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Big Bend: Stories
Through quirky plots, one-of-kind characters, and more than a few twists, the stories in Big Bend examine gentle-hearted men and their relationships. From made-in-heaven meetings to troublesome liaisons, Roorbach's characters experience romance in unexpected, sometimes disastrous ways.
In "Fog," a teenage boy learns hard lessons about canoes, the Gulf of Maine, sex, and love. A struggling young artist goes home for the holidays in search of succor for the stomach―and heart―with poor results in "Thanksgiving." Other stories recount the ultimately disastrous reunion of estranged friends, an unemployed architect's foolish courting with bad company, and a middle-aged rock star's struggle with the urge to settle down. In the tiitle story, "Big Bend," a grieving widower, troubled by his own waning years, is tempted by a seductively attentive birdwatcher no older than his daughter.
Poignant tales of hauntingly familiar situations, Bill Roorbach's stories are full of heart, romance, edgy humor, and the frequently concealed vulnerability of men.
In "Fog," a teenage boy learns hard lessons about canoes, the Gulf of Maine, sex, and love. A struggling young artist goes home for the holidays in search of succor for the stomach―and heart―with poor results in "Thanksgiving." Other stories recount the ultimately disastrous reunion of estranged friends, an unemployed architect's foolish courting with bad company, and a middle-aged rock star's struggle with the urge to settle down. In the tiitle story, "Big Bend," a grieving widower, troubled by his own waning years, is tempted by a seductively attentive birdwatcher no older than his daughter.
Poignant tales of hauntingly familiar situations, Bill Roorbach's stories are full of heart, romance, edgy humor, and the frequently concealed vulnerability of men.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Bill Roorbach
27 books203 followersBill Roorbach's newest novel is The Remedy For Love, coming October 2014 from Algonquin Books. Life Among Giants, also from Algonquin, is in development for a multi-year series at HBO, and won the 2014 Maine Literary Award in Fiction. Big Bend: Stories has just be re-released by Georgia in its Flannery O'Connor Award series. Temple Stream is soon to be re-released by Down East Books. Bill is also the author of the romantic memoir SUMMERS WITH JULIET, the novel THE SMALLEST COLOR, the essay collection INTO WOODS. The tenth anniversary edition of his craft book, WRITING LIFE STORIES, is used in writing programs around the world. His short fiction has been published in Harper's, The Atlantic Monthly, Playboy, and dozens of other magazines, journals, and websites, and has been featured on NPR's Selected Shorts, and won an O. Henry Prize. He lives in western Maine where he writes full time.
For more information about Bill Roorbach, see www.billroorbach.com, www.lifeamonggiantsthebook.com, and be sure to enjoy his blog and videos at www.billanddavescocktailhour.com. Follow him on Twitter: @billroorbach.
For more information about Bill Roorbach, see www.billroorbach.com, www.lifeamonggiantsthebook.com, and be sure to enjoy his blog and videos at www.billanddavescocktailhour.com. Follow him on Twitter: @billroorbach.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 28, 2023
I like Bill Roorbach's stories and these were just right for reading in between non-fiction books. Some set in Maine, but also all over the country.
September 3, 2008
My favorite was the title story, last in the collection, but top of my list. Although I love short stories, I sometimes have difficulty with very male ones and I found the subject of some of these to be a bit male for my liking. I liked reading them and found them very thoughtful and interesting, I just had abit of trouble with the recurring older man, younger woman thing.
November 29, 2008
Underwhelmed. These are stories full of lovely evocations and brilliant descriptions – in which absolutely nothing happens. Some will love Roorbach’s Carveresque spareness and exquisite descriptions of nature, but I found that it left me mostly hungry for stories that were actually peopled.
July 29, 2016
I'm normally not fond of short stories but my mother knows I like this author and bought this for me. I loved it! each story was completely different and totally relatable. each story filled me with emotIon. This collection is well worth the read.
February 5, 2014
Looking forward to seeing this author at this year's Southern Voices.
These are all stories of men. Some of them are lonely, some are lost and all are searching. They mostly walk tenderly down a rough road.
These are all stories of men. Some of them are lonely, some are lost and all are searching. They mostly walk tenderly down a rough road.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews