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surlymanor's review against another edition
3.0
meh, i don't know why i keep picking up stories like these about slightly put upon girls working shit waitressing jobs who feel like they can't escape. kind of a bummer - i think i'm not going to finish this collection.
kylierrussell's review against another edition
5.0
While I did not love every story in this collection. I liked all of them. Like other readers said, the harder to swallow have a detached, snarky tone, but I think that was executed brilliantly in a few of the stories, especially "Near-Son."
My favorites, were "Near- Son," "The Alpine Slide," and "The Witches." All capture some of the emotions of being a young woman in a way I have never experienced before.
My favorites, were "Near- Son," "The Alpine Slide," and "The Witches." All capture some of the emotions of being a young woman in a way I have never experienced before.
likehoneyandtrombones's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dilan11's review
3.0
More short stories from young and angry chicks. I am getting tired of them. In the last year, I've read Jean Thompson, Throw Like a Girl; Antonya Nelson, Female Trouble; Mary Gaitskill Because They Wanted To; and now Rebecca Curtis. It's all about bad boyfriends and drug abuse and clueless parents and difficult girlfriends. It's hard for me to judge the value of this book I am so sick and tired of the content.
Curtis has some stories that are more experimental than the books listed above. I am not sure if I like them though. George Saunders blurbed this book and I can see why. Some of the stories, especially the experimental ones, remind me of Saunders's work.
Twenty Grand is by far the best story of the book - creepy, mysterious. On a second reading, I would say Alpine Slide is also a great story.
I also must say I hate the filler at the end. Things to do in the Granite State, etc. Come on. This is supposed to be literature.
Curtis has some stories that are more experimental than the books listed above. I am not sure if I like them though. George Saunders blurbed this book and I can see why. Some of the stories, especially the experimental ones, remind me of Saunders's work.
Twenty Grand is by far the best story of the book - creepy, mysterious. On a second reading, I would say Alpine Slide is also a great story.
I also must say I hate the filler at the end. Things to do in the Granite State, etc. Come on. This is supposed to be literature.
michaelstearns's review
3.0
A toss-up between three and four stars. The best stories here are the more realistic in approach--"Hungry Self," the title story, "Summer, with Twins," a few others. Those are four or five star worthies. Just awesome.
The other stories are thought pieces that read like cut-rate Aimee Bender, and really, do we need anymore of Aimee Bender's thinly conceived think pieces? We do not. So those kind of dragged down my love of the book.
Still, half of it kicks ass. And so.
The other stories are thought pieces that read like cut-rate Aimee Bender, and really, do we need anymore of Aimee Bender's thinly conceived think pieces? We do not. So those kind of dragged down my love of the book.
Still, half of it kicks ass. And so.
zachkuhn's review
5.0
The best stories in this collection are some of the best short stories I've ever read. Curtis is a rarity in the vein of George Saunders; she has complete control of/over her unique voice.
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