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cemoses's review
3.0
I have liked Ellen Gilchrist's work but sometimes find her books slow.
As in many short story collections, the stories are uneven. For whatever, reason I like the last group of five stories much better then her first group of stories.
As in some of her novels, you have to not mind stories of older people killing themselves before they die of a disease.'
I received a copy of this book for Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
As in many short story collections, the stories are uneven. For whatever, reason I like the last group of five stories much better then her first group of stories.
As in some of her novels, you have to not mind stories of older people killing themselves before they die of a disease.'
I received a copy of this book for Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
emmadnl's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
meshuggeknitter's review
3.0
I was excited to see that Ellen Gilchrist had a new collection of short stories. It had been years since I had read any of her works. I have to say that this collection didn't wow me; they were much shorter than the ones that I had read earlier so less character development or plot. I also remember that the stories in the previous collections were linked, and particular characters showed up book after book.
hatrireads's review
4.0
I reviewed this book on my book blog, http://wordsplusideas.blogspot.com. Check it out!
krogstrasu's review
1.0
Couldn't go past the second story. Too much irrelevant information and the story doesn't flow well. I don't quit many books before finishing, but I can't keep going.
ldv's review
1.0
Acts of God? More like Acts of Humanity or even Humanism.
The first story, Acts of God, was humourous. "Miracle in Adkins, Arkansas" was heart-warming. "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" (about the woman with the loser boyfriend who (the woman not the boyfriend) rescues people in New Orleans from rooftops and returns as a celebrity and meets Mr. Perfect) was eye-rolling chicklit. From there the stories just got worse. "The Dogs" was ridiculous, and the others just silly.
Not my thing.
(Note: I received this as an ARC from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.)
The first story, Acts of God, was humourous. "Miracle in Adkins, Arkansas" was heart-warming. "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" (about the woman with the loser boyfriend who (the woman not the boyfriend) rescues people in New Orleans from rooftops and returns as a celebrity and meets Mr. Perfect) was eye-rolling chicklit. From there the stories just got worse. "The Dogs" was ridiculous, and the others just silly.
Not my thing.
(Note: I received this as an ARC from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.)
wendoxford's review
4.0
How had I forgotten what a fantastic writer Ellen Gilchrist is? Her short stories are so succinct, nothing unnecessary and such a great use of perspective/point of view. Each of the stories here instantly draws you in and then spits you out unexpectedly somewhere else, too soon!
The stories are all "daily life" but so out of kilter with anything routine for me that they have made me question and look at everything day-to-day differently...and...instantly pick up more by Ellen Gilchrist!
The stories are all "daily life" but so out of kilter with anything routine for me that they have made me question and look at everything day-to-day differently...and...instantly pick up more by Ellen Gilchrist!
saschadarlington's review
3.0
I have been a fan of Ellen Gilchrist's for many years and when I saw this new collection of short stories, I was very much looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong. There are some great moments in Acts of God, but there are also stories that cover so much ground chronologically and don't envelop the reader because it seems as if the theme or the idea is more important than the characters' relationships to them.
Most of the stories are about upheaval or disasters and human reaction to them. Perhaps the best is the one in which a young woman who is in the Air National Guard is called to New Orleans to rescue people from roofs after Katrina. This is one of the few stories in which a virtuous act is not cushioned by selfishness or self-absorption, but one in which the character reacts to horrors and the small miracles and feels changed and is changed.
Perhaps a couple of the other stories ring true simply because the characters are materialistic and self-absorbed and view an extraordinary situation from the viewpoint of what they can get from it or what it will make them into. There is some heavy-handedness with what I consider to be preachiness and I am not certain that it's Gilchrist's intent for that to be unleashed upon the reader (because I am giving her the benefit of the doubt), but then again, it's been years since I have read any of her work and maybe what I once overlooked is now an elephant.
Most of the stories are about upheaval or disasters and human reaction to them. Perhaps the best is the one in which a young woman who is in the Air National Guard is called to New Orleans to rescue people from roofs after Katrina. This is one of the few stories in which a virtuous act is not cushioned by selfishness or self-absorption, but one in which the character reacts to horrors and the small miracles and feels changed and is changed.
Perhaps a couple of the other stories ring true simply because the characters are materialistic and self-absorbed and view an extraordinary situation from the viewpoint of what they can get from it or what it will make them into. There is some heavy-handedness with what I consider to be preachiness and I am not certain that it's Gilchrist's intent for that to be unleashed upon the reader (because I am giving her the benefit of the doubt), but then again, it's been years since I have read any of her work and maybe what I once overlooked is now an elephant.
alsmilesalot's review
5.0
For years, I've been disappointed in 90% of the short stories I've read, and yet, I still consider myself someone who loves the form. Ellen Gilchrest is in part, why (2 very different writers, Raymond Carver and Jim Harrison, are also responsible)..
It's been at least 8 years since I read anything by her (but had, up until that point read almost everything) and I didn't realize how much I missed her writing until I picked up this collection. I'm not sure any would make it to my "top 10 EG stories" but they shine with compassion and humor.
Maybe I'd really only give 4 stars for the stories, but it's an unequivocable 5 for the joy of rediscovering a long lost favorite.
It's been at least 8 years since I read anything by her (but had, up until that point read almost everything) and I didn't realize how much I missed her writing until I picked up this collection. I'm not sure any would make it to my "top 10 EG stories" but they shine with compassion and humor.
Maybe I'd really only give 4 stars for the stories, but it's an unequivocable 5 for the joy of rediscovering a long lost favorite.
amandanan's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Best quote: "The human race. You have to love it and wish it well and not preach or think you have any reason to think you are better than anyone else. Amen. Good-bye. Peace…"
Best quote: "The human race. You have to love it and wish it well and not preach or think you have any reason to think you are better than anyone else. Amen. Good-bye. Peace…"