even to those in need" (173-174).
"I wanted to say that even in my most ideal dream match I would still require a lot of solitary time with limited interruptions from friends and family" (251).
Favorite quotes:
"This fear of nothingness is why many people stay put even when unhappy and disillusioned, daily sidestepping the problems and debris. It is why they ask the four questions again and again as they seek their own answer within. No, but really, how are you? Many choose comfort within the known boundaries--sticking with the Old World order as opposed to striking out for new lands and possibly falling off the edge of the earth" (57).
"She wanted to ask who had used him. She wanted to be the one who would make everything okay. It would be years before she realized what a dangerous position it was to be a self-appointed missionary even to those in need" (173-174).
"I wanted to say that even in my most ideal dream match I would still require a lot of solitary time with limited interruptions from friends and family" (251).
July 23, 2009
The strength of a short story collection is how many stories you remember afterwards. For me there were two stand outs "PS" and "Intervention." The author's writing is solid, though some times the subject matter seemed a bit repetitive with the well-to-do wife (middle aged or older) pondering her life post-divorce, during marriage, or otherwise.
One story had an interesting take from three different POVs (a young girl, a middle aged woman embarking on an affair, and an older woman) but still many of McCorkle's stories didn't stay with me. Her prose is solid and very steady. She's good with describing emotions and creating characters, but as I said after a while some melded together.
To date the best short story collection I've read is "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere" by ZZ Packer. But I'll continue on finding another that tickles my fancy as much.
One story had an interesting take from three different POVs (a young girl, a middle aged woman embarking on an affair, and an older woman) but still many of McCorkle's stories didn't stay with me. Her prose is solid and very steady. She's good with describing emotions and creating characters, but as I said after a while some melded together.
To date the best short story collection I've read is "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere" by ZZ Packer. But I'll continue on finding another that tickles my fancy as much.
August 12, 2011
This is a collection of short stories about a series of women across the country. As much as I usually love short stories, I was a bit unimpressed with this selection. The point of short stories, in my opinion, is to provide the reader with several in depth (but short) vignettes about various characters. I thought these stories were really boring because they skimmed the surface. All the women have something obviously wrong in their lives (divorced, cheating on their spouses, hate their kids, whatever) and it just seemed so unoriginal to me. I like stories with more of an interesting conflict. Plus this is a book of short stories... Not all of them had to be exactly the same! Anyway, my other biggest complaint was that all the stories seemed to just end. There was little to no resolution. They just ended. The only story that was okay was the last one.
November 22, 2010
Short stories can be challenging reads. Too often I finish a short story and think “what does this mean” or I am longing for more story, or more character development. In Jill McCorkle I have found the perfect author of short stories. Her latest short story collection, Going Away Shoes, is quite simply delightful. Deftly combining wit and pathos, the stories in this collection superbly illustrate the various roles of women; single mother, daughter, sister, and second wife. McCorkle has a keen eye for human behavior and a succinct writing style that enables the reader to immediately feel intimacy with the characters in these stories. Some stories in this collection will make the reader cry, others will make them laugh out loud, but each will leave the reader deeply satisfied.
February 8, 2014
Two stars is generous for how much I hated this book. Eleven short story collection of "women and love and complications therin"-should have known by the description on the back that the writing would be choppy. Stories were random. I knew within the first story I wasn't going to enjoy this, but I suffered through a few more before throwing down the book before reading the final two. No recommendation here.
December 3, 2015
I loved this. I liked some stories more than others, but I liked them all so much! What a wonderful collection of short stories. I can't wait to read more by her.
February 26, 2019
I didn't love all the stories. I liked the title one and some of the others but a few others I skipped through and didn't give full attention to.
January 26, 2019
An Amy Hempel blurb is probably the easiest way to get me to read a book. With that in mind--and, of course, the possibly-incorrect idea that all writers are narcissists likely to heap praise onto work they feel they can project the best qualities of their talent onto--I go into the book expecting something like Hempel.
In a way, I did sort of get something like Hempel, but only Hempel-like. Somewhat funny, a little clever, a decent documentation of humanity's absurd loneliness. However, it's unfair to judge a Jill McCorkle book on its failure to be an Amp Hempel book. (I'll save that for my own meandering writing.)
On its own, Going Away Shoes is a perfectly nice collection of stories with writing that is undeniably good. I felt like I was reading the same story over and over again in many ways, though, as it leaned a bit to heavily into the theme of treading water in the bad part of a relationship. The stories have a slight lilt to them at the end, something that works wonderfully at the conclusion of a story like "Driving to the Moon" but makes for a bit of a flat experience when going through the actual narratives. There was a feeling of, "I bet The New Yorker crowd goes nuts over this stuff." Not the best of reactions for me personally.
Not to keep going back to Hempel, but her brevity is a huge drawing point for me. These stories go on for 20-30 pages and feel every bit of it. Aside from a slight exhaustion towards the end(s), there's nothing bad in any of them, but I would have loved to see each story cut in half, at least. True to form, I took the most enjoyment from the final, shortest story, which got in and out in the swiftest of ways. Like, "Drive My Car" is a great song, but I'm glad it's not 14 minutes long.
This was a good book, despite my reservations and complaining. I wouldn't recommend it above Hempel, Moore, Robison, or others, but for fans of the more reserved material from those writers, this might be right in your wheelhouse.
In a way, I did sort of get something like Hempel, but only Hempel-like. Somewhat funny, a little clever, a decent documentation of humanity's absurd loneliness. However, it's unfair to judge a Jill McCorkle book on its failure to be an Amp Hempel book. (I'll save that for my own meandering writing.)
On its own, Going Away Shoes is a perfectly nice collection of stories with writing that is undeniably good. I felt like I was reading the same story over and over again in many ways, though, as it leaned a bit to heavily into the theme of treading water in the bad part of a relationship. The stories have a slight lilt to them at the end, something that works wonderfully at the conclusion of a story like "Driving to the Moon" but makes for a bit of a flat experience when going through the actual narratives. There was a feeling of, "I bet The New Yorker crowd goes nuts over this stuff." Not the best of reactions for me personally.
Not to keep going back to Hempel, but her brevity is a huge drawing point for me. These stories go on for 20-30 pages and feel every bit of it. Aside from a slight exhaustion towards the end(s), there's nothing bad in any of them, but I would have loved to see each story cut in half, at least. True to form, I took the most enjoyment from the final, shortest story, which got in and out in the swiftest of ways. Like, "Drive My Car" is a great song, but I'm glad it's not 14 minutes long.
This was a good book, despite my reservations and complaining. I wouldn't recommend it above Hempel, Moore, Robison, or others, but for fans of the more reserved material from those writers, this might be right in your wheelhouse.
September 19, 2020
I think this book really just wasn't for me. It was really hard to relate to any of the characters because they were mostly middle-aged white women going through some sort of relationship problem. It was overall hard to finish the book. I do appreciate the creativity that some of the stories took. I also thought that for some reason the stories would have a shoe element to them, because of the title, but I overall just didn't like the style of the stories. I was reading other reviews and apparently her style is very niche and maybe it's because I couldn't relate to the narrators but I just dreaded reading story after story. I'm guessing this could be a book for older women's book clubs, just not me.
April 18, 2020
This book was very odd. Maybe if I was a middle aged divorcée I would relate more to it? A lot of the characters felt very similar and some of the stories even felt like drafts of each other. Maybe that was the point but overall I was bored and definitely wasn’t “laughing out loud” since most of the stories were quite sad. A couple of them really held my attention and felt like they had potential and then were ruined by a strange and abrupt ending. The story was narrated by the woman each time, but I don’t ever feel like it’s about her or I even get to know her. Maybe that’s the point? I think all of the stories could have benefited from a bit of polishing.
March 1, 2018
I've read this book several times over the past decade and am now at the point where I feel I can gain nothing more from it. There's a good amount of humour and poignant quotes, but ultimately the stories are a little too pedestrian and repetitive. Almost every story centres around a middle-aged lady who feels bitter over a broken familial relationship. The stories are well-written and offer a down-to-earth perspective on life, but none of the stories are remarkable enough to make it worthy of a spot on my shelf.
February 5, 2019
I enjoyed the first few stories in this collection, but I soon found that all of the narrators blended together. It felt like I was reading about the same woman-same thoughts, same reactions, same choice of words-who was somehow shoved into different life circumstances every dozen pages or so. There were some bright points in here for sure, and if you enjoy McCorkle's writing style you should enjoy all of the stories, but I prefer my short story collections to have a bit more variety than what I found here.
August 15, 2020
I don’t read a lot of short story collections but I always enjoy Jill McCorkle’s short stories. These were good and detailed. I wanted more of each one they were so well written. She has a new novel out called Hieroglyphs. Looking forward to reading it especially since one of the characters is named after a person I went to high school and college.
June 9, 2017
I can appreciate that this author is a good writer, but I just don't think books of short stories are my thing. These stories are fine, but because I only met the characters briefly, I just couldn't get invested enough.
February 16, 2019
Rating Breakdown:
Going Away Shoes - 3
Surrender - 2
Midnight Clear - 4
Another Dimension - 3
Happy Accidents - 5
View-Master - 3
P.S. - 4
Driving to the Moon - 3
Magic Words - 2
Intervention - 3
Me & Big Foot - 3
Going Away Shoes - 3
Surrender - 2
Midnight Clear - 4
Another Dimension - 3
Happy Accidents - 5
View-Master - 3
P.S. - 4
Driving to the Moon - 3
Magic Words - 2
Intervention - 3
Me & Big Foot - 3
April 22, 2019
This collection of short stories was very hard to read. Most of the stories were about people going through anxiety and depression. So I wound up reading one story every night in order not to pick up the author’s melancholia.
December 13, 2021
I loved reading some of your short stories, I am working on a author study and we have to compare your life from the book. You seem like a very genuine person. What makes you life relative to the book?
February 14, 2022
This book began with two rollicking stories,
including the title 4-star gem, then settled
into a string of good but not great efforts.
I already have her earlier "Crash Diet" on hold.
Amy Hemple's (queen of the genre) cover blurb
drew me in and I'm glad for that.
including the title 4-star gem, then settled
into a string of good but not great efforts.
I already have her earlier "Crash Diet" on hold.
Amy Hemple's (queen of the genre) cover blurb
drew me in and I'm glad for that.
February 20, 2023
This collection of short stories, taken from life-from a woman’s point of view. are “right on”: funny, sad, poignant, scary, and with some all too familiar from a man’s point of view. They are in other words universal. And they are very well told.
August 2, 2017
The first couple of short stories were great but it doesn't stay that way.
October 28, 2017
Brilliant! These stories are to be savored and read again and again.
March 4, 2018
LOVED IT!
August 3, 2018
Liked 'Magic Words' the best.
March 26, 2021
Each story was fresh and there was a lot of variety in narrators, themes, and characters. There was a touch of Lorrie Moore and Alice Munro.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews