Reviews

Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy

mengel923's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.0

nerissassippi's review

5.0

I'm partial to short story collections and choose this after hearing a real life story by the author on The Moth.

janneyf's review

5.0

I got this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. This is my first reading of Maile Meloy, and I will certainly continue to read her work. All of these stories are excellent, and I've already decided to use one or two of them in my teaching of high schoolers next year. There's much to think and talk about for each story, and Meloy's characters are believable, especially in their self-absorbed, ego-driven ways. The title of the collection applies to all of the stories in one way or another, as characters try to live out their dreams with various success. It seems like I'm saying here that the characters are all jerks, but they're not--just morally compromised to some degree, like the rest of us.

I just read this collection a second time, and it holds up to everything that makes reading wonderful - which is why I now give it 5 stars instead of my previous 4. These stories are gems, and the book is worth purchasing for its continued enjoyment.

eeden33's review

fast-paced

4.0

fusskins's review

I know short stories are an artform in and of themselves, but they always leave me wanting more. New novel soon, Maile?

arielamandah's review

3.0

Love how she writes. The stories were engaging and a quick, effortless read... But they didn't stick with me like those from her other collection, Half in Love. I feel like Meloy is at her best when she's writing about the West... And too many of these stories were set outside that comfort zone where her style really sings. I would have given this 3 1/2 if I could. Or even 3 3/4. Not quite a 4, but still a good, readable collection. I just always found myself comparing it to her other book, and this one kept coming up somewhat short.

melistocrat's review

4.0

This was a super quick read full of delightful short stories. The author writes with no embellishments and I was quickly drawn into the characters' stories and situations.

bookishblond's review

4.0

These stories are either amazing (most are) or complete rubbish.

emjay2021's review

5.0

I enjoyed this entire collection of short stories! There was not a single dud in the bunch, as far as I was concerned, and I honestly can't remember the last time I thought that about a book of short stories...maybe when I was reading Alice Munro? High praise, I know, but genuine. I'm having a hard time articulating what I liked about them, but they feel so self assured and effortless. So many short stories seem the opposite--trying too hard, just so...effortful. These seem like they somehow sprang into existence, suddenly and gracefully.
------
My brain is too foggy these days to focus for long on any one thing, so I thought I'd try a book of short stories. These are really good--normally I don't like to read too many in a row by the same author, but I'm reading these one after the other in quick succession.

katieparker's review

3.0

I generally don’t read very fast, but I cruised through this one because it is a book of 10 short stories. It had been a long time since I read a book in this format, but Maile’s writing made it an easy place to start. Her style is straightforward and descriptive, and while I don’t think she portrayed anything particularly unique or deep on the subject of humanity, I do think she had a firm grasp on her characters and their motivations. It was surprisingly easy to understand their points of view, even those of people who were clearly immoral and unlikeable. This is not a happy book, and I’d even go so far as to say it’s slightly depressing, but it’s absolutely real. Mankind is confused, hopeful, selfish, and emotional, and that’s what this book displays.