First published 2003
In the fictional town of Fulton, North Carolina, a widow clutches her late husband's spider monkey while guarding his secrets. A single mother working at a veterinary clinic finds the doctor lacking compared to his animal patients. Seventh graders roam summer nights, spying on parked cars and tormenting the local madman. A married woman spots what might be a snake and chooses to step around it rather than confront the threat. In the final story, a daughter mourning her father recalls his compassion for the ugliest fish in the water. McCorkle presents twelve interconnected tales where flawed, clueless, endearing characters navigate life's contradictions alongside equally imperfect creatures. Each story examines the thin line between human and animal nature, revealing both the comedy and tragedy embedded in daily existence. The residents of Fulton face universal struggles while surrounded by mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles that mirror their own vulnerabilities and desires.
Genres: fiction, short-stories, animals, literary-fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: flawed-characters, found-family
Setting: Fulton, North Carolina
Period: Contemporary
257 pages · Paperback · A Shannon Ravenel Book