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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.
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.
I’ll never get over that last story. Or the story about Andy. Or any of it. I’m crying.
amaandaplz's review against another edition
4.5
Everything I could want from a short story collection, loved this! Each story was great on it's own but the fact that they all intertwined just made it so much more enjoyable overall and upon finishing one story made me even more eager to read the next
fanellea's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful collection of delicately interwoven stories detailing experiences of different women and girls. Loved it and am hungry for more of Schappell's work.
zelma's review
3.0
I typically don't read short story collections; however, I branched out to read these linked stories and appreciated the cohesion of the book. I liked seeing the same characters pop up and call-backs to various events. I haven't figured out how one story fits in, but it doesn't affect my feelings on it.
A few stories worked better than others, as with any story collection. I loved a couple, hated one or two and felt lukewarm on the rest. The archetypes and stereotypes Schappell covers aren't new but are always worth exploring. This was an honest, raw look at female experience - a very white, middle class, heterosexual experience. Nothing wrong with that but it was a limited scope.
A few stories worked better than others, as with any story collection. I loved a couple, hated one or two and felt lukewarm on the rest. The archetypes and stereotypes Schappell covers aren't new but are always worth exploring. This was an honest, raw look at female experience - a very white, middle class, heterosexual experience. Nothing wrong with that but it was a limited scope.
jessferg's review against another edition
3.0
The difficulty with books of short stories is rating the book overall and not individual stories. I'd say the story I disliked the most was still okay so as a whole I liked them all. I liked the progressive interconectedness but found I liked the first and last stories the best (and they turn out to be the most connected). I'm hoping the title is meant to be ironic because all the women in these stories are deeply troubled and, sadly, seem full of anger and regret with very little growth or redemption - which, of course, can lead to some rather unsatisfying endings. Despite this, quite a nice amount of insight comes through for the reader. A compelling group of stories.
rdreading9's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book. It kicked my ass!!!!!! The unsuspecting way these stories wove themselves together drove you to read each of them to conclusion once you've started. I began every story thinking, really, this is who the author chose to write about???, then I began to recognize these women, & by the end of each store I was looking into a mirror. I kept thinking the next story she wont be able to pull off as well..........but I was wrong, each one did this. And the last line of the book, SPOT ON PERFECT!!! Elissa Schappell is not just a girl.............she is an Author. A very brave, bold & honest writer.