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erincataldi's review against another edition
4.0
Each short story was masterfully told with the characters leaping off the pages and into the readers mind. All stories centered on women: some teenagers, some seniors, some widowed, divorced, or mothers. All of them overcame some adversity or weathered some storm and got to a place where they could take it in stride and start the next chapter of their lives. Some are meek, some are vivacious, some are spunky; all are courageous in their own way. Each story was unique, wonderful, and hard to put down. A wonderful short story collection that I will definitely return to again!
emilyisreading2024's review against another edition
4.0
Although there are some lovely stories here, few are particularly memorable for me.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
It is so hard to quote from a book of short stories. If the collection is good, as this one is, then how do you pick which story to quote? On top of that, I listened to these tales and so how do I actually write down anything that I enjoyed? For me part of the enjoyment of audiobooks is the narrator and I can’t capture that here.
Lee Smith is a writer I might not have ever discovered if I had stayed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or any of the other states I lived in before Virginia. I am not saying that she is not known outside of the south. I just had more incentive to read her stories once I moved to Virginia.
First of all, I got to hear Smith speak several times. There is a real joy to meeting writers. With all the writers I have met, I have gotten to make good connections to them and their work. Smith spoke at a local college and at least one library association meeting where I was in attendance.
Secondly, Smith is from Grundy, Virginia. So in my quest to learn about my new home state, I kept encountering her work, her stories about this commonwealth. Then, because of those two factors, I learned that Smith really knows how to tell a story. She has taken me from a river boat trip to Appalachia to a mental hospital and to many humorous family events. I have enjoyed everything that I have read by Lee Smith.
That includes this book of stories. Some of them I was encountering for the second time since this is a collection of old and new stories. Some of them were better than others. I really was glad to hear both Toastmaster and House Tour. Although I would recommend Smith’s novels to someone who had never read Smith before, these stories were entertaining.
If you haven’t tried Smith before, I recommend Oral History and Fair and Tender Ladies. If you like short stories or want to encounter a different side of Ms Smith, then try a few of these.
Lee Smith is a writer I might not have ever discovered if I had stayed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or any of the other states I lived in before Virginia. I am not saying that she is not known outside of the south. I just had more incentive to read her stories once I moved to Virginia.
First of all, I got to hear Smith speak several times. There is a real joy to meeting writers. With all the writers I have met, I have gotten to make good connections to them and their work. Smith spoke at a local college and at least one library association meeting where I was in attendance.
Secondly, Smith is from Grundy, Virginia. So in my quest to learn about my new home state, I kept encountering her work, her stories about this commonwealth. Then, because of those two factors, I learned that Smith really knows how to tell a story. She has taken me from a river boat trip to Appalachia to a mental hospital and to many humorous family events. I have enjoyed everything that I have read by Lee Smith.
That includes this book of stories. Some of them I was encountering for the second time since this is a collection of old and new stories. Some of them were better than others. I really was glad to hear both Toastmaster and House Tour. Although I would recommend Smith’s novels to someone who had never read Smith before, these stories were entertaining.
If you haven’t tried Smith before, I recommend Oral History and Fair and Tender Ladies. If you like short stories or want to encounter a different side of Ms Smith, then try a few of these.
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of short stories--seven new stories and seven culled from three earlier short story collections by Lee Smith. These are stories to be savored and I took my time reading this book. I tried to limit myself to one story a day so that I could think about and appreciate each story before dipping into the next. The stories capture individuals at various stages of life from a young boy to the Mrs. Darcy of the title who is trying to adjust to the recent loss of her husband in her own individual way. And her way, by the by, is driving her three daughters absolutely crazy. All of the stories are set in the South and are populated by those eccentric, quirky characters that fill the pages of southern literature and make us love it so.
latetotheparty's review against another edition
4.0
I like Lee Smith's writing style. She's a local author and makes me realize the good parts of being a southerner.
pattieod's review against another edition
4.0
A collection of stories by my favorite author. These are sketches of real characters who feel like real women. If you've never read Lee Smith, and you like these stories, you'll love the opportunity to dive deeper into her characters, in books like "Fair and Tender Ladies" or "Oral History" or "Family Linen".
abbynaf's review against another edition
4.0
I have recently re-discovered my appreciation for short stories and this is definitely a worthy collection. Although if you are looking for a collection to race through this may not be the best choice. I found myself reading only one or two of these Southern style at a time and savoring each one.
robinhigdon's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this collection of short stories from Lee Smith. I am such a fan of hers anyway, but this collection focused on Southern women all types. Good reading if you are in the mood for some short reads.
canadianbookworm's review
4.0
Stories with settings in the American South dealing with relationships, family, and how we all deal with what life brings to us. It is characters that are Smith's strong point. They come alive for the reader. They are us, our friends, our neighbours. The things that happen in their lives are things we are familiar with and can relate to. People get married, have babies, break up, and die. There are so many of the stories that I loved that I would be hard pressed to choose a favourite. What I do know is that this is a writer I want more of and will be seeking out her earlier books.
What is ordinary, she illuminates in a way that is unexpected, yet rings true every time.
What is ordinary, she illuminates in a way that is unexpected, yet rings true every time.