Review: The Knucklehead and Other Stories by Lance Ealey

Author Lance Ealey paints sincere portraits and tackles quiet struggles in The Knucklehead and Other Stories, an entertaining collection of memorable tales told with heart and humble grace. Deep lessons learned from unexpected places make these visceral vignettes worth a patient, savoring read.

The characters that populate these five short stories are snapshots of an America long past – grouchy and wolfish junkyard dealers, patient bartenders with open ears, mischievous young boys looking for adventure, and a general sense of down-home small-town safety, where outsiders are viewed with healthy suspicion. The wonder and curiosity of youth is something Ealey brings into the spotlight, as well as the indomitable power of childhood imagination. Despite prose that shifts between genres, subjects, and writing styles, the reading experience remains effortless and clear.

America-focused fiction like this can tell a seemingly banal story, yet reveal so much about the traditions of belief and behavior that underlie the country’s culture. Subtle comments on social status, gender roles, and capitalism are woven into the narrative, giving even basic exchanges a greater weight. Thought-provoking writing with cars or motorcycles as a central theme conjures up Pirsig’s philosophical wanders, and there are certain similarities here – the delivery of straightforward prose that is far more meaningful than it may first appear, and unusual paternal bonds playing key roles in the storytelling.

The pieces aren’t overly rich with imagery, but there are occasional flairs of vivid description that stand out: “It slouched to one side on its forged-steel kickstand like a tough guy leaning against a bar” and “Chris recounted the scary parts of their run-in with a real werewolf all the way home, polishing and expanding especially bloodcurdling details as he went, adding in the sound effects for which he was locally famous.” There is a simple beauty in much of the prose, but as shown in the novella that closes this collection, “The Angelic Escapement,” the author is more than capable of dissecting abstract, mind-bending subjects like faith, heresy, freedom, the ceaseless flow of time, and the delicate nature of mortality. Chasing down an ancient mystery far from American shores may seem out of place among the book’s shorter tales, but the underlying emotions are the same – truth-seeking and endless adventure.

The writing itself is generally clean, although there are a few inconsistencies in tense and minor grammatical errors. Some expositional sections and narration feel unnecessary, and briefly slow the pace of the narrative, but these instances are rare. The dialogue is a driving force, immersive and colloquial, embracing the slang and cut corners of language that are so authentic to real speech. Having an ear for that flow of organic conversation is a valuable tool for any author, and Ealey wields it with ease, bringing readers into the action, transporting them to far-flung times and places.

Toeing the line between surrealism and creative nonfiction, these stories are impactful, amusing, and ultimately profound. A final, superficial review could thin some redundant narration, and perhaps polish the final rough moments, but this quirky collection is already a gem.