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curleyreads 's review for:
How to Breathe Underwater
by Julie Orringer
There are some truly gutwrenching stories in here, ESPECIALLY her opening one. These stories are incredibly consistent -- you never want to skim a page or a story, which I think is rare in a collection. The themes overlap enough that you feel like you're deepening your understanding, without being redundant. And some of these stories will definitely be haunting me for the next couple days, esp. "Pilgrims" and "Stars of Motown..."
But. There's something that's *too* consistent about these stories, *too* clean. They wrap up all their threads. They carry us from plot point to plot point without hesitation or deviation. There's certainly something compelling about that -- I feel like I'm in capable hands, being swept through a story -- but also something a little disappointing, and a little too safe. I think Orringer could take more risks -- with her language, with her characters, with her structure. I'll be excited to read more when she does.
But. There's something that's *too* consistent about these stories, *too* clean. They wrap up all their threads. They carry us from plot point to plot point without hesitation or deviation. There's certainly something compelling about that -- I feel like I'm in capable hands, being swept through a story -- but also something a little disappointing, and a little too safe. I think Orringer could take more risks -- with her language, with her characters, with her structure. I'll be excited to read more when she does.