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renatasnacks's review against another edition
5.0
OH MY GOD, YOU GUYS, I loved this book. I couldn't put my finger on where I had heard of Lorrie Moore until I got to the story "People Like That Are the Only People Here," which was collected in [b:Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules|4140|Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules|David Sedaris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165389020s/4140.jpg|726] and which was my favorite story in Children Playing. It wasn't even my favorite story from this collection, but it's still an amazing story. The sentences this woman can write, my God. Seriously, just wonderfully-written stories here, ones where you'll savor every word and think about their implications days later.
sdwood's review against another edition
4.0
This writer has a sharp wit and a fresh approach that is so fun to read.
radioactve_piano's review against another edition
3.0
I found myself wanting to use Moore's witticisms in my speech, though having finished the book and passed it on, I can't seem to remember any.
That's more or less how I feel about the entire collection. Each story was enjoyable, some even thought provoking, while reading, but as soon as I finished one, I moved on. I know this book is assigned reading for a lot of English/prose students, but I just didn't find it memorable.
Each story seemed to be about a broken person, which is fair and good and helps people relate, but an entire book about these different (yet fundamentally the same) characters? Well, excuse me for saying, I just didn't find it all that exciting (a shame since I really did like her voice).
That's more or less how I feel about the entire collection. Each story was enjoyable, some even thought provoking, while reading, but as soon as I finished one, I moved on. I know this book is assigned reading for a lot of English/prose students, but I just didn't find it memorable.
Each story seemed to be about a broken person, which is fair and good and helps people relate, but an entire book about these different (yet fundamentally the same) characters? Well, excuse me for saying, I just didn't find it all that exciting (a shame since I really did like her voice).
ljpapp's review against another edition
3.0
I can't believe it took me six months to finish this book. While the stories were on the verge of funny, witty, punny...she writes such realistic characters that they were honestly a little boring. The dialogue was good, the imagery was spot on, and it was like she was accurately describing paint dry. I also have difficultly getting through a 40 page short story but that might just be me.
baselemil's review against another edition
4.0
Though all the stories are meandering, undramatic, and incomplete slice of life stories, the insights she weaves in with her often flowery writing keep things entertaining and enjoyable. There are times which her prose become too purple (especially for someone with a lower tolerance than I), it only bothered me in the first half of the second to last story. I have to say I also found this book incredibly depressing and nihilism inducing without the catharticism most books aiming for this would supply... So when you read the back and it talks about it being funny and witty, don't expect it to impart any sense of joy.
zhzhang's review against another edition
4.0
Some books are more likely to be enjoyed when you hold the actual book and read the text, and some books are the other way around - audio book with a great narrator could give you a totally different experience and you could just emerge yourself into the narration. For me, usually I prefer the latter, cause I need to walk my dog and do the chores and cooking. Yet, this book, I believe I could have enjoyed a lot more if I read it with text. I might come back to read the paper book. Each protagonist in different story is so different, which reflect all aspects of life you can imagine.