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threegoodrats's review against another edition
3.0
A solid collection of short stories about disappointment. Most of these relationships are failing, have failed, or are about to fail. Which is not to say that they are especially depressing; they're not. I found the settings and setups interesting: a teenage girl who lives at a roadside attraction, a college professor with a crush on a student, a wife underwhelmed by her new Wisconsin neighborhood who befriends the next-door neighbor's basement-dwelling son. They are all very character-focused, which I like.
mtanzer5's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hmih's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
joannaautumn's review against another edition
2.0
Seems like this is another case of an author that doesn’t really know how to write out the profound things they think about in their head.
A lot of contemporary fiction writers are doing this method – writing about everyday things in a new perspective, with a deeper insight in the inner psychology of the characters and discussing social norms and their effect on an individual.
What I found that makes an author great, in this field of topics, is that their sentences and internal monologue of characters leave an impact on the reader.
It does come down to individual style but also a determining factor is a way the writer will approach the topic and discuss it.
People who are great at this: [a:Sally Rooney|15860970|Sally Rooney|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1534007127p2/15860970.jpg], [a:Ottessa Moshfegh|3276202|Ottessa Moshfegh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1568839250p2/3276202.jpg], [a:Rachel Cusk|46051|Rachel Cusk|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1268246552p2/46051.jpg].
People who are bad at this: [a:Emma Straub|1983563|Emma Straub|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1580490349p2/1983563.jpg].
The main feeling this book evokes in me: boredom.
While reading the book, all that I could think was that this writing style wasn’t hitting me at all. The type of people that these characters were representing are everyday people and their inner thoughts and in which situation they turned up unhappy. It’s the thing I love reading about but after finishing every story none of it stayed with me.
Like the author was dancing around the main point and missing it. Like one flat tune played over again.
I wish I could say more to describe this book but all my thoughts return to the abovementioned point. I don’t know if I will ever reach for something else from this author, kudos to everyone enjoying this.
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This was the most forgettable short story collection that I have read in a while. Review to come.
A lot of contemporary fiction writers are doing this method – writing about everyday things in a new perspective, with a deeper insight in the inner psychology of the characters and discussing social norms and their effect on an individual.
What I found that makes an author great, in this field of topics, is that their sentences and internal monologue of characters leave an impact on the reader.
It does come down to individual style but also a determining factor is a way the writer will approach the topic and discuss it.
People who are great at this: [a:Sally Rooney|15860970|Sally Rooney|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1534007127p2/15860970.jpg], [a:Ottessa Moshfegh|3276202|Ottessa Moshfegh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1568839250p2/3276202.jpg], [a:Rachel Cusk|46051|Rachel Cusk|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1268246552p2/46051.jpg].
People who are bad at this: [a:Emma Straub|1983563|Emma Straub|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1580490349p2/1983563.jpg].
The main feeling this book evokes in me: boredom.
While reading the book, all that I could think was that this writing style wasn’t hitting me at all. The type of people that these characters were representing are everyday people and their inner thoughts and in which situation they turned up unhappy. It’s the thing I love reading about but after finishing every story none of it stayed with me.
Like the author was dancing around the main point and missing it. Like one flat tune played over again.
I wish I could say more to describe this book but all my thoughts return to the abovementioned point. I don’t know if I will ever reach for something else from this author, kudos to everyone enjoying this.
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This was the most forgettable short story collection that I have read in a while. Review to come.
dianametzger's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliant thoughtful short stories that put emphasis on well formed characters rather than many short story writers who want to show off with language. Greta Gerwig could adapt any of these stories beautifully. They’re that vibe. Also I was surprisingly satisfied with how long I got to live with the characters in each story.
emilyinherhead's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
After reading and loving many of Emma Straub’s more recent novel-length books, I’m not surprised that her debut story collection is also very solid. Here, as in her other work, she mainly focuses on her character’s inner lives and relationships to each other. I could feel a bit of clunkiness in certain places, some spots that could have been better polished, but overall her writing is clear and a pleasure to read.
Some favorite stories:
Some favorite stories:
- “Some People Must Really Fall in Love”
- “A Map of Modern Palm Springs”
- “Pearls”
- “Marjorie and the Birds”