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trippali's review
3.0
Really 3.5 stars. It is a collection of articles about people the author has met, some were really five star interesting and others I just couldn’t get into.
novembergem's review
3.0
This is a beautiful collection of short stories. Orlean is captivating and her passion and intrigue are contagious.
maryehavens's review
3.0
Like all short stories, some were great and some were just o.k. More great than o.k. I like Orlean’s style of profiling the every day person because every one has a story. It’s nice to hear these stories and see the value in all stories.
I’m definitely interested in reading more of Orlean’s work and a bit sad that there’s only two compilations of it.
I’m definitely interested in reading more of Orlean’s work and a bit sad that there’s only two compilations of it.
blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review
5.0
It was fun and startling to read adult-viewpoint stories about Marky Mark and Tiffany, who were famous when I was a kid, because the way they were depicted was so different from their personas in Seventeen Magazine and the like. Yes, of course they would be different, but the thing is that I had no idea they would be in this book, so reading about them was a trip back in time.
Of course, the best ones were the stories of non-celebrities. It reinforces the idea that everyone has something interesting about them, and only needs a very talented writer around to draw out their story and put it in a witty little package. My favorites were "Show Dogs" and "I Want This Apartment" and "Silly Billy". The story about Silly Billy was especially interesting to me because years ago I saw the documentary "Capturing the Friedmans", and recognized Silly Billy as David Friedman, whose father and brother were accused of child molestation. This connection gave more depth and perspective to the article as I read it, as well as to how I think about and remember the movie and its people.
Of course, the best ones were the stories of non-celebrities. It reinforces the idea that everyone has something interesting about them, and only needs a very talented writer around to draw out their story and put it in a witty little package. My favorites were "Show Dogs" and "I Want This Apartment" and "Silly Billy". The story about Silly Billy was especially interesting to me because years ago I saw the documentary "Capturing the Friedmans", and recognized Silly Billy as David Friedman, whose father and brother were accused of child molestation. This connection gave more depth and perspective to the article as I read it, as well as to how I think about and remember the movie and its people.
louisejulig's review
Susan Orlean is a master of writing profiles, and I’m sure these were interesting in the context of reading the New Yorker, but a whole book of them felt like a bit much. I read a few, but there are so many other books I’d like to read that I didn’t feel like finishing this.
alsmilesalot's review
4.0
While I did enjoy several of the pieces/profiles in this book (especially the title essay and the one bout the all American man--age 10), what I really loved most of all was the introduction and hearing Orlean's true curiosity and interest in other people (big and small, famous and not-so-much) which is reflected in the book and her writing as a whole. What a gift of a perspective!
librarylove4eva's review
4.0
More like 3.75. I enjoyed the profiles and the writing, but would not go out of my way to reread or recommend.
jlmb's review
3.0
Some essays I highly enjoyed, others were meh...ok and still others were so, so dull. I guess that's the problem with a book of essays - how uneven your enjoyment of them can be.
I adore her writing style so the collection has that going for it. I think I might next try and read her book The Orchid Thief, which is a topic I find interesting. Some of the people profiled in this book I just had zero interest in, no matter how well written the material was.
Definitely not a book to buy, but one to check out from the library.
I adore her writing style so the collection has that going for it. I think I might next try and read her book The Orchid Thief, which is a topic I find interesting. Some of the people profiled in this book I just had zero interest in, no matter how well written the material was.
Definitely not a book to buy, but one to check out from the library.