“Five” by Charlie Parr [Book Review]

There aren’t many books that feel like they were written with calloused hands and a head full of dusty memories, but Charlie Parr’s Five is one of them. Known for his raw, soulful music, Parr brings that same unpolished honesty to the page. His second work of fiction reads less like a short story collection and more like an after-hours conversation—one where you’re half-laughing, half-hurting, and not totally sure why. What follows is a look at why Five hits so hard in its own quiet, off-kilter way.

Alright, let’s just get this out of the way. This book isn’t for folks who like their stories tied up with a pretty bow or written in some fancy, highbrow style. Five feels more like sitting across the table from your oddball uncle while he tells you a bunch of stories that don’t really go anywhere but somehow leave you thinking about life in a different way.

Charlie Parr, yeah, the musician, the guy who sounds like he was raised on gravel roads and gospel records, has written another book. And just like his music, this thing is raw, honest, a little crooked in the best way. Right in the intro, he admits these barely count as stories. He’s not wrong. But they’re still worth hearing.

These are strange, funny, sometimes sad little moments. You’ve got birds in a nursing home. Imaginary mountain lions prowling around someone’s land. A neighbourhood hanging on by a thread that just wants a decent grocery store. It all sounds a little ridiculous, but Parr writes it like it matters, and somehow, it does.

The characters aren’t polished or heroic. They’re awkward, lonely, a bit rough around the edges. And that’s what makes them feel real. There’s this one line about a woman being “built like a chicken,” and it’s so weirdly perfect, you just nod and think, “yeah, I know someone exactly like that.”

Charlie Parr, photo by Shelly Mossman

This isn’t a book full of action or plot twists. It’s more like hearing someone talk at the end of a long night, when everyone’s tired and just saying what’s on their heart. It’s quiet, a little sad, but full of love in its own strange way. Even the worst characters get shown a little kindness.

If you’re into Tom Waits songs, old trucks, or drinking coffee in a gas station diner while snow hits the windows, you’ll probably feel right at home here.

ASIN: N/A
Publisher: Borrowed Light Press
Publication date: 8/5/2025
Language: English
Print length: 201
ISBN-13: 979-8-9918569-2-8