Ball: Stories

Tacky, graphic depictions of sexual acts that detract from a skilfully written and imaginative collection. I'm a typically lusty male, but I found this aspect of what could have been rated 5 stars distasteful.

I should probably start by saying that I know Tara Ison and like her very much, so perhaps a bit of bias here. That said, she's one of my favorite writers, and BALL does not disappoint. Ison has a way of letting you see what makes a character tick without being obvious. She pries under the lid of closely kept secrets and feelings - every moment rings true. Her work is disturbing in the best way. Everything I want from fiction. Buy the book!

Interesting but strange book. I wasn't expecting this book to consist of a bunch of short stories, but I was intrigued enough to finish the book.

This is definitely not my typical read. The book was recommended by O magazine. Holy cow. .graphic sex, dark stories, twisted and haunting. Sad , deranged, weird stories. Yet, I could not stop reading and then thinking about them.Wow.

Tara Ison's "Ball" is a wondrous ride into the disturbing lives of seemingly every day characters thrown down life's staircase of socio/psychopathy. The stories remind me of a cross between Flannery O'conner and Bret Easton Ellis.

I am a fan of short stories, and this book has not disappointed. Interesting, different, unusual, and sometimes shocking stories. Just what I was looking for.

Not as described. Book was a Library book. Disappointing.

Edgy, creepy, funny. A great collection I would read twice.

I am a fan of books of short stories and was looking forward to one this upon reading a few excellent reviews about the stories being ‘dark, raw, provocative…’ but I found this book to be very contrived, as though the author was trying to go out of her way for shock value as opposed to connecting with the reader. I am all for reading raw and dark literature that evokes emotion but there is a story about a dog called ‘Ball’ which contained aspects pertaining to the narrator examining her pet’s *ahem* 'anatomy' I found so disconcerting that I actually had to skip over parts. There were some stories that were OK but for the most part, this book was difficult for me to get into which is unusual as I try my best to keep an open mind and can usually find something of merit in most collections of works. Perhaps ‘Ball’, which came along fairly early in the book, marred my ability to be diplomatic about the remaining stories.Usually I pass along my books to friends or family to enjoy but not this one – it is going to a book sale (anonymously).