Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town

In this collection of interconnected short stories, a varied group of teen characters each face the challenges and rewards of small-town life. Through ordinary events, showing brief moments in the characters’ lives, we see their inner struggles, how they deal with pain or boredom or being left behind, and how they find new paths and moments of healing. Set in the mid-1990s, the stories are set in Alaska and in small towns scattered across the American west. We meet hitchhikers, kids with reputations, girls who grew up wild and free, siblings who’ve suffered loss. Some common threads are apparent across multiple stories — the early warnings of a wildfire in one story turn into an out-of-control inferno in another; the aftermath of certain events are sprinkled throughout several characters’ lives, but we only get the full picture in a seemingly unrelated story later on. I loved seeing the way the characters’ lives intersect and have impacts big and small on other characters’ lives, even when there’s no obvious connection. In fact, these characters for the most part will never know the threads that connect them, even though we as readers are treated to the bigger picture and have the pleasure of seeing where all theses lives overlap. The author’s first novel, The Smell of Other People’s Houses, is one of my favorite books, and is a must-read. In Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town, we’re once again treated to her simple yet affecting approach to language, the realistic-feeling dialogue, and the tour of the inner workings of teen minds and hearts. I wouldn’t normally be drawn to a short story collection, but I picked this one up because of the author, and I’m so glad I did. It’s a slim, lovely book, and I’m sure I’ll read it again to gain new appreciation now that I know how the very different pieces all fit together. Highly recommended.

Just like the first book, I devoured this one. I loved the stories and the way they connected to each other. Her characters are so real and well written. I read it in one day and I can\’t wait for the next book. I am an adult and I got her first book for my teenage daughter and read it. We both loved it and I ordered this one for my now 20-something daughter. I believe it is youth because the main characters are teenagers, but really any one can read this and enjoy it.

Small towns seem to be a source of nostalgia, fascination, contempt, and boredom, among many other things. Those from big cities may wax poetic about small town life, while those who grew up in one could not wait to escape it. Hitchcock explored the many facets of small town living in this collection of stories, which kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I first experienced Hitchcock\’s writing via her debut, The Smell of Other People\’s Houses, and knew I would be a forever fan. Once again, she crafted stories, which are not normally my go-to, but were written so brilliantly, I found myself devouring the pages. Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town is a collection of short stories which are connected to each other. The stories are set in rural areas in places like Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Colorado. It delighted me that I was out of the big cities for once and spent most of my time off the coast as well. The stories dealt with everyday issues, while also having several overarching plots that are picked up in the other stories. When I first realized these stories were talking about some of the same events, I felt a bit of excitement. Seeing someone from a previous story made me giddy, and I adored looking out for them. Finding the pieces and making the connections became my sport, and I delighted in it. But there was more to the masterful storytelling. Hitchcock hits on many dark themes and left me with a lot to chew on. She had me sharing the pain, loss, and rage of these characters, while also allowing me a bit of hope, here and there. When I finished the book, I had tears in my eyes, but also a sense awe as I pondered the idea of connection. I loved the way she looked at small town life, while also making the world a bit smaller showing how these these people who were geographically separated were affected by the same series of events. This was one of my most positive experiences with an anthology to date. The characters were well drawn, their emotions perfectly captured, and the storytelling first-rate. Though all these tales revolved around darker themes, I was still fully drawn into these worlds, which is a testament to the storytelling. Overall, I was captivated by this collection of stories, which left me thinking about human connection and how our lives are more intertwined than we believe.

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