Reviews

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by Z. Z. Packer

megarenz's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The stories in this collection were all unique, interesting, strange, and fun to read. Some left me more emotional than others. I'm excited to check out more of this author's work.

rachelita's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

murphyjc's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

lren1983's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

mindthebook's review against another edition

4.0

En läsidé från den fiktive Fikry* i föregående bok! Fastnade för titeln Drinking Coffee Elsewhere på papperslappen han skjuter under Mayas dörr. Intersektionalitet och Baltimore! Läste i ett huj hela titelnovellen här: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/06/19/drinking-coffee-elsewhere


* https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jaR3BgAAQBAJ&pg=PT107&lpg=PT107&dq=fikry+drinking+coffee+elsewhere&source=bl&ots=hAc3m7k3V5&sig=ED2t2RuxK8G_PAVLoO7ywtsV7YQ&hl=sv&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi5vNXw2JzRAhWH2RoKHYE2CeAQ6AEITzAL#v=onepage&q=fikry%20drinking%20coffee%20elsewhere&f=false

millera9's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad

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

4.0

darllenydd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

misterallard's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

l_mell's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

maxgardner's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This collection has some standout stories for sure—Brownies, The Ant of the Self, Geese, Doris is Coming—but as a whole, I wasn't moved by most of them. I know the short story form is unique and not always meant to be satisfying the way a novel is, but with quite a few of Packer's stories, I was left wondering, "What was the point?" Unlikeable characters, awkward pacing, strange narrative choices that don't really amount to anything meaningful. I don't think I'd revisit most of these again.