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kfajack27's review against another edition
3.0
This was a Goodreads book winner.
Very easy read. The first 2 stories in the book were the best. All the others read fine, but I think the flow was off. Some of the stories really could have developed into a whole book, and just left holes when read this way. I would read more by this author in the future.
Very easy read. The first 2 stories in the book were the best. All the others read fine, but I think the flow was off. Some of the stories really could have developed into a whole book, and just left holes when read this way. I would read more by this author in the future.
readingwithmygoldens's review against another edition
3.0
3.25
This short story collection could not have been blurbed by better authors. I was extremely encouraged by this and jumped at the chance to read the book when it was offered. The trouble with a book of short stories are that you love some of them and have trouble connecting to others. You hope the good outweighs the bad and in this case, it did.
"So This Is Permanence', 'An Attachment Theory', 'The Ranger Queen of Sulphur' and 'Haguillory' were my favorites. I think some aspects of certain stories were lost on me since I have lived almost all of my life in New York State. NYS and Louisiana are obviously very, different. It was interesting to sit and reflect about how cultural and geographic differences between these two states pointed its inhabitants in very opposite directions. While Buffalo, NY suffered greatly post WWII and is part of the Rust Belt, things have improved within the last decade. By pure luck, my family escaped the devastation that hit many others and that afforded me the opportunity to advance myself further than my parents and grandparents. When I read the below in 'The Ranger Queen of Sulphur', my heart just broke.
"She felt a sudden terror that this would be the moment when he would tell her, finally -- and it was about time, really -- to leave his house and go out on her own, to quit getting high and messing around and squandering the life that he had wasted himself to give her." (pg. 77-78)
Natural disasters and economic destruction have left many people in this country behind and many in Louisiana suffer mightily. What I was reminded of when reading these stories is that some don't know how to break a bad cycle. You can only aspire to what you can see and if there are so few examples of the 'right path', how can you expect someone to have that desire to follow through and achieve?
With the exception of a few stories, the continuity from beginning to end was good. One of the most important things to me when reading is how much I take away from it. I took a great deal away from this book and know I will carry it with me for a long time. Ms. Soileau is a talented writer and I would read her next book.
Thank you so much to Jessica Chun at Little, Brown and Company for sending me a finished copy to read and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 06/29/2020
Publication Date: 07/07/2020
This short story collection could not have been blurbed by better authors. I was extremely encouraged by this and jumped at the chance to read the book when it was offered. The trouble with a book of short stories are that you love some of them and have trouble connecting to others. You hope the good outweighs the bad and in this case, it did.
"So This Is Permanence', 'An Attachment Theory', 'The Ranger Queen of Sulphur' and 'Haguillory' were my favorites. I think some aspects of certain stories were lost on me since I have lived almost all of my life in New York State. NYS and Louisiana are obviously very, different. It was interesting to sit and reflect about how cultural and geographic differences between these two states pointed its inhabitants in very opposite directions. While Buffalo, NY suffered greatly post WWII and is part of the Rust Belt, things have improved within the last decade. By pure luck, my family escaped the devastation that hit many others and that afforded me the opportunity to advance myself further than my parents and grandparents. When I read the below in 'The Ranger Queen of Sulphur', my heart just broke.
"She felt a sudden terror that this would be the moment when he would tell her, finally -- and it was about time, really -- to leave his house and go out on her own, to quit getting high and messing around and squandering the life that he had wasted himself to give her." (pg. 77-78)
Natural disasters and economic destruction have left many people in this country behind and many in Louisiana suffer mightily. What I was reminded of when reading these stories is that some don't know how to break a bad cycle. You can only aspire to what you can see and if there are so few examples of the 'right path', how can you expect someone to have that desire to follow through and achieve?
With the exception of a few stories, the continuity from beginning to end was good. One of the most important things to me when reading is how much I take away from it. I took a great deal away from this book and know I will carry it with me for a long time. Ms. Soileau is a talented writer and I would read her next book.
Thank you so much to Jessica Chun at Little, Brown and Company for sending me a finished copy to read and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 06/29/2020
Publication Date: 07/07/2020
courtneyptum's review against another edition
4.0
Stephanie Soileau is kind of under the radar as a southern writer but she shouldn't be. This was a fine short story collection of literary fiction. As a resident of Louisiana, I feel I'm qualified to say: after you read this book you will feel like you've visited the most intimate corner of the state (and yes, the places she describes are very different from Bourbon Street). "The Boucherie" was my favorite story.
brooke_review's review against another edition
4.0
Stephanie Soileau’s debut short story collection, Last One Out Shut Off the Lights, brings a vivid voice and unforgettable imagery to Louisiana. Primarily set in the southwest corner of the state, these stories introduce us to the Cajun culture, its people, and their homeland. Some stories straightforward, others experimental, all poignant and beautiful, the tales of Last One Out Shut Off the Lights are memorable and distinct, and are sure to be enjoyed by lovers of stories of the American South.
So This is Permeance (3/5)
A teenage girl rejects the baby she has recently given birth to, and instead tries to reclaim her youth by engaging in risky, rebellious behavior.
So This is Permeance was in many ways horrifying due to the abuses inflicted upon this teenage mother’s infant son, but also shows the very real potential consequences of forcing and/or encouraging women to follow through with unwanted pregnancies. We can’t assume that every woman will automatically take to her child once it is born, and So This is Permeance shows what happens when the mother-child bond just isn’t there.
An Attachment Theory (4/5)
A young mother takes the steps to move out of her childhood home, but finds that the bonds her seven year old daughter has formed with her family members aren’t that easy to break.
This story was quite interesting to me. Many generations of families in Louisiana live in homes together, or you find grandparents, aunts, or godparents raising a loved one’s children. What happens when a child bonds better with one of their relatives than their own parents?
The Ranger Queen of Sulphur (4/5)
A young woman, disillusioned by her hometown’s prospects and stuck in a rut that she can’t find a way out of, attempts to help her morbidly obese brother get lap band surgery in Mexico.
The Ranger Queen of Sulphur spoke to me because it is a reminder of the ways that people can so easily become complacent and accept mediocrity and just “getting by” as the status quo. This story represents so many people living in poverty and without prospects, and shows that it really takes wanting something better for yourself to make it happen.
Poke Salad (3/5)
A man calls his daughter to tell her about what could have been his last meal.
Poke Salad is a very short story featuring a phone call by a man named Nason (connection to character in An Attachment Theory?) to his daughter. Poke Salad reads much like an anecdote and serves as a peek into the ways people relate to each other and the things they find to talk about.
The Whiskey Business (2/5)
A high school girl navigates a myriad of issues at her academic boarding school, including power, privilege, and sexual assault.
The Whiskey Business had too much going on to be effective as a short story. This tale shines light on the power and privilege that money can buy, shielding rapists and disreputable characters from consequence, yet it felt too all over the place to be of much effect.
When Pluto Lost His Planetary Status (3/5)
A metaphor-laden story compares Pluto and the recent discovery of his many “brothers and sisters” out there at the far end of the galaxy to a “bastard” child who learns his dad has fathered other sons and daughters.
I’ll admit that I didn’t quite “get” what Soileau was going for here, but I enjoyed reading it for its poetic language and thought-provoking imagery.
Mr. A (4/5)
The questionable director of a child theatre troupe seemingly has eyes for one of his prodigies, a teenage black boy, who has also caught the eye of a church-grown girl in the troupe.
Mr. A was interesting and at times, had me questioning my perception of reality. Are things as they appear in this story or are we seeing something that is not there?
Cut Off, Louisiana: A Ghost Story (3/5)
One of Soileau’s more experimental stories, Cut Off, Louisiana takes us to the old days of Bayou Lafourche, once a distributary of the Mississippi River.
Having roots in Lafourche Parish, I appreciated this story, although I did have difficulty following some parts even though I am familiar with the area, people, and French language; so I can imagine that those not from or familiar with Acadiana will have some difficulty with this story.
Haguillory (4/5)
An ornery man and his wife spend the day crabbing.
I really liked Haguillory because not only did it contain so many touches of life in Louisiana, but it also gave a realistic portrayal of how relationships can breakdown over time.
Camera Obscura (3/5)
A Louisiana transplant out west deals with her husband’s terminal illness by indulging in fantasies about a coworker.
A solid story about leaving the place where you grew up, but not being able to escape.
The Boucherie (3/5)
When an interstate accident sends cattle headed to the slaughterhouse out all over town, one cow ends up in the yard of a newly immigrated Sudanese family, whose neighbors try to convince them to let the neighborhood residents butcher her.
The Boucherie focuses on immigration and how cloistered communities react to “outsiders.” This story shines a spotlight on a merging of cultures and customs in small town Louisiana.
So This is Permeance (3/5)
A teenage girl rejects the baby she has recently given birth to, and instead tries to reclaim her youth by engaging in risky, rebellious behavior.
So This is Permeance was in many ways horrifying due to the abuses inflicted upon this teenage mother’s infant son, but also shows the very real potential consequences of forcing and/or encouraging women to follow through with unwanted pregnancies. We can’t assume that every woman will automatically take to her child once it is born, and So This is Permeance shows what happens when the mother-child bond just isn’t there.
An Attachment Theory (4/5)
A young mother takes the steps to move out of her childhood home, but finds that the bonds her seven year old daughter has formed with her family members aren’t that easy to break.
This story was quite interesting to me. Many generations of families in Louisiana live in homes together, or you find grandparents, aunts, or godparents raising a loved one’s children. What happens when a child bonds better with one of their relatives than their own parents?
The Ranger Queen of Sulphur (4/5)
A young woman, disillusioned by her hometown’s prospects and stuck in a rut that she can’t find a way out of, attempts to help her morbidly obese brother get lap band surgery in Mexico.
The Ranger Queen of Sulphur spoke to me because it is a reminder of the ways that people can so easily become complacent and accept mediocrity and just “getting by” as the status quo. This story represents so many people living in poverty and without prospects, and shows that it really takes wanting something better for yourself to make it happen.
Poke Salad (3/5)
A man calls his daughter to tell her about what could have been his last meal.
Poke Salad is a very short story featuring a phone call by a man named Nason (connection to character in An Attachment Theory?) to his daughter. Poke Salad reads much like an anecdote and serves as a peek into the ways people relate to each other and the things they find to talk about.
The Whiskey Business (2/5)
A high school girl navigates a myriad of issues at her academic boarding school, including power, privilege, and sexual assault.
The Whiskey Business had too much going on to be effective as a short story. This tale shines light on the power and privilege that money can buy, shielding rapists and disreputable characters from consequence, yet it felt too all over the place to be of much effect.
When Pluto Lost His Planetary Status (3/5)
A metaphor-laden story compares Pluto and the recent discovery of his many “brothers and sisters” out there at the far end of the galaxy to a “bastard” child who learns his dad has fathered other sons and daughters.
I’ll admit that I didn’t quite “get” what Soileau was going for here, but I enjoyed reading it for its poetic language and thought-provoking imagery.
Mr. A (4/5)
The questionable director of a child theatre troupe seemingly has eyes for one of his prodigies, a teenage black boy, who has also caught the eye of a church-grown girl in the troupe.
Mr. A was interesting and at times, had me questioning my perception of reality. Are things as they appear in this story or are we seeing something that is not there?
Cut Off, Louisiana: A Ghost Story (3/5)
One of Soileau’s more experimental stories, Cut Off, Louisiana takes us to the old days of Bayou Lafourche, once a distributary of the Mississippi River.
Having roots in Lafourche Parish, I appreciated this story, although I did have difficulty following some parts even though I am familiar with the area, people, and French language; so I can imagine that those not from or familiar with Acadiana will have some difficulty with this story.
Haguillory (4/5)
An ornery man and his wife spend the day crabbing.
I really liked Haguillory because not only did it contain so many touches of life in Louisiana, but it also gave a realistic portrayal of how relationships can breakdown over time.
Camera Obscura (3/5)
A Louisiana transplant out west deals with her husband’s terminal illness by indulging in fantasies about a coworker.
A solid story about leaving the place where you grew up, but not being able to escape.
The Boucherie (3/5)
When an interstate accident sends cattle headed to the slaughterhouse out all over town, one cow ends up in the yard of a newly immigrated Sudanese family, whose neighbors try to convince them to let the neighborhood residents butcher her.
The Boucherie focuses on immigration and how cloistered communities react to “outsiders.” This story shines a spotlight on a merging of cultures and customs in small town Louisiana.
parimelanie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
madisonmila's review against another edition
3.0
I have some mixed feelings about this book. I did enjoy some of the stories, but overall I didn’t find too many of them interesting. I was often confused by specific Louisiana references and found them hard to follow. I wasn’t invested in many of the characters. Thank you for the Goodreads ARC Giveaway!
lee's review against another edition
3.5
3.5 stars
Last One Out Shut Off the Lights is an interesting collection of short stories, all set in Louisiana, and featuring ordinary people going about their everyday lives. The various protagonists in these stories range from teenagers to senior citizens, and through their voices, we get a glimpse of what life is like living in the type of last-chance town where things always feel as though they are in a constant state of flux. The setting looms large in these stories, and in many ways, can be considered a character in and of itself, lending a hugely atmospheric nature that serves as a backdrop to each story.
Of course, as is usually the case with short story collections, some were hits and some were misses, though all shared the common feelings of incompleteness and lack of closure to them. With that said, I did like how all the stories explored issues of identity and belonging in ways both subtle and obvious — but most significantly, each story felt realistic and relatable in some manner. One of the things that struck me after I finished reading was how “ambivalence” could manifest itself in such varied ways — a sentiment that the author, Stephanie Soileau, demonstrated in a masterful way through the very different characters in each of the stories.
Overall, I enjoyed this collection, even though I wasn’t necessarily able to resonate with each character or with each story. The many blurbs for this collection describe the stories as striking, fierce, evocative, empathetic, engaging — I agree with all of these, though I would also add “cleverly and thoughtfully” written, as each story gave me pause and made me ponder, in a way that I wasn’t expecting. I also learned a lot about Louisiana — a state that I knew little to nothing about outside of the city of New Orleans being located there and also what had been in the news about Hurricane Katrina. This is a collection I definitely recommend, a worthwhile read that I’m glad to have discovered (this was Jesmyn Ward’s July pick for her book club on Literati). It’s also a relatively short read, but one that doesn’t skimp on details in its depiction of Louisiana life and culture.
jessicabrazeal's review against another edition
3.0
I joined Literati and Jesmyn Ward's book club. This was the July selection: a short story collection looking at the people and culture of southwest Louisiana. I’m not typically a short story fan, but I liked this one. Great characters and contrasts drawn between stories.
aliciamonroe13's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this short story collection so much-in part because I live in Louisiana. Reading about rural Louisiana and other Deep South states (like Mississippi and Alabama) makes me feel so at home…in the best and worst ways. I appreciated the complexities of the characters and their often mundane lives that feel so very familiar. The nuance Soileau puts into these lives and places is