Reviews

Blueprints for Building Better Girls by Elissa Schappell

wordnerdy's review against another edition

5.0

http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2011/09/2011-book-233.html

kboyce24's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

amydiscenza's review against another edition

4.0

I loved these stories--perfectly flawed female characters.

farkle's review against another edition

4.0

Because we're not all made of sugar and spice and everything nice and that's okay.

jlholowaty's review against another edition

2.0

Not as good as I had hoped. I'm not usually a big fan of short story collections; however, I did enjoy how the characters were interconnected throughout the stories. Overall, the stories were rather dark. But I was interested and intrigued enough to continue reading. The last story"I'm Only Going to Tell You This Once" was my favorite. Very interesting to hear a mother tell her son a not-so-great story about herself as a young adult (of course, she told it as if it were a "friend"). Overall, not sure I'd recommend.

maureenmccombs's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars

This is a collection of connected short stories. The writing was honest and insightful. This is a super fast, engaging read and a nice palate cleanser after some of the darker things I have read recently. Definitely recommend.

natybee88's review against another edition

5.0

So well done. Beautifully crafted. I found her characters to be so real, so believable. The way the stories nudged together without intertwining was fascinating. I continuously found myself puzzling over how one character was connected to another and loving when the clue finally appeared, or, if it didn't appear, continuing to be curious. Anyway, first book in a very long time that was worth staying up late on a Friday night to finish.

emmkayt's review against another edition

3.0

Very readable interconnected stories - I moved through them quickly - but I didn't quite connect with them myself. Not that I necessarily mind whether I 'connect' with what I'm reading, but in this case I sensed I was supposed to read the stories with cries of recognition about the female experience (which apparently involves lots of disappointment and bitter lessons). Some very good parts indeed, but it didn't make as effective a whole as I had hoped.

buttontapper's review against another edition

5.0

Part of my self-designed summer reading list, with a brief capsule review here: http://buttontapper.com/2012/06/24/summer-reading-update-blueprints-for-building-better-girls/

bookishcassie's review against another edition

5.0

A fucking treasure map that will bury you alive.


I’ll never get over that last story. Or the story about Andy. Or any of it. I’m crying.