Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a book of short stories. Among the tales is a story of a young girl who, after a car crash where she had to escape drowning, she takes scuba lessons to concur her fear of water. Another is a girl whose mother is very sick and they spend a day at a healing commune when tragedy strikes. Another is a young Jewish girl who befriends a Christian girl and wonders what she is missing by being Jewish. And yet another where a young girl spends the day in Disney world with her sick mother and a family friend as she contemplates life after her mother is gone.
This was an interesting book. I have mentioned several times before that I am not a fan of short story books. I read this one for a reading challenge and honestly it wasn't terrible. The writing is very good and the stories interesting....until the ends. Not one story has a satisfying ending. Each one left on a cliff hanger which, I know was the author's intention, but that isn't for me. It drove me crazy.
I credit this collection of short stories, particularly "The Isabel Fish," with getting me into short fiction in the first place. I knew virtually nothing about the art of the short story until the pivotal moment when I read "The Isabel Fish" in my first creative writing workshop as a sophomore in college. I've read this collection almost three times since then. Julie Orringer's coming-of-age stories are touching, triumphant, sensitive, and poignant without ever being forced or insincere. One of my top five favorite books ever. I would recommend, however, if you're reading it for the first time, not to read the stories in order. I don't necessarily like her choice of first story, as I do not feel it to be similar to any of the others in the collection--thus, it does not do a satisfying job of setting up the stories to come. I'd say start with "The Isabel Fish" and then go all the way through.
Many of the short stories in this collection reminded me of aspects of my childhood. The author has a great eye for detail; she takes ordinary people and situations and creates a thoughtful story. Some of the characters are rude, mean, unkind, even evil but all are realistic and human. I enjoyed reading it.
first few short stories were great, had good vibes and interesting ideals about women and femininity. but later stories got a bit dark.
I read this book a while ago, completely forgot that I did, and then put it on hold at the library. Started to think that maybe I'd read it, and when I read a description of it on Amazon I realized that I definitely had. While that doesn't sound like the best recommendation for a book, part of the reason I remembered it is because the review mentioned one of the stories, "The Isabel Fish," and I thought to myself, "I loved that story!" So I guess that's a good thing.
Dear gods, this was crushing. Excellent, but crushing.
Nine short stories, mostly taking place from a young, teen girl perspective. Heartbreaking realization that teenagers really do go through some shite alone (and thank the gods I am well past that), and the uplifting spirit of strength and personality in each.
I read most of these while on various breaks at work, so that I usually returned with a stunned expression and once with tears in my eyes. But always with a new love in my heart, for another character that was so real and present that I am still expecting them to pass by my house or nod at me in the store.
Nine short stories, mostly taking place from a young, teen girl perspective. Heartbreaking realization that teenagers really do go through some shite alone (and thank the gods I am well past that), and the uplifting spirit of strength and personality in each.
I read most of these while on various breaks at work, so that I usually returned with a stunned expression and once with tears in my eyes. But always with a new love in my heart, for another character that was so real and present that I am still expecting them to pass by my house or nod at me in the store.
A beautiful collection of short stories. Snapshots of moments that really make you feel like you understand the characters. So relatable and poignant, a really lovely book.
Beautifully written. At times very dark and heavy. Highly recommend.
How to Breathe Underwater contained nine stories about girls who struggle through changes in their life. Just like the title, the narrative in this book gave off the feeling of diving underwater, with all the smooth ripples of water caressed your skin, creating a calm atmosphere around you but at the same time, if you were down long enough, it would suffocate you and take your breath away.
I love how the girls in these stories are flawed--an addict, an obese, a fundamentally intolerant, a no-longer-virgin-at-fifteen, etc--but they are brave girls who navigating around life in a stride and without whining, no matter how hard their problems are.
All nine stories are soooo good it's hard to pick favorite. But I think I love The Isabel Fish more than the others. It's about Maddy who tried to battle her trauma after the accident that took her brother's girlfriend, Isabel's life while at the same time bracing the accusation from others, even her brother, about her "selfishness" of surviving herself without trying to help Isabel in the tragic accident. I love how calm she is responded to all of those, battling her own trauma without her brother's support and all the while understand where his brother's bitterness comes from.
Reading these stories somehow will make you feel proud of these girls, where many girls will whine and protest--and they have the right, too!--but they keep on walking with so much mature recognition on how the world works around them. So much worth to read if you somehow wants some, like, spiritual reading about growing up.
I love how the girls in these stories are flawed--an addict, an obese, a fundamentally intolerant, a no-longer-virgin-at-fifteen, etc--but they are brave girls who navigating around life in a stride and without whining, no matter how hard their problems are.
All nine stories are soooo good it's hard to pick favorite. But I think I love The Isabel Fish more than the others. It's about Maddy who tried to battle her trauma after the accident that took her brother's girlfriend, Isabel's life while at the same time bracing the accusation from others, even her brother, about her "selfishness" of surviving herself without trying to help Isabel in the tragic accident. I love how calm she is responded to all of those, battling her own trauma without her brother's support and all the while understand where his brother's bitterness comes from.
Reading these stories somehow will make you feel proud of these girls, where many girls will whine and protest--and they have the right, too!--but they keep on walking with so much mature recognition on how the world works around them. So much worth to read if you somehow wants some, like, spiritual reading about growing up.