Reviews

Manual Para Mulheres de Limpeza by Stephen Emerson, Lucia Berlin, Rita Canas Mendes, Lydia Davis

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sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition

1.0

I purchased A Manual for Cleaning Women in November 2017 after it was mentioned on a couple of podcasts I listened to, and started reading it almost immediately. . . . it's telling that I've finished it in August 2022 . . . and only then because one of my reading goals for this year was to read all the books languishing on my kindle that I'd paid money for. Even with my reading goal in mind, it was the last book on a list of 17 that I got to, and I would have DNF if it wasn't for the fact that my various attempts at it over the years had already got me past 50% and it seemed a shame not to finish it out.

I admit it improved slightly in the last third as the interlinks between the stories that draw them into a more cohesive narrative became more obvious, but on the whole I'd sum up this collection as 'plotless ramblings'.

nderiley's review against another edition

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2.0

Admittedly, I did not make it through this book before my library loan expired but given my usually pace of read, that's telling. I just wasn't griped by any of these short stories

camillejov's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

geoffwood's review against another edition

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5.0

There's an old joke. Uh, two elderly women are at a Catskills mountain resort, and one of 'em says: "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know, and such ... small portions." Well, that's essentially how I feel about [this book]. Full of loneliness and misery and suffering and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly.

nachoaguirre's review against another edition

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4.0

joanxmartins's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kickitupanotch7's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

Content Warnings

pained_creations's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is only the second book of short stories I have read, and had recurring topics as a thread throughout (teachers, medical/death, alcoholism/drug abuse, etc). I really like her writing style, but the stories were very similar and began to blur together, and circle back to characters. Had a very autobiographical nature to her storytelling. Mostly sad stories, that left me wanting more and feeling like there was no resolution.

lsparrow's review against another edition

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4.0

a collection of stories that feel very real and autobiographical yet also feel like different characters. not usually a style of story that i get into but found myself loving the voice of the story teller and many of the themes of home, culture, family

trutrue's review against another edition

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3.0

for class

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