jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition

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3.0

I think I like the idea of this book more than the reality - a collection of fictional love letters. There was quite a range, both in terms of subject matter (I particularly liked the love letter to a house) and style, and some of them hooked me and some left me cold. Good for dipping in for a quick read.

and_abigail's review against another edition

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2.0

maybe a couple good stories in here, but overall highly disappointing, even from acclaimed authors :(

barrettcmyk's review against another edition

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I thought sure I'd love this. An assortment of fictional love letters, written by an assortment of most excellent authors? Gaiman included? Yes please. Yet somehow I just couldn't get into it. Maybe I didn't give it enough of a shot, or I just didn't make enough time, but of the 5 or 6 stories I read, most tended toward the silly / ludicrous. Perhaps too much of a good thing just made each ridiculous love letter that much less shocking?

jdyschmdt's review against another edition

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2.0

This book wasn't what I wanted it to be. I suppose it was ok for what it was.

mariavelica's review against another edition

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5.0

everything you need

library_brandy's review against another edition

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3.0

Despite the contributor list reading like a Who's Who of my bookcase, this just wasn't that good. It wasn't bad--many of the stories were enjoyable--but the bulk ends up being forgettable. Several pieces feel like they were dashed off in a "why not?" response to the project, with minimal planning or editing. The "love letter" is interpreted several ways, but most end up with sarcastic and/or "twists"--love gone wrong, I Never Want To See You Again, letters from chimps to the primatologist who's been studying his clan. Taken as individual microfictions, these might be enjoyable, but when put together into a collection, there's not enough diversity in tone and/or subject matter to hold my interest. Did every author think they were being clever to write breakups and bitter irony as their love letters? The stand-outs were the ones who broke from that mold: a husband placing ad after ad, looking for his wife after Katrina. A performance artist stalking a woman he sees daily. Descriptions of photos that chronicled a relationship. Unfortunately, these pieces were the minority and back-loaded the book (arranged loosely by tone; the organizational plan is somewhat obtuse); many readers will likely never make it all the way to the few gems that are hidden here.

emilyjbridges's review against another edition

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3.0

This book contains exactly what you would expect from your basic "anthology around a theme." Some regular letters, some from or to psychoes, some to non-humans, some not actually letters, blah blah blah. Problem is none were that interesting. I score three stars in honor of the letter by Chris Bachelder, an author I hadn't heard of before, whose letter, describing a student who did very well in the Intermediate Love course, was the only one that was in any way interesting, clever, or moving. EDIT: I do read a lot of "Anthologies around a theme" though. Maybe I am just jaded.

tereshiznit's review

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5.0

so far so good.
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