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calli's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emsbooks23's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Short stories aren’t really my thing
oldenglishrose's review against another edition
2.0
Although I really enjoy Angela Carter's own short stories, evidently I'm not as keen on her choice of those of other writers. Perhaps it was the collection of so many female-centred stories in one book, but I did feel that I was being beaten over the head with conspicious feminism a lot of the time, as strings of women were driven to the titular 'wickedness' through the opressive situations in which they found themselves rather than any real fault of their own. The tone of the book seems to ask "but what else could they have done?" which, while it's an interesting perspective to read from, did get a little wearing.
That complaint aside, there were some stories that I really enjoyed. The folk tale style of the story of Lena and Una, complete with typical folk justice, was particularly good and the haunting story of the Okes of Okehampton reminded me of Daphne du Maurier. All in all, an interesting collection, but not one I think I'm likely to read again.
That complaint aside, there were some stories that I really enjoyed. The folk tale style of the story of Lena and Una, complete with typical folk justice, was particularly good and the haunting story of the Okes of Okehampton reminded me of Daphne du Maurier. All in all, an interesting collection, but not one I think I'm likely to read again.
bronnyb's review against another edition
This book certainly had more misses than hits for me. My favourite by a long shot was The Plums by Ama Ata Aidoo, but I also enjoyed Violet by Frances Towers, The Last Crop by Elizabeth Jolley, and The Debutante by Lenora Carrington
hiking_pages's review against another edition
3.0
Being a fan of Carter’s, I was excited to read some handpicked tales from writers who reflect the anarchic and incredible writing talent of the author. Some were great - particularly Oke of Okehurst which was spellbinding in its own right, whilst none surpassed the dread and beauty of the Lavender Lady in Carter’s own tale including in this collection.
uuuultraviolennnnt's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
anastasiaadamov's review against another edition
4.0
This collection is composed of eighteen different stories from various female authors that come form different cultures and different parts of the world. I was in the middle of reading these stories during the International Women's Day March 8th. It was a great way to celebrate it by reading a book from women about women that talks about different aspects of women. The title suggested the less traditional but much more real women.
The Last Crop by Elizabeth Jolley ★★★★
This first story in the collection is a very inspiring and quirky just like the mother in this story is. The resourcefulness and and the well meaning caught me by surprise. I like the pace this story has set for the rest of the collection.
The Debutante by Leonora Carrington ★★★★★
This story was so short that just as I got into it was over. I liked the idea and how it was written! Loved the fact that the story had a hyena in it!
from The Gloria Stories by Rocky Gamez ★★★
This was by far one of the most confusing stories I've read. Gender bender quality of the story aside, what gave me trouble was that I could not place it in any timeline. I needed more cultural pointers to get into the story. I was confused by switching from issues of ignorance and homosexuality.
Life by Bessie Head ★★★★★
The main character is a woman named Life. This story hit me hard. Life dies in a very relatable way many women have died trough the ages.
A Guatemalan Idyll by Jane Bowels ★★
This story was the longest so far with around 40 pages. It read like a piece for the theater and the characters were one dimensional and oppressive.
The Young Girl by Katherine Mansfield ★★★★
The short form of the story alluded to certain motives but they were never fully explored. This story was more like a painting than a narrative and everything it had to say could have been made in to a painting.
Three Feminist Fables by Suniti Namjoshi ★★★★★
Three very short texts. So short one can hardly call them stories. So far they reminded me the most of the Angela Carter's other works and I enjoyed them the most as well! The fantastic elements and dry humor translated much more than words can convey.
The Rainy Moon by Colette ★★
One of the longest and most tedious stories so far. I just had trouble concentrating. The mentioned background characters were confusing and I struggled between „French realism“ setting and motives of the story.
Wedlock by George Egerton ★★★
I had some trouble with reading this story due to the English slang dialogues. The whole story was dripping with melancholy and it affected me more than I liked it to admit.
Violet by Frances Towers ★★★★
This story presented how people more often make decisions based on their fear. Rather nice story with a gloomy ending.
The Plums by Ama Ata Aidoo ★★★★★
I loved the verse writing style. It was very emotional and very symbolic. Prose was heavy with meaning and some of it scared me.
A Woman Young and Old by Grace Paley ★★★★★
I think this story has captured so many aspects of what matriarchy could feel like.
The Long Trial by Andree Chedid ★★★
I appreciated the cultural diversity this story brought with it. The religious theme is quite thought provoking and satisfying.
The Loves of Lady Purple by Angela Carter ★★★
Dark and playfully twisted. I like that she used a doll as a story element.
The Earth by Djuna Barnes ★★★
I liked the writing style and the motives. The characters were unique and very expressive against their own nature. I was surprised at how some themes transcend well trough time and I can understand them better than I thought I would.
Oke of Okehurst by Vernon Lee ★★★★
A very elaborate story with gothic elements. Sort of melancholy and captures the English countryside with „weltshmertz“ theme.
Girl by Jamiaca Kincaid ★★★★
I have a thing for these short forms with lots of repetitions and even more hidden meanings.
Aunt Liu by Luo Shu ★★★★
I'm ambivalent toward this story. I'm not sure I can digest what it is suggesting. Although i'm sure that a man in the situation of aunt Liu would probably be celebrated hero and a martyr…
There were only two stories I did not like. The five of the stories were excellent and I enjoyed them so much. The rest were either good or very good. The general rating of the collection is four stars out of five. These stories were not celebrating women power but were delving into those female traits that are rarely explored by authors and media. Some characters were inspiring and ingenious others were thought provoking and melancholy. I'm very pleased with this book and the stories I've read.
The Last Crop by Elizabeth Jolley ★★★★
This first story in the collection is a very inspiring and quirky just like the mother in this story is. The resourcefulness and and the well meaning caught me by surprise. I like the pace this story has set for the rest of the collection.
The Debutante by Leonora Carrington ★★★★★
This story was so short that just as I got into it was over. I liked the idea and how it was written! Loved the fact that the story had a hyena in it!
from The Gloria Stories by Rocky Gamez ★★★
This was by far one of the most confusing stories I've read. Gender bender quality of the story aside, what gave me trouble was that I could not place it in any timeline. I needed more cultural pointers to get into the story. I was confused by switching from issues of ignorance and homosexuality.
Life by Bessie Head ★★★★★
The main character is a woman named Life. This story hit me hard. Life dies in a very relatable way many women have died trough the ages.
A Guatemalan Idyll by Jane Bowels ★★
This story was the longest so far with around 40 pages. It read like a piece for the theater and the characters were one dimensional and oppressive.
The Young Girl by Katherine Mansfield ★★★★
The short form of the story alluded to certain motives but they were never fully explored. This story was more like a painting than a narrative and everything it had to say could have been made in to a painting.
Three Feminist Fables by Suniti Namjoshi ★★★★★
Three very short texts. So short one can hardly call them stories. So far they reminded me the most of the Angela Carter's other works and I enjoyed them the most as well! The fantastic elements and dry humor translated much more than words can convey.
The Rainy Moon by Colette ★★
One of the longest and most tedious stories so far. I just had trouble concentrating. The mentioned background characters were confusing and I struggled between „French realism“ setting and motives of the story.
Wedlock by George Egerton ★★★
I had some trouble with reading this story due to the English slang dialogues. The whole story was dripping with melancholy and it affected me more than I liked it to admit.
Violet by Frances Towers ★★★★
This story presented how people more often make decisions based on their fear. Rather nice story with a gloomy ending.
The Plums by Ama Ata Aidoo ★★★★★
I loved the verse writing style. It was very emotional and very symbolic. Prose was heavy with meaning and some of it scared me.
A Woman Young and Old by Grace Paley ★★★★★
I think this story has captured so many aspects of what matriarchy could feel like.
The Long Trial by Andree Chedid ★★★
I appreciated the cultural diversity this story brought with it. The religious theme is quite thought provoking and satisfying.
The Loves of Lady Purple by Angela Carter ★★★
Dark and playfully twisted. I like that she used a doll as a story element.
The Earth by Djuna Barnes ★★★
I liked the writing style and the motives. The characters were unique and very expressive against their own nature. I was surprised at how some themes transcend well trough time and I can understand them better than I thought I would.
Oke of Okehurst by Vernon Lee ★★★★
A very elaborate story with gothic elements. Sort of melancholy and captures the English countryside with „weltshmertz“ theme.
Girl by Jamiaca Kincaid ★★★★
I have a thing for these short forms with lots of repetitions and even more hidden meanings.
Aunt Liu by Luo Shu ★★★★
I'm ambivalent toward this story. I'm not sure I can digest what it is suggesting. Although i'm sure that a man in the situation of aunt Liu would probably be celebrated hero and a martyr…
There were only two stories I did not like. The five of the stories were excellent and I enjoyed them so much. The rest were either good or very good. The general rating of the collection is four stars out of five. These stories were not celebrating women power but were delving into those female traits that are rarely explored by authors and media. Some characters were inspiring and ingenious others were thought provoking and melancholy. I'm very pleased with this book and the stories I've read.
kindledspiritsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
As my book club ventured forth with the rest of womankind to see Barbie together, we wanted to choose a book that was on theme. So, naturally, we landed on this collection of short stories that were chosen by Angela Carter as a a love letter to all the bad girls out there who won't get in their box and do as they're told. Highlights for me were Elizabeth Jolley's 'The Last Crop', in which a con-artist matriarch secures comfort for her family through various dodgy means, Leonora Carrington's 'The Debutante', an extremely fun vignette in which a hyena and a young debutante switch places before a ball, Bessie Head's 'Life' in which a woman's independent streak clashes with the harsh, patriarchal values of her village and, of course, Carter's own 'The Loves of Lady Purple' in which a sexually voracious and much-maligned puppet cuts her strings. Some of the stories dragged a bit but the highs of the collection were suitably high to keep me engaged and eager to see what came next.