1986
Stories
by Will Stepp
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Pub Date Jan 15 2025 | Archive Date Apr 30 2025
Description
Ten interconnected stories about a boy growing up in a small town in Georgia, set against the backdrop of the 1980s. From a secret pond nestled in the woods to the fog-shrouded rooftop of an interstate truck stop, to the shadowy corridors of a YMCA basement, familiar landscapes transform into realms of childhood wonder and discovery. Together, these dreamlike and often surreal tales weave a nostalgic meditation on family, home, memory, and time.
Advance Praise
"An absolutely haunting and emotionally charged reading experience. Stepp's superbly rendered and consistently heartrending vignettes may dramatize mundane things like class trips, birthdays, checking the mail, and fixing the washing machine with granddad, but they nevertheless brim with genuine profundity and true terror at almost every turn."
—Kirkus Reviews (https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/will-stepp/1986-stories/)
"Atmospheric & real—a recollective mood on childhood, family, and friends in the 1980s, coated with the nostalgia of times gone by. 'New Knife' might be the best short story I've read in years."
—Toni Woodruff, Independent Book Review (https://independentbookreview.com/2024/11/01/book-review-1986-by-will-stepp/)
"This book engrossed me in ways I struggle to explain as Will Stepp perfectly captures the ineffable qualities of reminiscing. While people tend to present their life stories as cohesive narratives with clear structure, themes, and resolution, things are rarely so simple: we misremember things, omit details that don't neatly fit into the narrative, and filter past events through our current perspectives and biases. The book embraces this messiness and keeps us immersed in the main character's raw experiences through vivid descriptions, bursts of streams of consciousness, and hazy, dreamlike scenes open to interpretation."
—Gabriel Santos, Readers' Favorite (https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/1986)
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798991503600 |
| PRICE | $13.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 164 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Heather W, Reviewer
I liked this book. It felt very nostalgic and the author captured the weird phase between childhood and adulthood well. The prose was atmospheric and descriptive, and the stories were compelling. I enjoyed the weird and wonderful relationships between the various characters, especially the family members, and the surreal and bizarre aspects of the tales. A great read.
Nicole W, Reviewer
This Interlocked short collection was a nostalgic, tense ride, with an undercurrent that left me with a sense of foreboding. The setting and characters had me constantly on edge. The writing style was gripping and I enjoyed the easy flow as it came together. The 80s setting was believable and nostalgic in a real and gritty way. I enjoyed this very much and will read more from this author.
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