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leemac027's review against another edition
4.0
I love the way Hilary Mantel puts words together and each of these short stories draws you in. Every story has excellent characterisation and there are a few surprises, some of which are disturbing.
It is an easy and entertaining collection. I found Winter Break incredibly magnetic in its style with an ending that made me shiver.
The final story is the Assassination of Margaret Thatcher and I particularly liked the way Mantel develops the relationship between the witness and the assassin - fascinating.
It is an easy and entertaining collection. I found Winter Break incredibly magnetic in its style with an ending that made me shiver.
The final story is the Assassination of Margaret Thatcher and I particularly liked the way Mantel develops the relationship between the witness and the assassin - fascinating.
stefanie_ann's review against another edition
5.0
Technical, precise, and sinister stories of adulterers, that weird lady at reception, weary travelers--but with a light touch and a good dose of dark humor. Wonderful.
katdid's review against another edition
3.0
Probably 3.5 stars.
The thing about short story collections is that there's usually a few that soar above the others and maybe a couple of clunkers. I'm only familiar with Mantel's writing from her Cromwell novels (and I mean, c'mon: bar? meet Everest) and that speech about the Royals that erroneously got everyone's knickers in a twist, so it was a novel experience to read her in short-form. My favourites were those stories that were clearly autobiographical, plus Harley Street which really put me in mind of Sarah Waters even before I cottoned on to the subtext.
The thing about short story collections is that there's usually a few that soar above the others and maybe a couple of clunkers. I'm only familiar with Mantel's writing from her Cromwell novels (and I mean, c'mon: bar? meet Everest) and that speech about the Royals that erroneously got everyone's knickers in a twist, so it was a novel experience to read her in short-form. My favourites were those stories that were clearly autobiographical, plus Harley Street which really put me in mind of Sarah Waters even before I cottoned on to the subtext.
kymme's review against another edition
2.0
I love, love, love Mantel’s historical novels, but could not bring myself to care about any of these short stories. Made it a bit over halfway and then realized I was only continuing out of respect for her other books—which wasn’t a good enough reason. Read her novels instead. Five stars, all.
celestialempress's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
4.25
hannahrice's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
beemini's review against another edition
5.0
I was saddened to hear of Mantel's passing the day after I finished this collection of short stories. I've tried and failed to read Wolf Hall, but I had much more success with this collection, which is full of twisted, dark tales and cranky characters. Her writing is perfection, full of understated commentary, such as when describing a shabby part of town: "where the dustbins had wheels but the cars were stacked on bricks." Her view of human nature is as salty as the Dead Sea. A favorite passage: "My mother got the house. She said she would have been loath to leave the garden. He had to pay her maintenance, and she spent some of it on yoga classes. Having been a brittle person, she became flexible. Each day she saluted the sun."
pkadams's review against another edition
4.0
There is a reason why James Wood, book critic extraordinaire, loves Hillary Mantel. Her writing as described by others is "absolutely penetrating, brilliant, diverse, unpredictable, unexpected, unsparing, acutely brutal, rascally intelligent, and full of a wicked sense of humor that cuts to the core of human experience." I concur. I read her stories for her insights. The plots never compel me nor do her characters fascinate, but her insights are stunning. Favorite quote of the book, "Spent two hours with my neighbor widening the culture gap."
jovotestargaryen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rebeccasreadingrambles's review against another edition
3.0
I did not enjoy this book. The reason I gave it 3 stars was because it was really well written, and I actually really enjoyed the last (and title) story. I think I was just not in the mood for these dark and strange stories. Probably not a fault of the book, but a personal preference. I did not understand the point of them (read:there was no point) and I was very glad it was a short book. I dragged myself through it and I'm glad to be finished.