Captive Audience

Reidy's youthful collection weaves real-life personas with fictional characters, placing them in settings that reflect the oddities of the humdrum. In “Thingless,” Arkansas teenager Kyle searches for “a thing” that may define him at his new high school, but his plan backfires when he takes too much of an interest in the troubled girl next door. In the title story, agoraphobic narrator Jim structures his day around listening to classic comedy records, and the comedy club that opens below his apartment provides unexpected comfort and an unlikely, uncommon friendship. In the ironic, not quite credible but entertaining “Dancing Man,” Dale, a Chicago organist who plays by ear, lands a gig touring with Sod Off Shotgun, a ska rock band. Although the band doesn't find his organ skills up to par, he finds a niche dancing on stage as a novelty act to energize the crowd. Though the same themes are repeatedly pounded and sounded, and the twists become less fun and surprising later in the book, Reidy is a proficient and reliable performer in his chosen groove. (June)