mneex05's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Car accident, Racism, Suicide, Injury/injury detail, and Sexual violence
jasminerosekoop's review
2.0
I've had to read "Brokeback Mountain" four times so far university topics, and honestly, it gets worse each time.
bundy23's review against another edition
4.0
Brokeback Mountain is the obvious stand out here but there are a few other decent stories along the way. The problem I had is that Proulx's prose can put me in a coma at times. I had the same problem with The Shipping News, some great moments surrounded by lots of dull writing.
thedocument's review against another edition
4.0
Most of the stories are kinda similar and it feels like most of the time she doesn't have an ending in mind, just writing the story as it comes. This isn't a criticism, however, as the whole book is so beautifully written.
Brokeback Mountain itself is, of course, masterful.
Brokeback Mountain itself is, of course, masterful.
eaborum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
seconddaysea's review against another edition
3.0
Lovely prose but I just can't understand the appeal of short stories. I think my reading comprehension sucks.
ajsterkel's review against another edition
5.0
These stories are realistic, gritty, beautiful, and amazing. Having grown up in Colorado, I was familiar with the setting of this book, but I've never seen it described this well. Annie Proulx has a gift for using language precisely. I can see why she has won so many literary prizes.
All of these stories are about tough Wyoming ranchers. None of the characters are likable, but most of them are fascinating because of their flaws. The most well-known stories in the collection are "The Half-Skinned Steer," which was featured in the anthology Best American Short Stories of the Century, and "Brokeback Mountain," which became a movie.
"Brokeback Mountain" is the strongest story in the collection. I also liked "The Mud Below" because it seemed more straightforward and less sparsely-written than the other stories. I liked the humor in "The Blood Bay." I had a hard time picking favorite stories because I liked them all. This is one of the best short story collections I've read in a long time.
All of these stories are about tough Wyoming ranchers. None of the characters are likable, but most of them are fascinating because of their flaws. The most well-known stories in the collection are "The Half-Skinned Steer," which was featured in the anthology Best American Short Stories of the Century, and "Brokeback Mountain," which became a movie.
"Brokeback Mountain" is the strongest story in the collection. I also liked "The Mud Below" because it seemed more straightforward and less sparsely-written than the other stories. I liked the humor in "The Blood Bay." I had a hard time picking favorite stories because I liked them all. This is one of the best short story collections I've read in a long time.
kickpleat's review against another edition
3.0
I've only read short stories by Ms. Proulx and I'm always impressed. There's a lot of darkness and humour in her writing and I always feel like I know the places she writes about. I've only been through Wyoming once but reading her stories I feel like "been there, done that" but in a good way.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
3.0
I did not love this collection of stories set in Wyoming. While some of them were very good, there was a monotony to the winters, the ranches, the hardened men, and everything else in the stories that made the collection feel somewhat more tedious than the sometimes excellent stories themselves.
corpsewhale's review against another edition
3.0
I am never going to Wyoming. In a couple of the stories it was hard to keep track of who was doing what, but overall these were very well-written portraits of people with tragic lives.