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writenisha's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mrswhite's review
4.0
As you may or may not recall, I had fairly mixed emotions about Lauren Groff's first novel, The Monsters of Templeton. In a nutshell, I could tell that she was capable of writing some beautiful stuff, but several elements of the book grated on my nerves and very nearly ruined the experience for me. So, although Groff wasn't really an author I felt too terribly excited about, I'm a sucker for short stories, birds, and impossibly pretty book covers, so I thought I'd give her another chance to wow me. And you know what? This time, I think she did.
The nine stories in this collection are set in wildly different times and locations, but are linked together by motifs of love, sex, violence, crime and, yes - birds. The dichotomy of men and women features heavily, and the female protagonists - many of whom are victimized by the men in their lives - are also strong, accomplished women. In fact, it's the characters Groff creates that makes this such a strong collection. It's a common criticism that short stories are too narrow a space to truly develop a character, but Groff's women are so well formed she makes it look easy, and the stories she builds around them are engrossing, moving, and written with an elegant hand.
In "Lucky Chow Fun" an idyllic small town is rocked with the discovery that its lone Chinese restaurant is actually a front for a brothel operating with young, enslaved Chinese girls. "L.DeBard and Aliette" is the ill-fated love story of Aliette, a girl recovering from polio, and L. DeBard, a former Olympic swimmer turned personal trainer, who fall in love against the background of a devastating flu epidemic raging through the early 20th Century. "Blythe" is a haunting story of two friends, art, and madness, and in the title story, five reporters traveling through France during WWII unwittingly seek shelter in a Nazi home. And although these four stood out as my favorites among the nine, each of the stories delivered.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this book is more than just a pretty face and that Groff really is a truly talented writer. I may have traded my copy of The Monsters of Templeton away, but Delicate Edible Birds is a keeper. (And not just because it looks gorgeous on my bedside table.)
The nine stories in this collection are set in wildly different times and locations, but are linked together by motifs of love, sex, violence, crime and, yes - birds. The dichotomy of men and women features heavily, and the female protagonists - many of whom are victimized by the men in their lives - are also strong, accomplished women. In fact, it's the characters Groff creates that makes this such a strong collection. It's a common criticism that short stories are too narrow a space to truly develop a character, but Groff's women are so well formed she makes it look easy, and the stories she builds around them are engrossing, moving, and written with an elegant hand.
In "Lucky Chow Fun" an idyllic small town is rocked with the discovery that its lone Chinese restaurant is actually a front for a brothel operating with young, enslaved Chinese girls. "L.DeBard and Aliette" is the ill-fated love story of Aliette, a girl recovering from polio, and L. DeBard, a former Olympic swimmer turned personal trainer, who fall in love against the background of a devastating flu epidemic raging through the early 20th Century. "Blythe" is a haunting story of two friends, art, and madness, and in the title story, five reporters traveling through France during WWII unwittingly seek shelter in a Nazi home. And although these four stood out as my favorites among the nine, each of the stories delivered.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this book is more than just a pretty face and that Groff really is a truly talented writer. I may have traded my copy of The Monsters of Templeton away, but Delicate Edible Birds is a keeper. (And not just because it looks gorgeous on my bedside table.)
mssarahmorgan's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
missmim's review
4.0
Groff is such an elegant and beautiful writer that even when these stories don't work, they are still lovely. And when they do work, they are amazing. I'm so glad I found this little collection. A lot of the characters and stories stayed with me afterward; really enjoyed these.
victorio's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I read the title story in 2010's Best American Short Stories and loved it, then stumbled across this collection at a used bookstore, or a little free library, perhaps, about seven years later and added it to my collection to read, but only seven years after that have I finally read it. I've changed a lot in fourteen years, and no doubt so has Lauren Groff's writing. Would she have written these stories differently if she wrote them today? I can't say. Would I like them more or less if they unfolded or ended differently? Again, no definitive answer. What I can tell you is that this is a very good collection of stories if you can accept that not every story will be easy, not every path will make sense, and not every ending will feel like an ending. There is a lot of sadness, a lot of ugliness in this collection. It's also beautiful. Occasionally Groff's characters/narration will feel detached, and I tell you this is not a flaw but a choice. There is a story that she is telling you, not only explicitly, but also by how she tells you. Some of the stories will be very hard to read, but are worth it in the end, imo.
Also, I have to say, reading L. DeBard and Aliette in the time of COVID, knowing it was written before then, gave me a perspective I wouldn't have had if I'd read it even four years ago.
Anyway, maybe don't read this if you're sad, or maybe do, idk. Tl;dr it's a good book.
Also, I have to say, reading L. DeBard and Aliette in the time of COVID, knowing it was written before then, gave me a perspective I wouldn't have had if I'd read it even four years ago.
Anyway, maybe don't read this if you're sad, or maybe do, idk. Tl;dr it's a good book.
lucidstyle's review
1.0
There is nothing here to connect the characters together! Every character introduced by this author feels like a wispy ghost....Will they materialize into true, fully developed characters and take the reader along on their journey of discovery? Sadly, no. I read through the first story. I will certainly not continue to read the others.
Once again, I am let down.
Once again, I am let down.
soubhi's review
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dikestrike's review
3.0
I think the unparalleled brilliance of Groff's later work set me up to appreciate this collection less. In it you can see definite indication of her future development as a writer, but I found most of the stores a little trite and overreaching. Overall a decent book, she just hadn't yet sharpened her craft into the perfect point it later became.
A word for the wise- lots of aggressive, lecherous men in this book, and a gaping hole where consent or any female involvement/decision-making should be.
A word for the wise- lots of aggressive, lecherous men in this book, and a gaping hole where consent or any female involvement/decision-making should be.
lisawhelpley's review
4.0
I read this like I read most books of short stories--if the story doesn't catch my attention, I move on after about 2 pages. That didn't happen very often in this book. Most of the stories were moving and a few were truly riveting. Good writing and interesting characters.