Lust and Other Stories (Vintage Contemporaries) (edit title)

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Didn’t Like It Rated 1 stars “You can tell that this was Minot's earlier books. It is a collection of short stories that just left me flat. Nothing to rave about. If you are a fan, like I am you will be a bit disappointed but will probably want to read it anyway.” see full review » see other reviews »

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  • Rated 1 stars

  “You can tell that this was Minot's earlier books. It is a collection of short stories that just left me flat. Nothing to rave about. If you are a fan, like I am you will be a bit disappointed but will probably want to read it anyway.”

  DVG wrote this review Tuesday, July 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 0 stars

  “Lust is one of my favorite short stories--it's just perfect. She goes through all her young lusts, physical attractions and consummations, then takes you to a quick and devastating conclusion.”

  Leah O wrote this review Wednesday, November 28 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No

  
  
  • Rated 3 stars

  ““Lust and other stories” is a quick read and I mean that in a good way. It’s a quick read because at 147 pages it’s a short book, but largely because of Minot’s writing style, which is crisp and very clean. Her writing makes me think of fresh linen sheets folded with an urban sensibility. Most of the stories are set in New York, and if they’re not, the characters are still New Yorkers. Minot has captured moments, snapshots of relationships at different stages. Each moment may seem mundane, but it points to a greater tension underlying that particular relationship. It’s hardly original, but she does it consistently well. I tend to favor short story collections that are either structurally or thematically developed and “Lust and other stories” has both. The thematic tension of this collection focuses on how the characters try to resist love but ultimately cannot escape its lure. Love is likened to an abyss, and the repeated metaphor for falling into that abyss is death. It’s a very jaded, cynical view, and one that suits me just fine. ”

  ciel wrote this review Thursday, November 8 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No