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debandleo's review against another edition
2.0
I thought I would love this book but I put it down after 4 or 5 stories. I felt the writing was okay - not as good as Seven Types of Ambiguity.
essjay1's review against another edition
5.0
Love this writers style, his Australian themes, his insights into the character. THis is the reason I read fiction. This book is a collection of short stories ranging 10-50 pages in length. The title story is a very poignant account of a marriage disintegrating ... my favourite though.
jackgoss's review against another edition
Too depressing and unengaging to bother finishing.
mauatuafr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
payalmukherji's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
freshkatsu's review against another edition
2.0
Review in Elliot Perlman's style:
I liked the book. She didn't, but she lent it to me anyway. I offered her another chance to read it again, but she was always working. In fact, it is not too dramatic to say that I enjoyed the book immensely. But she never understood me. When I think about it now I realised that I have invented her image alone. When we first started we would read together. I didn't think she enjoyed her administration work. But now I think she takes comfort in it. I'll read the book again, without her. The hardcover version weights down my bag, and I can't carry it to the office without her noticing. She went through phases. A while ago she was fond of books with green covers. One night in bed, I asked if she could make me a cup of hot chocolate and she said she had to finish a book of poetry. Having turned the radio off, I wondered if she had ever woken up with an inexplicable panic inside her.
Wait, remind me, what am I writing about?
I liked the book. She didn't, but she lent it to me anyway. I offered her another chance to read it again, but she was always working. In fact, it is not too dramatic to say that I enjoyed the book immensely. But she never understood me. When I think about it now I realised that I have invented her image alone. When we first started we would read together. I didn't think she enjoyed her administration work. But now I think she takes comfort in it. I'll read the book again, without her. The hardcover version weights down my bag, and I can't carry it to the office without her noticing. She went through phases. A while ago she was fond of books with green covers. One night in bed, I asked if she could make me a cup of hot chocolate and she said she had to finish a book of poetry. Having turned the radio off, I wondered if she had ever woken up with an inexplicable panic inside her.
Wait, remind me, what am I writing about?
nlgn's review against another edition
3.0
I was a bit concerned about this after reading a bunch of negative reviews on here, expecting perhaps some unpolished early writing exercises. I need not have worried. This is a great collection of stories.
Perlman is obviously at his 'best' (which you may or may not like) when he has hundreds of pages to stretch out in, but each of these stories captures some facet of his writing style that I enjoy, from complicated ambiguity to contrived connectedness. He lays the legal stuff on a bit thick at times, but otherwise, a brilliant and enjoyable collection. Looking forward to starting on The Street Sweeper...
Perlman is obviously at his 'best' (which you may or may not like) when he has hundreds of pages to stretch out in, but each of these stories captures some facet of his writing style that I enjoy, from complicated ambiguity to contrived connectedness. He lays the legal stuff on a bit thick at times, but otherwise, a brilliant and enjoyable collection. Looking forward to starting on The Street Sweeper...
aktroyer's review against another edition
1.0
the first story was interesting...the second two interested me enough to keep reading, which was a huge mistake. the latter part of the book is basically three novella-type deals, all which start mid-plot and end abruptly...basically like someone was taking my dinner plate away from me in the middle of my second bite. if you still want to read it, save your nickles and take my copy.
reallifereading's review
3.0
Was expecting to love it as much as Seven Types of Ambiguity. Was wrong. But there were a couple I did like.
buzzgirl's review
3.0
Though these stories are perhaps not as creatively sophisticated as Perlman's novel, Seven Types of Ambiguity (which I strongly recommend), they are nonetheless compelling and satisfying in their own right. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. Perlman's voices are memorable, and his themes are poignant.