Tuesday, June 16, 2020

This Week's Read: You Think It, I'll Say It



Gender Studies

Nell and Henry always said that they would wait until marriage was legal for everyone in America, and now this is the case - it's August 2015 - but earlier in the week Henry eloped with his graduate student Bridget. Bridget is twenty-three, moderately but not dramatically attractive (one of the few non stereotypical aspects of the situation, Nell thinks, is Bridget's lack of dramatic attractiveness), and Henry and Bridget had been dating for six months. They began having an affair last winter when Henry and Nell were still together; then in April, Henry moved out of the house he and Nell own and into Bridget's apartment. Nell and Henry had been a couple for eleven years.

by Curtis Sittenfeld

I haven't read many short stories in recent years, so this collection of ten is a welcome change of pace. After reading the first three, I'm impressed! A couple of Sittenfeld's novels are on my wish list... If the writing and characters are as good as they are in these stories, it won't be long before I finally pick them up.

Here's a portion of the goodreads summary:
Curtis Sittenfeld has established a reputation as a sharp chronicler of the modern age who humanizes her subjects even as she skewers them. Now, with this first collection of short fiction, her “astonishing gift for creating characters that take up residence in readers’ heads” (The Washington Post) is showcased like never before. Throughout the ten stories in You Think It, I’ll Say It, Sittenfeld upends assumptions about class, relationships, and gender roles in a nation that feels both adrift and viscerally divided.
Do you read short stories? 


First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intro is hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews

29 comments:

  1. Oh wow, I hadn't heard of this collection; I'd try it. Glad you seem to be enjoying it.

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    1. Diane - I've read a couple more stories now and they're all good!

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  2. Short stories tend to be a hit or miss for me so I don't read them often.

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    1. Girl Who Reads - It's been at least a couple of years since I last read a story collection.

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    1. Sassy Brit - I'm comfortable recommending this one already!

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  4. I don't often read short stories, but with this author, whom I've enjoyed, I would give them a whirl. Thanks for sharing, and here's mine: “STRANGER IN THE LAKE”

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    1. Laurel-Rain Snow - I'm always more likely to give a tried and true author a chance, too.

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  5. I'm not much of a short story reader, but I do make exceptions for authors whose novels I've enjoyed. I would give this one a try for sure.

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    1. Catherine - Sittenfeld has a knack for short stories, too!

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  6. When I read short stories, I find that I love the variety of plots and characters in one volume. But I seem to back away from short story collections in general for the very same reason. I think I prefer one set of characters and one main plot. This collection sounds great, however.

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    1. Deb - I know exactly what you mean! That's probably why I don't read more collections.

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  7. I don't usually read short stories, but this does sound good.

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    1. Yvonne - Halfway through now and I definitely recommend it!

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  8. Interesting. I don't seek out short stories but I do read them and this sounds like an interesting collection!

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    1. Katherine - I'm loving Sittenfeld's writing!

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  9. I hadn't heard of this book by this author and yes a collection of short stories is wonderful to read. Thanks for the review.

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    1. Mystica - The stories are just the right length to read one each morning or evening.

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  10. Short stories are not really my thing. Curtis Sittenfeld is very much my thing though. I have read all of her novels and just ordered her newest: Rodham. I might have to break my anti-short story habit and read this one.

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    1. Judy - My daughter just finished Rodham and really enjoyed it. I've yet to read her novels, but I certainly will now.

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  11. I've seen a lot of Sittenfeld's books on the shelves, but haven't read any of them. I'm not a big fan of short stories, but maybe this would be a good one to listen to on audio.

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    1. Les - I just borrowed the audio version from the library when I noticed the narrator (Emily Rankin) is the same as The Most Fun We Ever Had. I wanted to listen to her again! There is also a male narrator... he read the story I listened to on my walk this morning. You won't be sorry if you decide to listen.

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    2. Thanks, JoAnn. I'll add it to my wishlist on libro.fm.

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  12. I don't read many short story collections ... but every once in a great while. Canadian Alice Munro is one of my favorite authors for short stories. I like Sittenfeld as she is a good storyteller! Though her new Rodham novel had pluses and minuses for me. I hope you enjoy this collection.

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    1. Susan - I like Alice Monro, too! Haven't read Sittenfeld's novels, but I want to now... Eligible is on my kindle. My daughter liked Rodham more than you, but I'm not in much of a hurry to get to it.

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  13. Yes, the most recent short stories collection I finished is F. Scott Fitzgerald's Flappers and Philosophers which is a most pleasant read. And, I'm proud of Alice Munro, our Nobel Laureate. :) On another note, I revisited Jane Austen's P&P and feel it's an essential 'deserted island read' if I were shipwrecked and stranded one day. Not unlike Tom Hanks having Wilson as companion in 'Cast Away'. Of course, P&P is much more satisfying than Wilson the volleyball.

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    1. Arti - It's been far too long since I reread P&P! This might be a perfect time to do it... so much comfort and familiarity with old favorites. I've enjoyed FSF's stories, too, and Alice Munro is always excellent.

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  14. I'm not huge on short story collections, but I do like Sittenfeld. She came to a library talk a few years ago and was lovely.

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    1. Stacy - I'd love to hear Sittenfeld speak... sure do miss bookish events these days!

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