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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Orrigner has to be one of my favorite short story writers. Every piece in this collection is written from the point of view of a young narrator, and every voice is intimidatingly unique. Some of Orringer's endings can be a bit ambiguous and frustrating, but overall, I highly recommend reading her stories.
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was excellent! Really loved the darker, melancholy stories mixed with such beautiful writing. Every single one of the stories made me pause and think for a while after I finished. Would love to read a full-length novel by Orringer!
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
4,5 stars
Favorite stories: The Isabel Fish, Note to Sixth-Grade Self, Care, What We Save.
Favorite stories: The Isabel Fish, Note to Sixth-Grade Self, Care, What We Save.
Ti entra dentro ♥
I racconti non mi hanno mai lasciato molto ma questi.. diamine, sono vita, tanta vita!
I racconti non mi hanno mai lasciato molto ma questi.. diamine, sono vita, tanta vita!
These stories were devastating. The dying kids were too much for me, but overall the stories are beautiful and complicated, just like the female characters who inhabit these pages. I felt panicked reading most of this collection, which wasn't always a nice feeling but does say something about the force of Orringer's prose.
There are some truly gutwrenching stories in here, ESPECIALLY her opening one. These stories are incredibly consistent -- you never want to skim a page or a story, which I think is rare in a collection. The themes overlap enough that you feel like you're deepening your understanding, without being redundant. And some of these stories will definitely be haunting me for the next couple days, esp. "Pilgrims" and "Stars of Motown..."
But. There's something that's *too* consistent about these stories, *too* clean. They wrap up all their threads. They carry us from plot point to plot point without hesitation or deviation. There's certainly something compelling about that -- I feel like I'm in capable hands, being swept through a story -- but also something a little disappointing, and a little too safe. I think Orringer could take more risks -- with her language, with her characters, with her structure. I'll be excited to read more when she does.
But. There's something that's *too* consistent about these stories, *too* clean. They wrap up all their threads. They carry us from plot point to plot point without hesitation or deviation. There's certainly something compelling about that -- I feel like I'm in capable hands, being swept through a story -- but also something a little disappointing, and a little too safe. I think Orringer could take more risks -- with her language, with her characters, with her structure. I'll be excited to read more when she does.