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roz_taylor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
carolpk's review against another edition
E-galley provided through the generosity of Grove Atlantic and Netgalley published June 7, 2016.
The publication date for Goodnight, Beautiful Women had passed by and I suspected Grove Atlantic was not providing access to this title any longer when lo and behold an acceptance email arrived.
Short story collections are often troublesome for me. Either I’m dangling at a precipice or scratching my head at the end of each. This surprises me, as I have no trouble with ambiguous endings. I relish the thought of deciding what transpires after we leave the scene. Short stories do make me think but somehow I have a feeling of failure if I don’t quite get it.
This collection of dark, sensuous, sexually nuanced tales are disturbing, yet beautifully written and full of potential for thought. Did I understand them all? No. Like poetry which I often shy away from, Goodnight, Beautiful Women took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me.
Goodnight, Beautiful Women is exploratory in nature. The stories deal with important issues for women, those of love, loss, mental illness, sexual abuse and molestation and are fleshed out with the young perspective of Anna Noyes. Do not go into this debut without some time to ponder and reflect.
The publication date for Goodnight, Beautiful Women had passed by and I suspected Grove Atlantic was not providing access to this title any longer when lo and behold an acceptance email arrived.
Short story collections are often troublesome for me. Either I’m dangling at a precipice or scratching my head at the end of each. This surprises me, as I have no trouble with ambiguous endings. I relish the thought of deciding what transpires after we leave the scene. Short stories do make me think but somehow I have a feeling of failure if I don’t quite get it.
This collection of dark, sensuous, sexually nuanced tales are disturbing, yet beautifully written and full of potential for thought. Did I understand them all? No. Like poetry which I often shy away from, Goodnight, Beautiful Women took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me.
Goodnight, Beautiful Women is exploratory in nature. The stories deal with important issues for women, those of love, loss, mental illness, sexual abuse and molestation and are fleshed out with the young perspective of Anna Noyes. Do not go into this debut without some time to ponder and reflect.
mariesreads's review against another edition
3.0
Noyes has a gift for evocative storytelling. Each story has a texture and is a little world of its own.
kelltree's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Haunting and tragic stories of women and their abrupt sexualization from childhood to teenager.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
earlyandalone's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this collection. It's reminiscent of Olive Kitteridge, not just geographically (nearly all of the stories take place in a hard-scrabble Maine town), but in the way you have the feeling all of these characters' stories are linked, though Noyes doesn't link them explicitly as Strout does.
They're also beautifully written and poignant. What I loved most about them is the different kinds of love and relationships depicted--love between mothers and daughters, stepdaughters and stepfathers, sisters, estranged friends. Sadness hangs heavy over all of these stories, but it's not strangling. Noyes does a great job of writing in young womens' voices, young women who have yet to face all they will face in the world, but who are nonetheless getting warmed up to all of the pain before their time.
They're also beautifully written and poignant. What I loved most about them is the different kinds of love and relationships depicted--love between mothers and daughters, stepdaughters and stepfathers, sisters, estranged friends. Sadness hangs heavy over all of these stories, but it's not strangling. Noyes does a great job of writing in young womens' voices, young women who have yet to face all they will face in the world, but who are nonetheless getting warmed up to all of the pain before their time.
ruthie_the_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
I initially didn't realise I was reading a book of short stories, so that was a little confusing to begin with and it seemed like the book was just all over the place! (That's what happens when you don't read the blurb!) but once I figured it out I did enjoy it.
lvivre's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25