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Most Helpful Reviews
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Liked It “I totally loved this collection of stories, which I accidently stumbled across at the local library and, as a proprietor of all things Jeffrey Eugenides, had to pick up immediately. This book did not disappoint in the slightest. I must cop to being something of an antagonist when it comes to love...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “This book was for the most part a real downer. There were a few good stories and even one or two with happy endings, but overall I was just not impressed.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“I totally loved this collection of stories, which I accidently stumbled across at the local library and, as a proprietor of all things Jeffrey Eugenides, had to pick up immediately. This book did not disappoint in the slightest. I must cop to being something of an antagonist when it comes to love and love stories in general. So this collection was for me a refreshing break from love and even more intriguing with its mix-tape appeal. There really is something for everyone in this collection, and particular highlights for me included the stories 'Some Other, Better Otto' by Deborah Eisenberg, 'First Love and Other Sorrows' by Harold Brodkey, 'The Dead' by James Joyce and one of my favorite short stories of all time, 'A Rose For Emily' by William Faulkner. Both Brodkey and Eisenberg were new, fantastic discoveries for me that alone would have made the book worthwhile, but Eugenides didn't leave off there. The collection in its entirety is fantastic just because it discardes the age-old urban legend that love is somehow noble or non-perishable or makes people better. As Eugenides addresses in the introduction, love is everything to us precisely because is guarantees nothing, as these stories prove with resounding truth. I love this book enough that I will be buying it to keep in my personal collection because I can't bear the thought of not having it on hand at all times.”
Stella Nox wrote this review Tuesday, October 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Really well put together with excellent gems of stories both famous and undiscovered which reflect well on each others' themes”
Lee J wrote this review Monday, August 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This book was for the most part a real downer. There were a few good stories and even one or two with happy endings, but overall I was just not impressed.”
amnbdad wrote this review Sunday, June 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Didn't read it all, but found it memorable. ”
Christopher S wrote this review Monday, June 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Highly recommended by my daughter, a young woman of exceptional taste.
Jon M wrote this review Sunday, June 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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“Great collection of short stories, all dealing with love. The introduction by Eugenides was interesting reading too. Enjoyed this collection very much, looking forward to sharing it! The cover is pretty cool too!”
Marilyn R wrote this review Sunday, September 14 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I enjoyed most of this short story collection whose theme is love. There's a little something for everyone in this volume: tales of first love, true love, unrequited love, lust, longing, enduring old-people love, homosexual love. There's nothing sappy in the lot; this is a solid collection of literary, contemporary, and historic fiction from writers as diverse as Nabokov, Faulkner, Joyce, Raymond Carver, Milan Kundera, Chekhov, Alice Munro. I loved Lorrie Moore's funny, neurotic "How to be an Other Woman" about carrying on an affair. Also loved "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" by Alice Munro (on which the movie Away from Her is based) about the onset of Alzheimer's. Maupassant's story "Mouche" was a cute piece about a woman with five lovers--and the consequences thereof. Loved rereading James Joyce's "The Dead" and revisiting the utter creepiness of "A Rose for Emily" by Faulkner. There are also some wounded, raw, bleeding contemporary stories like "Natasha" by David Bezmozgis [teenage boy's first love with an experienced, troubled immigrant teenage girl], "The Bad Thing" by David Gates [when marrieds are unhappy and take it out on each other], and "Dirty Wedding" by Denis Johnson [abortion, seen from the father's point of view]. All in all, an enjoyable read; try it!”
Karen wrote this review Tuesday, February 26 2008. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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