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You Think It, I'll Say It
You Think It, I'll Say It
Curtis Sittenfeld | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great, satisfying set of stories
This short story collection features ten short stories from author Sittenfeld, featuring a cast of diverse, real characters. Told from a variety of point of views--a bored housewife, a wealthy bachelor, a new mom, and more--they offer pointed and humorous insight into current society.

I typically am not a huge fan of short stories because they don't give me enough information about the characters, and I'm a very character-driven person. But when I saw that Curtis Sittenfeld had a short story collection coming out, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist. She gets a lot of press for Prep, but I feel like American Wife and Eligible are both still so fully ingrained in my brain. I loved them both so much, and they are go-to recommendations when I get the standard, "oh you like to read, what should I read?" question.

But, I digress. Sittenfeld. Short stories. I shouldn't have been surprised, honestly, that her collection would be above the typical fare. I probably enjoyed this set of short stories more than any other I've read in ages. It's so well-written and engaging. As with Sittenfeld's other work, the stories are so wonderfully descriptive, so you can immediately picture the characters and their situations. I felt like I was quickly transported to the setting of each story as soon as it began.

The stories are similar but not repetitive, which was also refreshing, and seem to be real, instead of striving to reach some sort of literary bar that makes them tedious and therefore unreadable. They are about real, relatable characters struggling with misinformed impressions, lingering resentments, and different types of relationships. But - oh hooray - even better, the majority of the stories didn't leave me with that unfinished feeling. They are honestly fascinating, and I enjoyed how they all start (I enjoyed them all the way through too, of course, but it seemed like each had a bit of a common thread in its beginning). I could have read more about each story's characters, sure, but I didn't feel frustrated when they ended, which was so amazing and different for me.

I really liked each and every story. For instance, there's "Vox Clamantis in Deserto" which begins with a woman (girl?) who idolizes a fellow college student from afar in line at the post office. Two of the stories, "Plausible Deniability" and "The Prairie Wife," had actual twists and surprises, which was so much fun. And some of the longing that came across in these characters was very touching and heartfelt. I have a soft spot for slightly nerdy high school/college kids, even once they're all grown up, and for slightly fatigued moms, so these stories were my cup of tea.

Overall, this was a great set of short stories. They are filled with real people set in complicated yet enjoyable and interesting situations. They are easy-to-read and don't leave you wanting for more--except maybe more stories. This only cements my feeling that I'll continue to read (and adore) anything Ms. Sittenfeld writes.

I received a copy of this story collection from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
  
OO
Out of Tune
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This collection of short stories with has a interesting twist in that they are all based on traditional ballads. I really enjoyed the variety and the dark twist on all of them. Some of my favorites were "Driving Jenny Home" and "John Barleycorn Must Die". As a person who loves Irish and Scottish folk music these stories gave me a new perspective on the music I listen too.

I will be recommending book. Especially to my friends with literature and music degrees.
  
SF
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is beautifully written. It is full of short stories about a girl in a large family on big ol farm in Pennsylvania. It is also about her love of cats and kittens, and the many animals that came and went on the farm. Most of the stories are sad, but have beautiful illustrations. But overall I really enjoyed reading this book.
I received an ARC copy of this book from #NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary, honest review.
  
OU
Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume Two
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A fantastic collection of fairy stories retelling some of the childhood favourites from an LGBTQIA+ pov. The style chosen to write these stories in may not be for everyone but I for one enjoyed their content and their filling of a gap in the inclusiveness of literature generally. As a beginning piece in providing reading material for all, this is a definite plus, but it is also something that needs working on and improving, those coming after will surely be able to improve.
  
40x40

ClareR (5879 KP) rated NOS4A2 in Books

Apr 11, 2018  
NOS4A2
NOS4A2
Joe Hill | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.5 (23 Ratings)
Book Rating
This scared me half to death. It seems quite an innocuous story to begin with, but it just builds and builds. It's very reminiscent of a few Stephen King stories (involving cars or creatures of the night), but at the same time, we shouldn't compare Joe Hill to Stephen King (I have GOT to stop doing that!). He very much has his own stories to tell. And this is a good one. And I quite like being scared to death, for the record.
  
This book gives you two hot and steamy stories in one book. The characters in both books were fantastic. The more I read from this author the better they get.Both stories are action packed, making them very hard to put down till you'd finished them. You will fall in love with the characters as you read. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.