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deanashuman's review against another edition
I can’t rate this one- I’m too ambivalent. The writing is great. The characters are all miserable people who judge others based on “hotness”, age, salary, and whether or not they are “smart”. None of the main characters were, to my way of thinking, relatable or sympathetic. It generally left me wanting to take a shower to wash off all the mean.
etakloknok's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tildahlia's review against another edition
4.0
First time reading Sittenfeld and....I think I enjoyed it? Yeah, I did. Bookseller Jaclyn Crupi described her as the Jane Austen of our times and I can see that. There is a preppiness to her, which I found a little offputting. But then she had some undercut and bite to some of these stories that made them whole. I liked this collection.
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Highly readable short story collection
In an eclectic mix of subjects and stories, Sittenfeld takes these female-driven tales and gives us a range of modern life topics to consider.
I loved Eligible and American Wife, their author does take the female perspective and give us juicy stories to digest. Here we have ten, each 20-30 pages, none seemingly related though the first and last dovetail the 2016 American election.
Each is fascinating, though one (Plausible Deniability) not one I found as interesting as the others, personally.
To summarise:
Gender Studies - a lost driver's licence causes a chain of events the owner would never have dreamed of
The World has Many Butterflies - the evolution of a platonic friendship between one wife and another husband who play a game called 'You Think It, I'll Say It'
Vox Clamantis in Deserto - a college friendship and beyond, looking back through the mists of time at the changes gone through
Bad Latch - the early days of motherhood and competitive parenting
Plausible Deniability - emails about music
A Regular Couple - a honeymoon bride meets her high school's queen bee and considers taking her down a peg or two
Off the Record - a journalist with a baby interviews a film star who reveals news-worthy gossip
The Prairie Wife - a working mother who knew a TV personality at summer camp reminisces about their relationship
Volunteers are Shining Stars - competitiveness among volunteers at a women's shelter
Do-Over - years after high school, the girl who controversially lost the class presidential election to a boy goes out to dinner with him... and it's on both their minds
Lots of smart women, all living busy lives and dealing with their world. I don't often read short stories as I don't like brief glimpses into characters, but I didn't feel that way at all about Sittenfield's creations. Each story was a perfectly moulded and structured one, complete in and of itelf that didn't require further elaboration to feel 'finished'.
She also peppers her writing with observations that ring true, as a fellow female, like this one I've often noted myself:
(At school drop-off) "lots of mothers did drop-off in expensive exercise wear... then did pick-up in the same; whether they had exercised in the intervening hours wasn't clear..."
Smart, sexy, intriguing and empowering collection of stories.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.
In an eclectic mix of subjects and stories, Sittenfeld takes these female-driven tales and gives us a range of modern life topics to consider.
I loved Eligible and American Wife, their author does take the female perspective and give us juicy stories to digest. Here we have ten, each 20-30 pages, none seemingly related though the first and last dovetail the 2016 American election.
Each is fascinating, though one (Plausible Deniability) not one I found as interesting as the others, personally.
To summarise:
Gender Studies - a lost driver's licence causes a chain of events the owner would never have dreamed of
The World has Many Butterflies - the evolution of a platonic friendship between one wife and another husband who play a game called 'You Think It, I'll Say It'
Vox Clamantis in Deserto - a college friendship and beyond, looking back through the mists of time at the changes gone through
Bad Latch - the early days of motherhood and competitive parenting
Plausible Deniability - emails about music
A Regular Couple - a honeymoon bride meets her high school's queen bee and considers taking her down a peg or two
Off the Record - a journalist with a baby interviews a film star who reveals news-worthy gossip
The Prairie Wife - a working mother who knew a TV personality at summer camp reminisces about their relationship
Volunteers are Shining Stars - competitiveness among volunteers at a women's shelter
Do-Over - years after high school, the girl who controversially lost the class presidential election to a boy goes out to dinner with him... and it's on both their minds
Lots of smart women, all living busy lives and dealing with their world. I don't often read short stories as I don't like brief glimpses into characters, but I didn't feel that way at all about Sittenfield's creations. Each story was a perfectly moulded and structured one, complete in and of itelf that didn't require further elaboration to feel 'finished'.
She also peppers her writing with observations that ring true, as a fellow female, like this one I've often noted myself:
(At school drop-off) "lots of mothers did drop-off in expensive exercise wear... then did pick-up in the same; whether they had exercised in the intervening hours wasn't clear..."
Smart, sexy, intriguing and empowering collection of stories.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.
pam2375's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. I think that each short story was well thought out, developed and enjoyable. If you are interested in reading something quick, I recommend this book. Once you read it quick, go back and reread at a leisurely pace, you won't be disappointed.
Many thanks to netgalley and Random House for this advanced readers copy.
Many thanks to netgalley and Random House for this advanced readers copy.
jenembklyn's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Favorites:
A Regular Couple
Plausible Deniability
Prairie Wife
A Regular Couple
Plausible Deniability
Prairie Wife