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sienaro's review
2.0
Why must short story collections all be like this?? Mostly depressing, but occasionally funny, but then mostly depressing. I think the majority of this story was rape, also murder, suicide, and more rape. It was actually too predictable to even be depressing by the second or third story because every few paragraphs, someone else was raped or murdered.
To name a few highlights:
-3 deaths that were too gruesome to read
-countless children without parents
-16+ drug addicts
-9 awful (mostly abusive) boyfriends
-2 chapters that I fell asleep halfway through
Great read if you love being disappointed.
To name a few highlights:
-3 deaths that were too gruesome to read
-countless children without parents
-16+ drug addicts
-9 awful (mostly abusive) boyfriends
-2 chapters that I fell asleep halfway through
Great read if you love being disappointed.
beefstick's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jenmat1197's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a book of short stories. Among the tales is a story of a young girl who, after a car crash where she had to escape drowning, she takes scuba lessons to concur her fear of water. Another is a girl whose mother is very sick and they spend a day at a healing commune when tragedy strikes. Another is a young Jewish girl who befriends a Christian girl and wonders what she is missing by being Jewish. And yet another where a young girl spends the day in Disney world with her sick mother and a family friend as she contemplates life after her mother is gone.
This was an interesting book. I have mentioned several times before that I am not a fan of short story books. I read this one for a reading challenge and honestly it wasn't terrible. The writing is very good and the stories interesting....until the ends. Not one story has a satisfying ending. Each one left on a cliff hanger which, I know was the author's intention, but that isn't for me. It drove me crazy.
smittybeans0018's review
5.0
I credit this collection of short stories, particularly "The Isabel Fish," with getting me into short fiction in the first place. I knew virtually nothing about the art of the short story until the pivotal moment when I read "The Isabel Fish" in my first creative writing workshop as a sophomore in college. I've read this collection almost three times since then. Julie Orringer's coming-of-age stories are touching, triumphant, sensitive, and poignant without ever being forced or insincere. One of my top five favorite books ever. I would recommend, however, if you're reading it for the first time, not to read the stories in order. I don't necessarily like her choice of first story, as I do not feel it to be similar to any of the others in the collection--thus, it does not do a satisfying job of setting up the stories to come. I'd say start with "The Isabel Fish" and then go all the way through.
ilovestory's review
4.0
Many of the short stories in this collection reminded me of aspects of my childhood. The author has a great eye for detail; she takes ordinary people and situations and creates a thoughtful story. Some of the characters are rude, mean, unkind, even evil but all are realistic and human. I enjoyed reading it.
natashaquay2025's review against another edition
3.0
first few short stories were great, had good vibes and interesting ideals about women and femininity. but later stories got a bit dark.
sujuv's review
4.0
I read this book a while ago, completely forgot that I did, and then put it on hold at the library. Started to think that maybe I'd read it, and when I read a description of it on Amazon I realized that I definitely had. While that doesn't sound like the best recommendation for a book, part of the reason I remembered it is because the review mentioned one of the stories, "The Isabel Fish," and I thought to myself, "I loved that story!" So I guess that's a good thing.
mehitabels's review
5.0
Dear gods, this was crushing. Excellent, but crushing.
Nine short stories, mostly taking place from a young, teen girl perspective. Heartbreaking realization that teenagers really do go through some shite alone (and thank the gods I am well past that), and the uplifting spirit of strength and personality in each.
I read most of these while on various breaks at work, so that I usually returned with a stunned expression and once with tears in my eyes. But always with a new love in my heart, for another character that was so real and present that I am still expecting them to pass by my house or nod at me in the store.
Nine short stories, mostly taking place from a young, teen girl perspective. Heartbreaking realization that teenagers really do go through some shite alone (and thank the gods I am well past that), and the uplifting spirit of strength and personality in each.
I read most of these while on various breaks at work, so that I usually returned with a stunned expression and once with tears in my eyes. But always with a new love in my heart, for another character that was so real and present that I am still expecting them to pass by my house or nod at me in the store.