This collection of stories and miscellanea would best be described as anarchic. Pendarvis opens with faux blurbs: "Advance Praise for So Twines the Grape," the title of which, if nothing else, deserves a laugh. There are many short pieces interspersed throughout the book, including one Pushcart winner and several which have been prominently published, and these are humorous, but the longer pieces far outshine them.

"The Pipe" is a very funny account of a couple security guards monitoring a disc jockey who is trying to set a record by being buried alive for forty-six days. The twists are funny without being completely random and unbelievable.

"The Golden Pineapples," opens with a man being stalked by squirrels. It's a tale of a dropout from society who has been kicked and is ready to kick back. It's hilarious. Though it borders on wackiness, it is grounded in a strong scenario.

The title story follows the exploits of another societal dropout who wants to be a historian and write a history of America/ This devolves into a history of his town, and finally into a treasure hunt. It reminds me of Harry Stephen Keeler's mysteries. It's grotesquerie on a new level and it works because Pendarvis isn't standing back throwing rocks at paraplegics; he dives in and embraces the characters. This is true of all of Pendarvis's stories; he is taking risks. There's no safety net of distance from these characters, and I admire that. The book ends with faux contributors' notes.