Reviews

The Girls Of Slender Means by Muriel Spark

adinab's review against another edition

4.0

Strange case of recognizing a good story but not enjoying it properly - the fragmentation of the novella did not go well with the fact that I mostly read it in 10-minutes sessions. Have not read much of Muriel Spark before this one, but I've remembered the mixture of cruelty and lightness. Liked the lightheaded way in which insight and pain make their way into what begins as a cutesy story about young women living by themselves and exchanging pretty dresses, disliked the superficiality with which Spark uses her characters' poverty.

read_with_pinot's review against another edition

3.0

This novella sure does seem to provide a vivid snapshot of the lives of a group of WASPy middle class* women of post-WW2 London. I just don’t share their humour or preoccupations so I was nowhere near as amused, engaged or moved as others.

* they may not have loads of money but they are not poor.

greenmind's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.5

lottie29's review against another edition

3.0

This short story felt as though I was eavesdropping in on the lives of the girls who stay at the May of Teck Club.

A house filled with drama, discussion and disagreements. As well as the comforting hum of poetry and periodic recitations on 'poise'.

All of this, to me, highlights the charm of female characters and relationships. As they share a beautiful Schiaparelli dress, collaborate on sneaking out through a tiny window onto the roof, and invite men-friends over for communal dinners; these women forge their lives in London.

Spark drops in damning details with ease and the plot turns dramatically. Everything is carefully considered in her short stories, every word matters.

I definitely enjoy Spark's short stories. And this one was about young women living in impoverished conditions under the rationing pressures of the war, passing through the gulf between youth and adulthood.

newishpuritan's review against another edition

4.0

Makes a good companion piece with Penelope Fitzgerald's Human Voices, which I also read recently. But a little lighter in tone.

katykaty's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

hannah850's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

coops456's review against another edition

2.0

Having enjoyed Spark's [b:Memento Mori|7102005|Memento Mori|Muriel Spark|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1307738473s/7102005.jpg|2934614], I was disappointed with this. Nothing happens for 100+ pages then it's over in <140.

A slim volume but still it dragged for me and took considerable effort to finish.

differentsisters's review against another edition

challenging hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

carlat22's review against another edition

dark lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0