Scan barcode
chillcox15's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the title story, was ambivalent about the rest.
steller0707's review against another edition
5.0
These four stories tackle issues that are still prevalent today: racism, addiction, feminism. All of these stories will stand up to rereading. The first of my favorites is “As I Stand Ironing,” a mother’s melancholy musings on the young life of her first daughter, which was lived by necessity, with hardships. The second favorite, “Tell Me a Riddle,” is really a novella and is the best in this slim book. It is about an aging couple, émigrés from Russia, who have both made sacrifices for themselves and their children, and who have differing ideas about how to live out their remaining years. It’s a poignant tearjerker of the very best kind!
octavia_cade's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
This is one of those books I admire rather than love. It's a short little collection, comprising only four stories, and they're all well-written and achingly well-observed portraits of working class families. The title story, particularly, is very touching in its ending... but there's a tendency to circumlocution in the prose, a sort of meandering under-conversation, that I found it difficult to warm to. It didn't get to the point where I was thinking "Would you please just get on with it!" but I could see that point approaching in the distance.
The first story, "I Stand Here Ironing," was my favourite. It was the most simply told, I think, with a sort of threatening bittersweet tone that loomed over its portrait of an estranged mother and daughter. If the rest of the stories had been like that one, this would have been a four star collection for me. As it was, the introduction, by John Leonard, had the prose that affected me the most. I'd like to be able to write an introduction like that - it was just gorgeous.
The first story, "I Stand Here Ironing," was my favourite. It was the most simply told, I think, with a sort of threatening bittersweet tone that loomed over its portrait of an estranged mother and daughter. If the rest of the stories had been like that one, this would have been a four star collection for me. As it was, the introduction, by John Leonard, had the prose that affected me the most. I'd like to be able to write an introduction like that - it was just gorgeous.
dcmr's review against another edition
3.0
I think I'm missing the significance of this highly-regarded writer. With the exception of the title story, these shorts were lost on me.
elinightingale's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ironpetals's review against another edition
3.0
Como a la gran mayoría los cuentos que más me gustaron fueron el primero y el último, los del medios no me interesaron mucho.
karlamsegovia's review against another edition
3.0
Una colección de cuatro historias muy bien contadas cada una. Aunque cada cuento es relativamente corto logra profundidad en el mensaje.
janson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Fragments. Of senses, sentences, vibes. I think I see intent but didn't deliver beyond scratching itch and the pathos stuck up sat on a tree branch.
bonniekitts's review against another edition
2.0
I like punctuation and full sentences. Found it hard to determine who was the voice and who were the characters.
isthar23's review against another edition
4.0
El primer relato, "Aquí estoy, planchando" me ha parecido desgarrador y capaz de engancharte desde el primer momento. Los dos siguientes, "¿Qué barco, marinero?" y "Oh, sí", no me han llegado tanto, aunque reconozco su valía, pero la presentación de los personajes me han confundido un poco. El último, "Dime una adivinanza", vuelve a tener el tono, en mi opinión, del primero y logra volver a hacerte sentir la soledad y devastación del mismo.
Tille Olsen es una de las escritoras más famosas de la literatura norteamericana, según reza en los papeles. Por estos relatos creo que es una gran escritora de la soledad, de los sueños y la vida que se ha escapado. Quizás conocía bien esas sensaciones: fue una escritora de "cuando los niños duermen" como lo es Alice Munro, por ejemplo.
Un libro que deja un gusto agridulce, por lo bien escrito que está y por los sentimientos que refleja.
Tille Olsen es una de las escritoras más famosas de la literatura norteamericana, según reza en los papeles. Por estos relatos creo que es una gran escritora de la soledad, de los sueños y la vida que se ha escapado. Quizás conocía bien esas sensaciones: fue una escritora de "cuando los niños duermen" como lo es Alice Munro, por ejemplo.
Un libro que deja un gusto agridulce, por lo bien escrito que está y por los sentimientos que refleja.