When Giraffes Flew

Jeff Weddle’s When Giraffes Flew is a well-written collection of slice of life stories that remind this reader of Appalachian culture. Having roots in Appalachia, I see these stories as part of my heritage. My stories would be different, but the feelings and memories dredged up from a past, which consisted of family stories told on a front porch overlooking the Kanawha River, are the same. Stories such as that of a relative, who took to her bed for ten years over an argument with her husband, and then repeated somewhat differently two generations later. Stories where every family has at least one ne’er-do-well that makes for good storytelling. After all, isn’t that what stories do? Remind us of our ancestors? I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Appalachian and southern cultures or interested in the dynamics of marriage and friendships in small communities over time.

4★

I love short stories, and some of these are just the kind of thing I enjoy. A brief step into and out of the middle of someone’s life. Some are a fly-on-the-wall scenario where a couple is battling it out over old or imagined hurts, while others are brief musings about How did I get here, or How do I get out of here?

They vary from a paragraph of just over 100 words (which is a favourite) to 15 pages.

Most are about small town America, people living and working in trying circumstances—son is coming home from jail, trailer needs repairs, only job available is as a stripper, kids have been stolen by the ex.

Some are simply outrageous, but then, so are some people. The title story, “When Giraffes Flew”, is the last--complete fantasy and silly fun. You think bird droppings are bad?

My personal favourite, “Jeanie Leanie Shoots the Sewers”, is only a few pages long. It’s told as a series of separate paragraphs, each headed by the name of the relevant character. We gradually discover how these disconnected people are connected.

The first sentence: “Orville. The day Jeanie Leanie died I had to take the bus downtown to see the chiropractor because my neck got all twisted and the pain was terrible.”

Part way through another story: “ ‘A fine looking woman, ‘ Marcus thought to himself. ‘And she shot me.’ Marge stood over Marcus, her mouth moving but no words coming out.”

There are a few I’ll remember and several I didn’t find as satisfying. The author has plenty of talent, and I’d like to see more of the stories that have a bit of meat on their bones. Not length, just interest. It’s nice to feel we can relate to a character or their situation, even if it’s just a general sense of sympathy.

The 100-word story, “The Night Before” is the kind of thing I mean. A woman shakes some photos from an envelope buried in a desk drawer and remembers the last time she saw “him”, while upstairs her husband is watching TV and the kids are screaming. It’s short but beautifully done.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a copy for review. I do love a good short story.

A nice collection of short stories.

They are a bit bizar, dark, bordering on the absurd, yet quite delightful. How could they not, as the first story already begins with "You're ten years old the day the chickens explode".

Starting out as an everyday scenario, things quickly take a turn for the worse...a father fighting for custody of his children, male neighbours checking out the females next door, a car thief stealing more than intended, a disgruntled mailman tired of having to lug junk mail every single day.

Some made me shout "See, I knew it!", but most left a smile on my face.

Review copy supplied by publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a rating and/or review.