Reviews

Why I Don't Write by Susan Minot

alahnajeane's review against another edition

4.0

This book is of intense variety and uniqueness. The ten short stories inside each contain completely different characters and situations, all with similar style and themes. Susan Minot displays the deep interests of the monotonous world. The real world. I commend her on this ability. I thoroughly enjoyed each story and am set on rereading it once all of the dust has settled.


Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the books:
"A patch of warmth spreads below my collarbones, surprising me. I didn't know I had even been cold." Page 100

"You write if without it you would die." Page 76

"She felt ashamed, the shame one feels at not having done a sufficient job of looking after the one person you're supposed to keep track of: yourself." Page 146

"Daisy backed away from them, feeling suddenly transparent like a flame in sunlight." Page 22

lola425's review against another edition

3.0

Solid collection from Minot. Liked some of the more non-traditional stories a lot.

cmacso's review against another edition

5.0

I quite liked these stories. They dissect human emotions and relationships. There is one that stopped in my tracks - an older woman is on her deathbed (perhaps with dementia or Alzheimer’s) and her husband sits dutifully by her side only to have to hear you call out another man’s name. Punch. In. The. Gut. The stories are short and at times way to real, but the writing is beautiful.

anphall's review against another edition

This book has a deeply transphobic story in it.  I would not recommend this book to anyone.

theblondemule's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

ebesser's review against another edition

Meh. That's all it gets.

terrybain's review against another edition

4.0

It’s been awhile since I read a book of stories front to back with no interruption. This was the perfect return to that practice. Fully dashed against the rocks, pulled up onto the frozen shore, buried in the blackened sand, and voted most likely to wear a sweater. Delicious.

gcviolin's review against another edition

4.0

Found the last story, “The Language of Cats and Dogs,” particularly stunning.

jennareadsbooks's review against another edition

dark

2.0

Thanks to @vintageanchorbooks for sending me Why I Don’t Write by Susan Minot. This is the second collection I’ve finished this month for #storyseptember. I had high hopes for this one, but ultimately it did not work for me. Most of the stories felt underdeveloped. One story struck me as very transphobic and I was very surprised it was included in the collection. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth. There was one random story that had supernatural elements (Cafe Mort) that felt completely out of place. One story (Listen) consists entirely of unattributed dialog about politics lately but somehow manages to say nothing at all. The only story I really liked much at all was the last one - The Language of Cats and Dogs, about a college student who is victim of unwanted advances of her male professor.

Almost nothing about this collection really moved me, or made me feel much of anything except indifference. I know there is a lot of love for Minot’s previous books. I’m just very uninspired to pick them up after this one.

nigelhervey's review

3.0

I really liked...

Polepole
Green Glass
Café Mort
The Language of Cats and Dogs