Scan barcode
mollie_makebelieve's review
1.0
16 short stories of miserable, cheating, bad people and their unhappy lives. Each story involves at least one divorce. several cheating partners and abusive relationships .
None of the characters have any redeeming qualities,and I found it hard to care about what happened to any of them.
None of the characters have any redeeming qualities,and I found it hard to care about what happened to any of them.
moirastone's review
3.0
The word that keeps coming to mind when thinking back over these stories is clean. They're clean - not tidy, not spare, but somehow neatly done, with surfaces that reflect my own face back to me rather than revealing depth. This isn't a condemnation. But it's not quite a compliment, either.
kecb12's review
3.0
Collections of short stories are interesting, particularly when all of them are by the same person. These stories seemed to struggle to find a resolution. There were some great one-liners and life-insights to be found in the readings, and I enjoyed reading it overall. However, I would argue that, like most modern literature, it also struggles to convey any sense of hope or redemption. It provided great conversation for my book club!
txkikind's review
4.0
Such a wonderful book. It deals with different aspects of love in a very realistic way. And, I liked the short stories. They really kept my attention.
kelseyat's review
4.0
I really liked this book. Each story was gripping, and strong, and made me invested in the characters. I was somewhat taken aback about halfway through when I realized that every story, or nearly, had involved a quite dramatic plot element--a shooting, a car accident, an affair. After a while I found it became almost a distraction. But like the story with the shooting says, it's not really about the shooting but about the absurdly human reaction in the few seconds after the shooting--which is probably true of every story in the book, and about (most?) short stories in general. Anyway, Alix Ohlin is a gifted writer, that much is very certain.
mmkkll's review
5.0
Excellent collection of short stories -- Ohlin's writing is arresting and beautifully crafted. The stories are a bit macabre.
simsarah79's review
5.0
This is the second short stories book I've read in a row and it's been a delicious treat. These snack sized bits to burrow into without the commitment of an entire novel. Of course I'm reading a novel right along side the stories so as to round out nutritionally.
Aliz Ohlin has managed to captivate me. It's as if I'm reading a whole story but in 10-15 pages or so. She has drawn characters, male and female and set the tone and various histories and situations that are so captivating and real yet as simpistic as they sound, each of them, they are wholly complex and diverse just like life.
There are 16 in all and I could go through and describe each one (I won't, you'll just have to pony up and read it) but I will say that some leave you a little forlorn, a little wanting for more and a little questioning. Ohlin takes life and turns it slightly on end therefore you might even be like, "what?" when the ending comes because it's there is no real ending, just little scenes of life involving relationships. children, divorces, blended familes, the city, a cruise and general sh*t that happens and how you deal with it.
Totally recommend this treat from a gifted story teller. I've gone from Don't do short stories to fully appreciating the form when done by the right writer.
Aliz Ohlin has managed to captivate me. It's as if I'm reading a whole story but in 10-15 pages or so. She has drawn characters, male and female and set the tone and various histories and situations that are so captivating and real yet as simpistic as they sound, each of them, they are wholly complex and diverse just like life.
There are 16 in all and I could go through and describe each one (I won't, you'll just have to pony up and read it) but I will say that some leave you a little forlorn, a little wanting for more and a little questioning. Ohlin takes life and turns it slightly on end therefore you might even be like, "what?" when the ending comes because it's there is no real ending, just little scenes of life involving relationships. children, divorces, blended familes, the city, a cruise and general sh*t that happens and how you deal with it.
Totally recommend this treat from a gifted story teller. I've gone from Don't do short stories to fully appreciating the form when done by the right writer.
anndouglas's review against another edition
4.0
A well-written collection of short stories that is both quirky and fun to read.
More...