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karenbenedetto's review
2.0
Honestly, I'm a big Ann Tyler fan, but I couldn't even bear to finish this one. Boring and not very clever.
alwayslivedinthecastle's review against another edition
1.0
The retellings of Shakespeare have been a real mixed bag so far, but this is the worst.
The best version of Kate is Elizabeth Taylor's portrayal. Anne Tyler's insipid, characterless, will-lacking, boring, child-loving (why does she work with kids?! Kate hates everyone! She hates the constraints of family! She hates tradition, and the burden laid on her to marry and procreate!) version would shit her pants if Taylor's even looked at her.
Just avoid.
The best version of Kate is Elizabeth Taylor's portrayal. Anne Tyler's insipid, characterless, will-lacking, boring, child-loving (why does she work with kids?! Kate hates everyone! She hates the constraints of family! She hates tradition, and the burden laid on her to marry and procreate!) version would shit her pants if Taylor's even looked at her.
Just avoid.
akovach's review
2.0
Very cute read. Another audiobook listen. Not my favorite as it was a bit predictable but overall a quick and entertaining story.
emilylif's review
4.0
The Taming of the Shrew is quite possibly my favorite Shakespeare play, and I was very pleased with Anne Tyler's adaptation. It's so different compared to 10 Things I Hate About You, which was wonderful. I love that movie, but I was glad Vinegar Girl wasn't a carbon copy.
Kate is wonderful and snippy and in charge of herself, of course, and Petyr is quite the opposite of what I'd expected for Kate's eventual beau, but I loved him. Bunny and the girls' father were brilliant as well, holding true to their original Shakespearean characters but also becoming something exclusive to this particular retelling.
The part that pleased me the most, I think, is the fact that Tyler included Katherine's ending soliloquy in this. And it was so clearly meant to be that, and it was preachy in the way the original Shakespearean ending is--Katherine's not giving in, but she's allowing for change as well.
I finished it within a couple hours, and overall I absolutely adored this retelling of my favorite Shakespearean comedy.
Kate is wonderful and snippy and in charge of herself, of course, and Petyr is quite the opposite of what I'd expected for Kate's eventual beau, but I loved him. Bunny and the girls' father were brilliant as well, holding true to their original Shakespearean characters but also becoming something exclusive to this particular retelling.
The part that pleased me the most, I think, is the fact that Tyler included Katherine's ending soliloquy in this. And it was so clearly meant to be that, and it was preachy in the way the original Shakespearean ending is--Katherine's not giving in, but she's allowing for change as well.
I finished it within a couple hours, and overall I absolutely adored this retelling of my favorite Shakespearean comedy.
jconnors22's review
3.0
This did not wow me in any way! I thought the characters were too stagnant. Almost like they were not allowed to break out of their perfectly made character shell. Kind of entertaining but mostly my OCD about finishing books is what led me to finish this one not the story.
kittybetty's review against another edition
2.0
This might have gotten three stars if I were expecting less, but it's Anne Tyler retelling Shakespeare, so I was expecting more. It's a fun little story, that's all.
ehstl77's review
4.0
This was an interesting family story about the roles we all take on and how we can change the roles or how they can change us. NO family is safe from dysfunction in some way or another. I was surprised to see a story about an arranged marriage of sorts in today's day and age but it was fun and I found myself wondering where she was taking the story line.
katseye116's review against another edition
5.0
I was pleasantly surprised by "Vinegar Girl". It is a retelling of a much older work and while it is quite faithful to the original plot and characters, it still has a fresh, modern feel which makes it fit seamlessly into the contemporary world. So often when authors try to modernize a classic, it doesn't translate well into modern society but Tyler skillfully introduces us to a fully believable plot which doesn't reduce the work to a caricature of its former glory. The characters are completely modern and manage to confront the plot devices realistically. The humor is very understated and subtle but really adds a delightful aspect. Great story and I highly recommend this to other looking for a lighthearted romantic comedy.