Reviews

The Collected Stories of Grace Paley by Grace Paley

sleepmotif's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

shimmery's review against another edition

5.0

A beautiful, chatterbox of a book, with a whole spectrum of stories ranging from light and fun to terribly dark.

Grace Paley knew about people, about ordinary lives and relationships and she captures these things so wonderfully in her stories. So many are so unapologetically about women, just women chatting to each other about their lives — she has a remarkable ear for dialogue. There are women whose partners have walked out on them, women meeting in parks with their babies, women organising political protests — women doing all kinds of things in their everyday life which Paley has such fun paying attention to. Her writing is rare and refreshing and ultimately life affirming.

Though each story is a standalone piece, many share characters so that you become familiar with them throughout the collection, making this a good choice for people who want to try short stories but usually prefer novels.

savaging's review against another edition

4.0

What a human! "Goodbye and Good Luck" is one of my favorite stories ever, just the voice and verve of it. Not all of her stories worked for me -- some feel like they're trying too hard to be post-modern; some might not have aged well -- but at the end of it all I am just so pleased with Grace Paley and all her friends and lovers.

adt's review against another edition

challenging funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

emiliefox's review against another edition

5.0

not even finished yet, 5 star rating. this book -this author-is amazing!

christopherwilson13's review against another edition

4.0

Not a complaint but an observation: A lot of Paley's stories drop you in and assume you can catch up for the rest of the ride, shaving off the first hundred or so words of introduction you might get elsewhere. On occasion, perhaps due to quarantine brain and the dropping of quotation marks in many of the stories, I found it very difficult to follow. But much of it sparkles, and some of the shortest entries — just a page or two — are perfect.

2tinybirds's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

jlange64's review against another edition

2.0

I've decided that I'm just not a short story person. I love novels. I decided to give this book a try because work has been so busy lately that I don't have as much time to read. But it just didn't really do much for me.

rhaines46's review against another edition

challenging funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

Would like to read again once I'm smarter

"Wants" is tops, as is "Goodbye and Good Luck"

robinpiereads's review against another edition

3.0

So strange/interesting.