Subtle Man Loses His Day Job and Other Stories
- Fiction
- Publisher: Resource Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2020
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Publisher's Description
These are stories that move to unexpected conclusions. A man returns from a failed trip to California convinced that he must act on the knowledge that subtlety is his superpower. An English teacher discovers he now lacks language to communicate with his wife and family. A high school senior seeks escape from his parents' separation by joining a rock band, and he is not prepared for the unintended consequences that result. A young woman, with only so much time left in the getaway car to persuade her boyfriend that she belongs in his origin story, discovers the deeper story hidden in his origins. These are stories, some set in the Side Step Tavern or somewhere nearby, that offer destinations we might expect if we were to listen more closely to our neighbors and, perhaps, to our own hearts.
Endorsements (3)
“In this collection of short stories, Thomas Allbaugh has created a cast of complex, fully realized characters: Neal, Winky, Phil, and others possess an inherent longing for the transcendent with no trace of sentimentality or predictability. When you walk into the Side Step Bar, where ordinary people discuss the ineffable, you will recognize your co-workers, your neighbors, and yourself. These tales will woo you, you will read and reread, and your rereading will be rewarded. Subtlety is only one of Allbaugh’s many superpowers.”
“These searing stories feature characters you’ll both love and pity. Allbaugh writes with the sharp vision of a prophet who has seen the edge of the world and come back with a sorrowful yet honest report. If you lend your attention to this book, it will repay you a thousandfold.”
“Thomas Allbaugh’s richly drawn stories take the reader to places of longing, regret, loneliness, awkwardness, friendship, faith, and love. This is powerful storytelling about people who seem so real that you’ll feel you already know them. Told with subtle humor and a vivid sense of place, these stories will stay with you long after you finish them.”
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