dllh's review against another edition
3.0
When I picked this one up from my library, I didn't realize it was a set of novellas. I haven't read many novellas, but the ones I have have been tough. I think it's kind of an awkward form -- long enough to feel a little too long but not long enough to feel like a big hearty novel you can really get into. It's like the awkward teenager phase of fiction that nobody really wants to be all that much involved with.
The first two in this collection of three, and a good half of the third, fell pretty flat for me. The words and sentences were good, but the stories didn't do much for me. They didn't seem to have much emotional freight, and so they seemed oddly sized curiosities, little exercises in building a sense of place and maybe a little sense of character. But of course knowing that the story would be chopped off pretty soon after the development had built, I had trouble really connecting with either the fictional town of Falls or its inhabitants.
Well into the final novella, Decoy, after the catastrophe that basically bifurcates the thing, the piece took a turn for the better for me, and I thought the last 20 - 30 pages were good. But, 30 pages out of 300 make for pretty slim pickings, so it's not one I'd suggest.
The first two in this collection of three, and a good half of the third, fell pretty flat for me. The words and sentences were good, but the stories didn't do much for me. They didn't seem to have much emotional freight, and so they seemed oddly sized curiosities, little exercises in building a sense of place and maybe a little sense of character. But of course knowing that the story would be chopped off pretty soon after the development had built, I had trouble really connecting with either the fictional town of Falls or its inhabitants.
Well into the final novella, Decoy, after the catastrophe that basically bifurcates the thing, the piece took a turn for the better for me, and I thought the last 20 - 30 pages were good. But, 30 pages out of 300 make for pretty slim pickings, so it's not one I'd suggest.
danchrist's review against another edition
Loved the first story, "Lost Souls." Really enjoyed how it handled language and the characters, but there seemed to be something just a little off kilter.
That was confirmed by the second story, the one that drove me out of the book. Yikes. Sorry, but it was just not for me.
That was confirmed by the second story, the one that drove me out of the book. Yikes. Sorry, but it was just not for me.
mazza57's review against another edition
4.0
First book i have read written by Gurganus. he is fabulous at scene setting with a real fly on the wall type of writing. The style is clipped, sentences are short and sharp. He describes and brings characters alive without using masses of descriptive phrasing. The stories seem to be about loss and recovery. There are three tales all related by the setting in which they take place. The first two grabbed my attention and imagination from beginning to end. The third was less enthralling but came through in the end. I can thoroughly recommend giving this book a go
genevieve_c_s_b's review against another edition
Three stars for the first two novellas, but I couldn't finish the third.
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure what I want to tell you about this book. I checked it out hoping for some Fannie Flagg good ol' storytelling, and I didn'te quite get it. This is three novellas (which I didn't realize going in) all set in the town of Falls, North Carolina. In some ways they are more character studies than plot driven stories--which is fine, of course, but Gurganis abuses the metaphor and sometimes distances himself from the characters he's writing about. So, all in all, I'd give it a B-.
This is also the author of "The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All," which I've never read, but I just love the title of.
This is also the author of "The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All," which I've never read, but I just love the title of.
twomble's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
rdebner's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the first two novellas in this collection, but couldn't really get into the third one.
piercedkl's review against another edition
5.0
A very nice collection of three novella's. The last one (the longest) took me a while to get through but it was totally worth it.
scherzo's review against another edition
2.0
Fear Not - tolerable
Saints Have Mothers - way too long; male thinking misplaced in female first person; 10-year old twins only likable characters; same thing over and over and over and over ...
Decoy - lost interest
Saints Have Mothers - way too long; male thinking misplaced in female first person; 10-year old twins only likable characters; same thing over and over and over and over ...
Decoy - lost interest
More...