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liv_booksss's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
joymargot's review against another edition
5.0
The trouble with reading anything by Shirley Jackson is that everything else seems a bit shit by comparison. A slight exaggeration perhaps, but my tolerance for bad writing has definitely diminished this month.
I didn’t realise it was a mix of short stories and non-fiction and was initially a little disappointed, but the Humour & Family and Craft of Writing sections were some of my favourites!
Not every short story was a triumph for me but there are some absolute corkers. I particularly enjoyed Paranoia and Mrs Spencer and the Oberons, which achieve Shirley’s classic balance of deliciously unsettling and unexpectedly humorous.
beck4books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
kerrycat's review against another edition
5.0
Ah, more Jackson is such a treat. I can only hope there is more out there, somewhere, waiting to terrify me in the night.
apple0loving0shinigami's review against another edition
5.0
Reading anything Shirley Jackson has written is an absolute delight. But her memoirs are my favorite ✨ so witty, so clever, so charming, so heartwarming
pedantic_reader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
pwesterfield's review against another edition
dark
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
cyberquartz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
seullywillikers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Shirley Jackson is my favorite author. Her humor, her ability to see into the dark places of everyday domesticity, her poetic way with language and the ability to turn a phrase are unmatched. This book collects the rare and rarely seen from her collections and paper, and is an excellent addition to anyone's reading list.
meme_too2's review against another edition
4.0
Shirley Jackson was an extraordinary writer. You never know where her stories are going. Some end creepy, some end with a strange twist, and some simply end and leave you wondering. She surprises you every time. I will return to these stories again and again.