Scan barcode
savvyrosereads's review
4.0
If you go by the blurb, this collection of short stories sounds like one of the most boring things to ever exist. Which is why it's such a good thing that I am hear to tell you to ignore the blurb.
I am not usually one for stories that rely solely on emotion with very little point, but this collection pulled me in and made me care. Even the characters that I didn't like got to me and made me feel sympathy for them. Brennan explores human emotions and motivations with a style and a delicacy that is both fascinating and astounding to read.
I notice that I tend to end reviews with some sort of "if you like [fill in a kind of literature here] then give this book a shot." I'm going to do that here too, and I'm going to make it as simple as possible: if you like brilliantly written books, go read this one.
I am not usually one for stories that rely solely on emotion with very little point, but this collection pulled me in and made me care. Even the characters that I didn't like got to me and made me feel sympathy for them. Brennan explores human emotions and motivations with a style and a delicacy that is both fascinating and astounding to read.
I notice that I tend to end reviews with some sort of "if you like [fill in a kind of literature here] then give this book a shot." I'm going to do that here too, and I'm going to make it as simple as possible: if you like brilliantly written books, go read this one.
alma's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lauraeatsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely brilliant stories, especially the autobiographical ones at the beginning. So many new favourite short stories from this one collection.
saparson's review against another edition
4.0
Just finished a collection of Maeve Brennan's short stories about misguided, deluded, emotionally distant men in sad marriages to misunderstood, tolerant, withdrawn women. Lots and lots of atmosphere, but not the kind of localized stories of Dublin. But a universality that seems at home in a magazine like The New Yorker where many of them first appeared.
Not sure I would go back for another visit, but there's no denying the artistry and mastery.
From a writerly perspective, I appreciate the "head-hopping," pace all the writing gurus who rage about the changing POVs. Maeve Brennan handles the ebb and flow of multiple perspectives without the chopped up feel that many writers use to justify opening up the inner life of several characters in a single story.
Like most such stories, I'm left feeling morose for the characters who seem to move from disappointment to disappointment. Perhaps the problem in my experiencing this collection is that I tried to read it from one end to the other, and grew tired of the large plate of single, bland-tasting cakes that one keeps consuming, not wishing to hurt the hostess's feelings.
For writers, I consider it a good working session on moving between multiple points of view in a short piece, and giving a finely detailed sense of place and the emotions that one attaches to such well-loved and well-lived locations.
Not sure I would go back for another visit, but there's no denying the artistry and mastery.
From a writerly perspective, I appreciate the "head-hopping," pace all the writing gurus who rage about the changing POVs. Maeve Brennan handles the ebb and flow of multiple perspectives without the chopped up feel that many writers use to justify opening up the inner life of several characters in a single story.
For writers, I consider it a good working session on moving between multiple points of view in a short piece, and giving a finely detailed sense of place and the emotions that one attaches to such well-loved and well-lived locations.
More...