Reviews

Mr. Right is Dead by Rona Jaffe

mars_clutter's review

funny reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

melodieshowell's review

challenging inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

This book has been out of print for a while and I have had it saved on my eBay searches for over a year, but I can say with certainty it was worth the wait. Jaffe was an incredible feminist writer with a striking and infectious point of view that never wavers in this short story collection. I adored the way she describes the woman characters in the books, particularly in the first and last stories which detail their particularly magnetic and entrancing auras. Not a single story felt like filler, and even though were written in the 60s they all reflected the current world we live in, from incredibly hilarious to dark topics. The last story about the woman who changes how she acts the please the men she is with really struck me, ultimately failing herself and depriving herself of the true beauty and identity that was captured so vividly at the start. A beautiful and intricate portrait of the darkness that lies beneath the shiny surface of beauty and glamour in America during the 60s. Would recommend to anyone who likes Babitz/Didion. I am officially a huge fan of Rona Jaffe and hope to read more of her works. Yay!!!!!!

abbeyking's review against another edition

to-read

scg728's review

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

maddiechristine15's review

funny reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Fatphobia, Alcoholism, and Animal death

ruaaa's review

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

Mr. Right is Dead - 5

Guess Who This Is - 2.75

He Can’t Be Dead, He Spoke to Me - 2.75

Love Me, Love My Dog - 3.25

Trompe l’Oeil - 5

Rima the Bird Girl - 4.5

mariacirillo's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

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

3.0

yasy_yasy16's review

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.75

Really great short stories! Happy I finally tracked down a copy of this book.

kaceyymair's review against another edition

4.0

Mr right is dead - rlly enjoyed this, it was a rlly interesting exploration of sexuality, youth as a commodity, and the self-loathing and competition felt between young women.  Really interesting and all the men just annoyed me lol, but so did the women too.

Guess who this is - the commentary on fame and the constant need to be relevant.  It also reflected a hollowness in celebrity culture which was interesting.  Also it’s interesting to read where we have AI that can mirror celebrities and their voices.

He can’t be dead, he spoke to me - I didn’t rlly like this story lol … it started off good and then fell off 

Love me, love my dog - Bro killed and stuffed her dog?? So weird but it was an interesting story 

Trompe l’Oeil - this felt like an extension of the yellow wallpaper … really haunting, really magical, and it was one of my favourite short stories in the collection 

Rina the bird girl - LOVE!!! A woman who appeals to men bc they hate their wives and start dating her and she starts dressing and acting like their wives till they fall out of love - actually obsessed 

cornelia07's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75