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babyruth510's review against another edition
2.0
I should know better, rarely do I like a book of short stories. Even though it was short I had no interest to continue.
in_and_out_of_the_stash's review
2.0
Painful, how did I get through this Debbie Downer? Because I am ever hopeful that the next story will be better. Not only were these stories depressing but most of them just ended.
2 stars for finishing.
2 stars for finishing.
mattleesharp's review against another edition
3.0
As with most short story collections, this was pretty hit and miss. I think the gimmick actually worked well. It was interesting to see how many different ways you can interpret the phrase or use it as a launch point. And a couple of the stories were really inspired. Just kind of draggy overall tho.
brontejane's review against another edition
2.0
I just didn't like it. I am not a big short story reader, but tried this one because Ann Patchett mentioned it in a conversation with Tom Hanks about his book of short stories. I did like that they all had "the news from Spain" in the story somewhere. But I just didn't enjoy any of the stories and especially didn't get the ones that had stories within the stories. For a relatively short book, it took me a long time to finish.
patriciareedreads's review against another edition
4.0
Each story different, yet all tied together. Loved the character development.
mssarahmorgan's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dllh's review
4.0
I forget where I first encountered Wickersham's work; I think it may have been a story in a recent issue one story. I've come across a few authors featured in that little magazine whose work I've gone on to follow.
I was a little disappointed when I read the first story in The News from Spain. It was kind of dull, a story about infidelity and the difficulty of reconciliation. It seemed almost like a romance drama, if thankfully a few notches higher in terms of quality than the classic bodice ripper. But as I kept reading, the stories began to appeal to me more and more. They became in some cases stories about how stories are made, and there was here and there a touch of the avant garde -- or at least the nonconventional -- about them. Several of the stories also were quite dark, with sort of gut-punch endings that appealed to me.
Wickersham writes well, and though I don't think there was much in the book that I found especially inspiring (meaning: her work doesn't make me want to try writing my own stuff, which the fiction that most appeals to me does tend to do), I think there are some really good stories in the book. I'm glad I read it and will likely read more by her.
I was a little disappointed when I read the first story in The News from Spain. It was kind of dull, a story about infidelity and the difficulty of reconciliation. It seemed almost like a romance drama, if thankfully a few notches higher in terms of quality than the classic bodice ripper. But as I kept reading, the stories began to appeal to me more and more. They became in some cases stories about how stories are made, and there was here and there a touch of the avant garde -- or at least the nonconventional -- about them. Several of the stories also were quite dark, with sort of gut-punch endings that appealed to me.
Wickersham writes well, and though I don't think there was much in the book that I found especially inspiring (meaning: her work doesn't make me want to try writing my own stuff, which the fiction that most appeals to me does tend to do), I think there are some really good stories in the book. I'm glad I read it and will likely read more by her.
miguelb's review
5.0
This is one of those books where beautiful and/or heartbreaking sentiments are expressed perfectly, capturing the emotion, the longing, the joy...
This is a wonderful book. Read it. Your heart will ache a bit, but it's worth it.
This is a wonderful book. Read it. Your heart will ache a bit, but it's worth it.
allieeveryday's review against another edition
4.0
I wouldn't *exactly* call these love stories. As I described to my husband, they're more about how two people can be so miserable together. But really, really well-written.
But don't let that description put you off this collection. It was really, really good.
But don't let that description put you off this collection. It was really, really good.
miguelb's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those books where beautiful and/or heartbreaking sentiments are expressed perfectly, capturing the emotion, the longing, the joy...
This is a wonderful book. Read it. Your heart will ache a bit, but it's worth it.
This is a wonderful book. Read it. Your heart will ache a bit, but it's worth it.