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Gallery of the Disappeared Men: Stories
From the author of the acclaimed short story collection The Ascent of Eli Israel, and the warm, funny and heart-wrenching novel I Am My Beloveds , here are 14 searing, deeply-immersive stories that will forever change the way you look at the human experience.
Profound and magical, dark and disturbing, Papernick's stories are always challenging and brave. Whether he is writing stiletto-sharp flash fiction or a novella-length historical drama, Papernick's characters are rendered with the greatest empathy, presenting beauty and understanding amid stark brutality.
From the opening story “Displaced Person,” to the sexy and shocking “The Cinq à Sept Girl,” Papernick returns to the themes of love and longing and desire. “Adam Number Three,” provides a golem revenge story for the 21st century, while “When the Rains Came,” a brief but devastating parable, takes on the eternal great flood myth in which only innocent children remain to carry on.
Masterful storytelling, by a writer working at peak power, Gallery of the Disappeared Men will remain with you long after you have closed the book.
Profound and magical, dark and disturbing, Papernick's stories are always challenging and brave. Whether he is writing stiletto-sharp flash fiction or a novella-length historical drama, Papernick's characters are rendered with the greatest empathy, presenting beauty and understanding amid stark brutality.
From the opening story “Displaced Person,” to the sexy and shocking “The Cinq à Sept Girl,” Papernick returns to the themes of love and longing and desire. “Adam Number Three,” provides a golem revenge story for the 21st century, while “When the Rains Came,” a brief but devastating parable, takes on the eternal great flood myth in which only innocent children remain to carry on.
Masterful storytelling, by a writer working at peak power, Gallery of the Disappeared Men will remain with you long after you have closed the book.
- GenresShort Stories
240 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2024
About the author
Jonathan Papernick
12 books35 followersJonathan Papernick's first collection of short stories The Ascent of Eli Israel was published by Arcade Publishing in 2002 and received a full-page review in the New York Times and a starred review in Publishers Weekly.
His second collection of short stories There is No Other was published by Exile Editions in the spring of 2010. Author Dara Horn wrote about There is No Other, "Every single story here delivers a knock-out punch that will leave you reeling long after you've put it down -- and revising your thinking on what life and love really mean."
In the summer of 2010, Papernick began hand-selling his books via pushcart at farmers' markets in New England and New York as Papernick the Book Peddler. The name is an homage to the classic Yiddish writer Sholem Yankev Abramovich, AKA Mendele Mocher Sforim (Mendele the Book Peddler.) Papernick the Book Peddler's motto is: Bringing Market-Fresh Fiction Directly to the People.
His novel The Book of Stone, was published in 2015. Award-winning author of The World to Come, Dara Horn called The Book of Stone, "Devastating, gripping and beautiful...Open this book carefully. You will close it changed."
Papernick's novel, I Am My Beloveds, a fictional exploration of a couple grappling with the complications of an open marriage, will be published in January 2022.
Author Lana Popovic Harper wrote, "I Am My Beloveds is a warm, funny, thoughtful, and often heart-wrenching portrait of a modern couple testing the boundaries of their relationship, while exploring the outer limits of their love for each other. It's an engaging and timely read, perfect for a generation of readers much more open to the allure (and pitfalls) of polyamory."
He is a senior writer-in-residence at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.
Please visit www.jonpapernick.com to learn more or to invite Jon to speak or read.
His second collection of short stories There is No Other was published by Exile Editions in the spring of 2010. Author Dara Horn wrote about There is No Other, "Every single story here delivers a knock-out punch that will leave you reeling long after you've put it down -- and revising your thinking on what life and love really mean."
In the summer of 2010, Papernick began hand-selling his books via pushcart at farmers' markets in New England and New York as Papernick the Book Peddler. The name is an homage to the classic Yiddish writer Sholem Yankev Abramovich, AKA Mendele Mocher Sforim (Mendele the Book Peddler.) Papernick the Book Peddler's motto is: Bringing Market-Fresh Fiction Directly to the People.
His novel The Book of Stone, was published in 2015. Award-winning author of The World to Come, Dara Horn called The Book of Stone, "Devastating, gripping and beautiful...Open this book carefully. You will close it changed."
Papernick's novel, I Am My Beloveds, a fictional exploration of a couple grappling with the complications of an open marriage, will be published in January 2022.
Author Lana Popovic Harper wrote, "I Am My Beloveds is a warm, funny, thoughtful, and often heart-wrenching portrait of a modern couple testing the boundaries of their relationship, while exploring the outer limits of their love for each other. It's an engaging and timely read, perfect for a generation of readers much more open to the allure (and pitfalls) of polyamory."
He is a senior writer-in-residence at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.
Please visit www.jonpapernick.com to learn more or to invite Jon to speak or read.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 21, 2023
Beautiful writing but even better storytelling, these pieces will leave you contemplating yourself and your relationships for days. There is so much truth in them about humanity, and even the shorter works build such deep characters that they come to life after a few sentences.
The bulk of the book consists of the novella, "Displaced Person", but the thirteen other stories are just as memorable. If you're looking for something introspective and don't mind examining the cruel, vicious side of humanity, look no further.
There are a few redeeming moments, which are that much more powerful amidst the pain. Here's one of my favorites: "And for one final moment, the shining face of Jessie Inwood smiled back from one hundred cascading newspapers, the Sunshine Girl floating on the air above Shawn and Hodgson, her smile bright and confident and alive."
The bulk of the book consists of the novella, "Displaced Person", but the thirteen other stories are just as memorable. If you're looking for something introspective and don't mind examining the cruel, vicious side of humanity, look no further.
There are a few redeeming moments, which are that much more powerful amidst the pain. Here's one of my favorites: "And for one final moment, the shining face of Jessie Inwood smiled back from one hundred cascading newspapers, the Sunshine Girl floating on the air above Shawn and Hodgson, her smile bright and confident and alive."
April 25, 2023
Special thanks to the publishers, The Story Plant & Gramarye, for granting me access to this book through NetGalley.
“The Gallery of Disappearing Men” by Jonathan Papernick caught me by surprise! I was super excited when I got a copy. I pretty much went into this book blind, other than knowing it’s a “dark” novella. I was shocked at how taken I was by the book. The subject matter was so real and dark. I usually fly through books like this but I found myself taking my time and savoring this literary experience.
Mr. Papernick is an amazing story teller. Each story is different for the rest (obviously) but just as satisfying. The twists of magic and horror on top of disturbing environments and situations was great experience. I was definitely invested. I wish some stories were longer. I enjoyed each story individually and the book as a whole. I have already been recommending this book to friends and ordered a copy for my personal library. Good book! 4 stars!
“The Gallery of Disappearing Men” by Jonathan Papernick caught me by surprise! I was super excited when I got a copy. I pretty much went into this book blind, other than knowing it’s a “dark” novella. I was shocked at how taken I was by the book. The subject matter was so real and dark. I usually fly through books like this but I found myself taking my time and savoring this literary experience.
Mr. Papernick is an amazing story teller. Each story is different for the rest (obviously) but just as satisfying. The twists of magic and horror on top of disturbing environments and situations was great experience. I was definitely invested. I wish some stories were longer. I enjoyed each story individually and the book as a whole. I have already been recommending this book to friends and ordered a copy for my personal library. Good book! 4 stars!
June 8, 2023
blurbed, with pleasure --
"With his new collection, THE GALLERY OF DISAPPEARED MAN, Jonathan Papernick once again proves himself a consummate storyteller. From a stark displaced persons camp to the staid Boston suburbs, to the purportedly cushy camp hills of Orange County, Papernick boldly immerses us in unsettling and disturbing landscapes. Violence is everywhere and often unrelenting, perpetrated by an extensive cast of bullies. But there is magic in the horror, too. Children grow gills. A dead mother spams her son. A severed hand morphs into man. These are brutal stories of a troubled world excavated with surgical precision in tireless search of the reckless and ruined, ever-beating, human heart."
"With his new collection, THE GALLERY OF DISAPPEARED MAN, Jonathan Papernick once again proves himself a consummate storyteller. From a stark displaced persons camp to the staid Boston suburbs, to the purportedly cushy camp hills of Orange County, Papernick boldly immerses us in unsettling and disturbing landscapes. Violence is everywhere and often unrelenting, perpetrated by an extensive cast of bullies. But there is magic in the horror, too. Children grow gills. A dead mother spams her son. A severed hand morphs into man. These are brutal stories of a troubled world excavated with surgical precision in tireless search of the reckless and ruined, ever-beating, human heart."
February 16, 2023
Thank you to the publishers, The Story Plant & Gramarye, for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Papernick’s “Gallery of the Disappeared Men” is a short-story collections, although the first story is a longer one, spanning a few chapters. This story, called “Displaced Person”, was also my favourite story in the collection. It was very gripping and it being so long I forgot this was a collection of short stories and was confused when the next story was about something else. I sort of wish “Displaced Person” was longer. I felt like there was much more to be told.
All in all, I very much enjoyed reading this collection. I felt engaged and also challenged as I don’t normally read short stories but rather long fantasies. It was a nice experience.
Papernick’s “Gallery of the Disappeared Men” is a short-story collections, although the first story is a longer one, spanning a few chapters. This story, called “Displaced Person”, was also my favourite story in the collection. It was very gripping and it being so long I forgot this was a collection of short stories and was confused when the next story was about something else. I sort of wish “Displaced Person” was longer. I felt like there was much more to be told.
All in all, I very much enjoyed reading this collection. I felt engaged and also challenged as I don’t normally read short stories but rather long fantasies. It was a nice experience.
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May 10, 2024Read it. And blurbed it. Yo.
"Jon Papernick is a magician, conjuring a rich emotional landscape from his deeply observed characters and their very human lives and needs."
"Jon Papernick is a magician, conjuring a rich emotional landscape from his deeply observed characters and their very human lives and needs."
April 29, 2023
The first story started out very good, feelings and emotions expressed very well.... and the ending -although messy- but it kindda made sense.
The following short stories were like a mix of psychopathic scattered thoughts and some horror campfire stories
I don't recommend it
The following short stories were like a mix of psychopathic scattered thoughts and some horror campfire stories
I don't recommend it
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews