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vg2 's review for:
How to Breathe Underwater
by Julie Orringer
What a great collection - I enjoyed every one of the nine stories and some lingered with me long after finishing them.
These stories are merciless. There are no warm, cozy endings, no redemption arcs. This collection takes all the selfish bitterness of human nature and is relentless in its depiction of it. There are themes that bridge the tales: the cruelty of children, the lack of understanding between different generations, the long-lasting impact of a single choice or action, the nature of desire and dependence. Each are depicted frankly, with the absolute knowledge that the scenarios are not only plausible, but variations on events that many of us will have heard about or even experienced in real life. And yet, I didn’t find it depressing. There may not be justice for Orringer’s characters, or even any resolutions at all, but many of them, when faced with trials, with lack of understanding or outright bullying, find ways to persevere, to seek some degree of trust in themselves or simply carry on.
Highly recommended.
These stories are merciless. There are no warm, cozy endings, no redemption arcs. This collection takes all the selfish bitterness of human nature and is relentless in its depiction of it. There are themes that bridge the tales: the cruelty of children, the lack of understanding between different generations, the long-lasting impact of a single choice or action, the nature of desire and dependence. Each are depicted frankly, with the absolute knowledge that the scenarios are not only plausible, but variations on events that many of us will have heard about or even experienced in real life. And yet, I didn’t find it depressing. There may not be justice for Orringer’s characters, or even any resolutions at all, but many of them, when faced with trials, with lack of understanding or outright bullying, find ways to persevere, to seek some degree of trust in themselves or simply carry on.
Highly recommended.