Litsy

I feel too much I think. I'm easily shamed; easily hurt. So I go nuclear quickly in confrontations. I do know better. I'm learning not to resist; to let it go. William Trevor is my soundtrack. He sees the things that move me. He sounds like my own thoughts. Although his plots can be unnerving, his understanding of his characters is comforting. There won't be a happy ending, but there will be an ending. And I will understand.

Trashcanman Which of his works would you recommend a person to start with? Always here if you need or want to talk. 5d

mobill76 If you like George Eliot; if you like D.H. Lawrence; then I think you'll get Trevor immediately. I started with "Lucy Gault". It destroyed me. His short stories are good, too, but I like the heartbreaking payoff of a larger investment. Thank you, TCM. 5d

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Lesliereadsalot

Show Don't Tell: Stories | Curtis Sittenfeld

bailed

I used to really like Curtis Sittenfeld. I thought her first two books were amazing, Prep and Rodham. But ever since then…meh. I dutifully start each one but then disappointment sets in. This is a short story collection. Read the first three, didn‘t get any of them, bailed. Maybe they‘ll speak to someone else, but it wasn‘t me.

Cathythoughts I remember really enjoying American Wife. But then I got excited and bought another couple of hers … not as good at all ! 2w

Lesliereadsalot Forgot about American Wife! It was really good too. @Cathythoughts 2w

Ruthiella I loved Prep and liked American Wife and Romantic Comedy. I didn‘t like Sisterland. So she‘s hit or miss for me. 2w

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dabbe #hailthebail! 🙌 #betterbooksahead 2w

Lesliereadsalot The misses are adding up for me! @Ruthiella 2w

Lesliereadsalot 🩷 @dabbe 2w

BarbaraBB That‘s quite the warning. I feel the same about her but haven‘t read this one yet. I did love her other short story collection 2w

Lesliereadsalot I feel, with a short story collection, at least the first few should grab you. At least the first one! Maybe there would be some good ones later on, but she lost me. @BarbaraBB 2w

BarbaraBB The first one must draw you in I agree. And I am not a real short story fan in general. Well, I guess I‘ll read it one day 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w

Lesliereadsalot So…I noticed another reviewer had mentioned three of these stories were her favorites, so I went back to find those three. One was one I had already read (ominous!) and the other two were ok, nothing to get excited about. I tried! @BarbaraBB 2w

24 likes10 comments

sarahbarnes

The Uncollected Stories of Mavis Gallant | Mavis Gallant

I had to take this collection back to the library before I got through it, but I read enough of these stories to know that I must read more Mavis Gallant short stories! I can‘t believe I haven‘t before now. They are brilliant.

BarbaraBB I haven‘t even heard of them! Stacking. 3w

Ruthiella She‘s also a favorite of @shawnmooney 3w

Cathythoughts Very good ! Stacking. ❤️ 3w

sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts I love the style of her writing and storytelling. @Ruthiella @shawnmooney I‘m so glad I discovered her! 3w

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VRM1975

Show Don't Tell: Stories | Curtis Sittenfeld

pick

vivastory

High Lonesome: Stories 1966-2006 | Joyce Carol Oates

My #ThorsDayRec this week is a 700 page collection that I finished at the end of January this year after starting it the beginning of Dec last year. There are numerous memorable stories collected in this retrospective, the title story itself is one of the greatest pieces of American 20th C noir fiction. When JC Oates is on point, she is right up there with Shirley Jackson & Patricia Highsmith IMO. Absolutely fantastic.

tpixie Intrigued! Great review! 4w

Ruthiella I recently found out that the movie Smooth Talk with Laura Dern is based on the Oates‘ short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”. It‘s a good, but uncomfortable, film. 4w

vivastory @tpixie Thanks! There were so many fantastic stories in here. It would usually take me awhile to get through a retrospective this big, but I have always found Oates short stories very compelling (strangely enough although I have read several books of her short fiction I have yet to read one of her novels). 4w

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vivastory @Ruthiella It's funny you mention that; one of my streaming services is Criterion & while I was reading this CC had a Laura Dern retrospective including that movie. That felt like a cross between Shirley Jackson & Flannery O'Connor (edited) 4w

tpixie @vivastory despite her being a famous author I never have read her. I need to fix that! 4w

TheBookHippie Guess I‘ll move this up the list. 4w

vivastory @tpixie @TheBookHippie I think that this is a good volume to check out from your library if possible. If it is available, I recommend just reading where you want to. I had no intentions whatsoever of reading this beginning-to-end when I checked it out, it just worked out that way! 4w

tpixie @vivastory thanks for the tip! 4w

Branwen I feel really guilty for this admission, but JCO is an author that I really WISH I loved! 😭 I have tried to read so many different of her works, and each one has left me feeling disappointed. 😔 Do you have a favorite work by her? Maybe I could try that and see if it changes my mind? 4w

vivastory @Branwen I've only read her short works. I really liked Evil Eye. Also, her story Doll-Master is worth reading. It's one of the most unsettling things I've ever read. 4w

Branwen @vivastory Okay, maybe I'll give one of her shorter works a try! 🥰 Thanks, Scott! 3w

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xicanti

Bad Endings | Carleigh Baker

Saki‘s just chillin‘ by my fireside bookstack. The top book, BAD ENDINGS, is my current short story collection, and it‘s a strong one. Carleigh Baker excels at finding the slices of experience that illuminate a character‘s life. #MFMarch

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 1mo

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 1mo

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4w

39 likes3 comments

angieinwonderland

Show Don't Tell: Stories | Curtis Sittenfeld

pan

At the end of every story, I asked "and?", "so?" They were character driven and mostly mundane. The writing kept me plowing through but there were a few stories I read diagonally.

7 likes

Michellesibs

Show Don't Tell: Stories | Curtis Sittenfeld

pick

I'm not normally one for short story collections but I'd never read from Curtis Sittenfeld before and this seemed like a good way to sample their work.

And it was.

I really loved the writing style and will definitely be checking out the full length novels.

I enjoyed every story in the collection to varying degrees.

Stand outs would be A for Alone, White Women LOL and Patron Saints for Middle Age.

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vlwelser

Show Don't Tell: Stories | Curtis Sittenfeld

pick

I always think this author is writing about herself when she does short stories. I kind of like it.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Pub date is 2/25/25 (😂 cutting it close there)
#ARC #Netgalley

BarbaraBB I‘ve been eagerly looking forward to this one. I have preordered it but haven‘t received it yet 2mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2mo

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booklover3258

Aliens in the Prime of Their Lives: Stories | Brad Watson

bailed

Only read 3 stories and had to stop. Boring, ending made no sense and didn't want to read any more.

For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/h3BCV5VifIM

Enjoy!

willaful A shame, such a cool title. 2mo

35 likes1 comment

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