eminadiscobra's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bbboeken's review against another edition
3.0
This rating is not representational. I'm just no fan of short stories. My bad, truly.
_sarah_reads_'s review against another edition
4.0
Great writing, but not uplifting or light hearted. Lots of sad, lost, damaged people. Kinda reminds me of a less bizarre Lorrie Moore.
Also, what little kid orders rum raisin ice cream?
Also, what little kid orders rum raisin ice cream?
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
3.0
I saw this book on several "summer reading 2018" lists. I also read a glowing review in one of my favorite magazines, Garden & Gun. However, I must say that I was "underwhelmed" with Florida. Florida is a short story collection full of gators, snakes, the sun, storms, and sink holes. Most of the stories are about young women with distant husbands/boyfriends and young children. These women are also going through some kind of personal crisis. All of the stories are mildly disturbing: a deaf man stuck on a reptile-filled pond with no paddles, two young girls who are abandoned on an island, a woman who sees ghosts of her exes while drinking her way through a hurricane, a mother who busts her head open and slips in and out of consciousness, a young woman attempting to escape the chains of poverty, etc. While the stories are beautifully written, most of them were unsatisfying with abrupt endings.
erin1096's review against another edition
3.0
I need to stop picking up books of short stories because I never like them as much as I hope I will.
BUT there are some winners in here. The earthy, intimate realness of Groff's Florida will place you exactly where the narrator is physically and in their head as they take share their struggles with you. The descriptions were vivid and accurate and were what kept me reading when I was tempted to put down the book. Overall a beautiful interpretation of this state. Some of the stories drag and some of the narrators are frustrating, although I feel that both of those things may be intentional.
BUT there are some winners in here. The earthy, intimate realness of Groff's Florida will place you exactly where the narrator is physically and in their head as they take share their struggles with you. The descriptions were vivid and accurate and were what kept me reading when I was tempted to put down the book. Overall a beautiful interpretation of this state. Some of the stories drag and some of the narrators are frustrating, although I feel that both of those things may be intentional.
bonnieohthecat's review against another edition
3.0
Darkly, enjoyable exploration of Florida's weirdness (having grown up there, I feel I can say this). It did come to feel repetitive with the same white, college-educated, Florida-transplant woman & mother consumed with anxiety about climate crisis narrating several stories in the guise of different characters. Of course, different characters could share these characteristics in ways that felt unique, but instead, it felt to me that the author is working out a novel.
glasi001's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Loved it!! Thanks for the recommendation Rebecca! And thank you Gaby...used my gift certificate. đ
taylorcali's review against another edition
2.0
Great writing, but it probably wasnât best for me to listen to this one (as opposed to reading the hard copy) when it is a fiction anthology of short stories. My brain couldnât help but try to connect all the stories as they were all read by the author herself. Regardless, youâd think the author was from Florida with how well she NAILED. IT. âWalk outside in Florida and a snake will be watching you.â