Ghosts of Chicago
by John McNally
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Book Summary Information
Author: John McNallyEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-10-01
ISBN: 0980016436
Number of pages: 228
Publisher: Jefferson Press
Book Reviews of Ghosts of Chicago
Book Review: Best Story Collection I've Read in Years
Summary: 5 Stars
John McNally's 'Ghosts of Chicago' is the best collection I've read since 'Emperor of the Air' by Ethan Canin. I love how he paces the longer and shorter stories.
Few writers deliver the funny as well as McNally -- and he does it without being jokey. Take 'The Something Something' which has Gene Siskel screening a film with Roger Ebert. Siskel can't behave himself in the theater. He slurps coffee, talks and shoots spitballs at Ebert. It's a comic setup but ends with a twist.
'I See Johnny' is one of the best stories I've ever read. Comics say they killed when the audience belongs to them. I'm not sure what writers say when they write a great story -- smashed it? Maybe 'killed' is the right word and McNally did just that.
Most story collections have clunkers. Not this one. Most story collections don't drive you on to read the next page and the next like a good novel. This one does.
The lovely thing about McNally isn't just his wonderful prose style or his gift for voice -- no, it's his perspective, how he sees things.
Have you ever imagined Roger Ebert holding Gene Siskel over his head? Yeah, me neither. McNally did.
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