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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Picked this up on a whim, as I don't usually enjoy short story anthologies. Loved it.
The question that niggled me while I was reading Single, Carefree, Mellow: When does a story collection cross the line from thematically and stylistically cohesive, to same-y?
The conclusion I reached: When the writing is this good, who cares!
The conclusion I reached: When the writing is this good, who cares!
Delightful. Yes, I got a little tired of the adultery too, and yet, I laughed out loud multiple times and I started reading this book because I saw someone on Twitter recommend it as something to read if you like Melissa Bank, which I do, and that was accurate. Looking forward to reading more of Katherine’s books.
3.5 stars rounded up to four for the “come facts” story, “Dark Matter”.
3.5 stars rounded up to four for the “come facts” story, “Dark Matter”.
A quick read. This is a collection of stories about love (and infidelity) that feels like a window into other people’s lives. I find myself enjoying the highlights of female friendship the most. Sobbed during the chapter of someone’s dog dying ofc. Nothing groundbreaking, but pretty enjoyable little book.
I loved this. I am giving it four stars because the short stories in the first half of the book are fantastic. As a whole it’s good and though the stories at the end aren’t as captivating I still enjoyed the book as a whole. That said, I devoured the first half and couldn’t wait for more.
Sometimes I really like short story collections, especially when my attention can't cope with a long book with loads of characters to remember. This debut from a DC writer is a great read. I liked some stories much better than others. But all were entertaining. I like the way Heiny gives us lots of insight into the character's inner thoughts. They are very true to what many of us think inside our heads, but would likely never share with others. Reading this was like talking to a good (possibly scandalous) girlfriend.
66: Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny.
This is a collection of short stories, Heiny's debut. I have read a couple of other novels by her fairly recently as well.
While the writing itself is creative and numerous nuggets of characterization exist, to create some believable if quirky personas, I am not pleased or uplifted, morally, by the thread of connection through these stories being adulterous relationships, suggesting in the collection's entirety that allllllll of these people are cheating. It feels just kind of icky to have read the entire collection swiftly.
While there are morsels of valuable relationship development--specifically through the return of Maya and Rhodes as characters and their relationship building throughout a few of the stories--and also a teenaged girl in a completely inappropriate relationship with her hs teacher, who confidently ends things with him by going to college, the rest of the stories have too little redemption or character growth for me.
I know. I know. It is not required that an author meet those persnickety needs of mine to write successfully. But this is my review. I did not LOVE this book. I love a book that sends its readers all on a smarter, better path...and this one just presents far too glibly and flippantly this morally questionable content.
This is a collection of short stories, Heiny's debut. I have read a couple of other novels by her fairly recently as well.
While the writing itself is creative and numerous nuggets of characterization exist, to create some believable if quirky personas, I am not pleased or uplifted, morally, by the thread of connection through these stories being adulterous relationships, suggesting in the collection's entirety that allllllll of these people are cheating. It feels just kind of icky to have read the entire collection swiftly.
While there are morsels of valuable relationship development--specifically through the return of Maya and Rhodes as characters and their relationship building throughout a few of the stories--and also a teenaged girl in a completely inappropriate relationship with her hs teacher, who confidently ends things with him by going to college, the rest of the stories have too little redemption or character growth for me.
I know. I know. It is not required that an author meet those persnickety needs of mine to write successfully. But this is my review. I did not LOVE this book. I love a book that sends its readers all on a smarter, better path...and this one just presents far too glibly and flippantly this morally questionable content.
I've never been a short story reader, but I liked this book. It was a refreshing change of pace from my normal novels. Short stories are perfect for a commute as well since you can read a complete story or two on your way home. Good beach read!
Loved. Lots of stories of infidelity that might not be easy to swallow but the issues, communications, feelings, etc are complicated, raw and real and relayed in nonjudgmental and matter of fact way that really make you think about how and why these relationships happen, continue, evolve, end, fill or fail to fill a need, and are without doubt not carefree or mellow.