An easy-going story collection that embraces slice of life humor and emotional depth
Bag o’ Goodies is a grounded, contemplative collection that runs a wide gamut. The short fiction is textured with sprinkles of humorous verse in between, the poems like pieces of fairground taffy—both fun and a little sticky.
Each story captures an organic, lived-in slice of life situation through craftsman-like first-person storytelling. Bittick’s realism is natural and unforced. “At the Gate” (Parts 1 and 2) are frank explorations of race relations in the American military, almost reading like creative nonfiction. Even “Old Man Digby,” a tense bit of horror reminiscent of Psycho and Stand by Me, is grounded in a traumatic event and its long-term effects on adolescent protagonists.
Bittick tackles uncomfortable subjects like alcoholism and race with a disarming, conversational prose style that allows his stories to unwind like good old-fashioned yarns. He avoids sentimentality and treats his subjects with great respect, as in “Calvert County Detention,” which follows a man’s arrest for a DUI. Both parts of “At the Gate,” in which a white soldier seeks to understand the inherent racism in a comment he makes, are objectively and humanistically rendered—both deeply affecting.
“Really is a Word” takes on the bittersweet return of a man to his hometown after a divorce, displaying the author’s gift for portraying male friendships. The conversations between old friends could be overheard in any bar. This story, in particular, is a surprise as small town, middle-aged nostalgia ends with an unpredictable shock.
Most of the stories are told from an easy-going first-person perspective, with the exception of “On Sequim Bay,” a standout for more than its third person point of view. “On Sequim Bay” walks the reader through a man’s recollections on his way to commit suicide. Memories weave naturally in and out of present day, tying the man to the boy he was. We see him learn to hunt with his father who tells him that “you have to know what you’re shooting at,” and go clam-digging with his granddad, but we also see his alcoholism and recovery, his intention to commit suicide and his decision whether or not to live. The story creates a matter-of-fact arc, reminding us that everyone was someone’s kid once.
The stories of Bag O’ Goodies do contain moments of humor, but they are far more defined by their humanity. The poetry occasionally undermines the impact of some of the fiction. The collection opens with a sly, little thing called “Cherry-Popped Book” and ends with a guffaw in “Farewells and Farts.” Save for one poem, “A Lovely Life” (“a lovely life means I am alive”),which appears in direct conversation with the stories around it, the poems may work against the anchored prose.
It’s altogether a strong collection, layers deeper than its “bag o’ goodies” title implies. Readers will appreciate the lightness of Bittick’s authorial voice, as despite the gravity of some of the fiction, the stories leaven themselves.
Bag o’ Goodies is an enjoyable collection of discernibly American storytelling. Any of these pieces would fit nicely in The Moth or This American Life. Jolly Walker Bittick is the kind of author who sounds like he’s leaning back in his chair telling you a story about that one time. Lucky for us, it is a true pleasure to listen.
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