QUICK AND QUIRKY STORIES AND PHOTOS

Cary presents a set of short tales that offer humorous and profound insights into the peculiarities of human existence.

This collection includes more than two dozen flash-fiction stories, each less than 1,000 words in length, as well as scattered black-and-white photographs by the author. Each vignette introduces readers to a variety of offbeat characters, including a person with hypochondria who claims to have a “brain-eating” disease (“My Problem”). In “Superhero,” a superpowered man named Ken seeks medical help for intense, malodorous flatulence that affects his job: “In a few cases the bad guy has died because of…the emission,” he tells the physician. “It depresses me.” The doctor tries to be sympathetic while fanning the air and dabbing her nose. The images are as compelling as the text and add an extra layer of wit and charm; they aren’t meant to directly accompany the tales, but instead offer narratives of their own. Sometimes, they showcase observational humor, as in an image of street signs in front of cemeteries stating “No Passing” or “Dead End.” Cary’s ability to craft extraordinary tales from seemingly mundane scenarios is particularly impressive; stories such as “The Key,” which turns a simple find into a surprising narrative, present imaginative premises and satisfying payoffs. The author also has a knack for crafting opening lines that immediately draw readers in, as in “Accident”: “When Jake’s head exploded, it surprised me. I mean, what woman wants blood all over their living room?” A few stories feature writers as characters, including one of the standouts, “Rosie,” about a restaurant server who uses conversations and events she experiences during her shift to craft her own books.

A clever collection that provides an effective combination of brevity and wit.