jo_an's review against another edition
3.0
De Ali Smith solo había leído dos novelas (Girl meets boy y There but for the) y esta es su primera colección de historias cortas que leo (y no será la última). Creo que en general nunca he leído una colección de relatos, así que diré que algunas historias me han gustado más que otras. El tema principal son las relaciones entre las personas y cómo lo hacemos, sin dejar de lado los elementos raros de Smith.
Una cosa que me ha gustado mucho es ese cambio de punto de vista en los relatos. Respecto a este aspecto técnico, me han sorprendido las que están escritas en segunda persona. A mí parecer esa segunda persona es la pareja de la autora, Sarah Wood, pero parece que la autora intenta meterte en una historia donde ella también es la protagonista. Y ahí estás, hablando con Ali Smith (o compartiendo momentos muy íntimos). Mis historias favoritas son (no están en orden): "The child", "Present", "No exit" y "Writ"
Una cosa que me ha gustado mucho es ese cambio de punto de vista en los relatos. Respecto a este aspecto técnico, me han sorprendido las que están escritas en segunda persona. A mí parecer esa segunda persona es la pareja de la autora, Sarah Wood, pero parece que la autora intenta meterte en una historia donde ella también es la protagonista. Y ahí estás, hablando con Ali Smith (o compartiendo momentos muy íntimos). Mis historias favoritas son (no están en orden): "The child", "Present", "No exit" y "Writ"
sarahreadsaverylot's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not the first person to read and enjoy these creative, effervescent stories.
theinvisiblecosmo's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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? N/A
3.75
joan_'s review against another edition
3.0
De Ali Smith solo había leído dos novelas (Girl meets boy y There but for the) y esta es su primera colección de historias cortas que leo (y no será la última). Creo que en general nunca he leído una colección de relatos, así que diré que algunas historias me han gustado más que otras. El tema principal son las relaciones entre las personas y cómo lo hacemos, sin dejar de lado los elementos raros de Smith.
Una cosa que me ha gustado mucho es ese cambio de punto de vista en los relatos. Respecto a este aspecto técnico, me han sorprendido las que están escritas en segunda persona. A mí parecer esa segunda persona es la pareja de la autora, Sarah Wood, pero parece que la autora intenta meterte en una historia donde ella también es la protagonista. Y ahí estás, hablando con Ali Smith (o compartiendo momentos muy íntimos). Mis historias favoritas son (no están en orden): "The child", "Present", "No exit" y "Writ"
Una cosa que me ha gustado mucho es ese cambio de punto de vista en los relatos. Respecto a este aspecto técnico, me han sorprendido las que están escritas en segunda persona. A mí parecer esa segunda persona es la pareja de la autora, Sarah Wood, pero parece que la autora intenta meterte en una historia donde ella también es la protagonista. Y ahí estás, hablando con Ali Smith (o compartiendo momentos muy íntimos). Mis historias favoritas son (no están en orden): "The child", "Present", "No exit" y "Writ"
caitytruss's review
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was absolutely brilliant. The satire and whimsical stories made me laugh and consider the irony of our society. Particularly the politically incorrect baby at the beginning. I also greatly appreciated the contingency of the “domestic” throughout the stories: the second person story whereby the couple argues about how they would hypothetically enter a music store was relatable and entertaining.
And most importantly; the ending. How the couple discuss that they are not each other’s first, that they are well practiced in the art of intimate conversations and that they laugh that they are neither each other’s first, but it is irrelevant because they are each other’s now. Just brilliant.
And most importantly; the ending. How the couple discuss that they are not each other’s first, that they are well practiced in the art of intimate conversations and that they laugh that they are neither each other’s first, but it is irrelevant because they are each other’s now. Just brilliant.
dragaimila's review against another edition
5.0
Zbirka kratkih priča o međuljudskim odnosima, svakodnevnom životu, uobičajenom odlasku u supermarket gde se dešavaju neuobičajene stvari sa bucmastim detetom koje podseća na Kupidona. Neke od priča predstavljaju svakodnevne razgovore dvoje ljudi bez imena, rodnog identiteta, godina - o vezama, karakternim osobinama, o ljubavi posle ljubavi. Jedan od upečatljivijih razgovora je onaj u priči Writ, odigrava se između sadašnje i četrnaestogodišnje Ali Smit i bavi se temom (bi)seksualnosti. Koliki je značaj te priče govori nam činjenica da je ponekad neophodno da se konsultujemo sa sobom iz prošlosti i preispitamo se da li smo ispunili snove iz detinjstva, da li smo ostali odani sebi i svojim stavovima formiranim u vreme kada smo osećali najjaču ljubav prema životu...
Mislim da su detalji Alin najveći adut - ona vas prosto ubedi da ste u priči, vi čekate red u pošti, vi kupujete harmoniku u radnji za prodaju muzičkih instrumenata, vi gledate u detetove plave, bistre oči. Ali je osmislila neuobičajen koncept - ona kroz priče o pričama karakteriše sve prednosti ove književne forme, navodi složenost sprovođenja ideje u realizaciju, objašnjava značaj trećeg lica u priči, verziju i viziju posmatrača iz prikrajka.
"Because so few people had mastered the short story she was still in very good shape." Priča je nedovoljno istraženo polje i zahteva mnogo truda i umeća da bi se uobličila u formu prijatnu umu i srcu. Što se mene tiče, mislim da je Smit usavršila tu veštinu, podjednako sam uživala u pričama nakon četiri njena romana.
Priče koje su na mene ostavile najjači utisak: True short story, The child, The second person, Writ, Astute fiery luxurious.
Mislim da su detalji Alin najveći adut - ona vas prosto ubedi da ste u priči, vi čekate red u pošti, vi kupujete harmoniku u radnji za prodaju muzičkih instrumenata, vi gledate u detetove plave, bistre oči. Ali je osmislila neuobičajen koncept - ona kroz priče o pričama karakteriše sve prednosti ove književne forme, navodi složenost sprovođenja ideje u realizaciju, objašnjava značaj trećeg lica u priči, verziju i viziju posmatrača iz prikrajka.
"Because so few people had mastered the short story she was still in very good shape." Priča je nedovoljno istraženo polje i zahteva mnogo truda i umeća da bi se uobličila u formu prijatnu umu i srcu. Što se mene tiče, mislim da je Smit usavršila tu veštinu, podjednako sam uživala u pričama nakon četiri njena romana.
Priče koje su na mene ostavile najjači utisak: True short story, The child, The second person, Writ, Astute fiery luxurious.
claudiap's review against another edition
2.0
Last year I’ve read “How to be both” from Ali Smith, so I was disappointed when I couldn’t enjoy this book. I found it quite hard to focus on the story, mostly because I felt bored by the characters and plot.
thaiscarreiraafonso's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't love this collection as much as I loved 'The Whole Story and Other Stories', but it does feature some of Ali Smith's best stories, namely The Child and The Second Person. True Short Story, Present, and No Exit are also quite brilliant, and quite a few of the other stories range from good to great. It's always an experiment with Smith, so you never get exactly what you think you might from the first page. But anyone who is a lover of form should read her.
auroralibrialis's review against another edition
5.0
The first story in this collection is a short story about short stories and includes a collection of quotes about the short story from famous writers. So meta, so clever, a short story lover's dream. The Third Person, Fidelo & Bess, The Second Person, Writ and The First Person were my favorites. They're all little treasures that bend the rules for what a short story is and should be while subverting all your expectations. At times like listening in on someone else's private conversation, at times like slipping into someone else's dreams. Smith is a master of dialogue, of tone, of form. I'm so excited to explore more of her works.
corpuslibris's review against another edition
2.0
I've love both of the novels of hers that I've read, but on the whole I've been less blown away with her short stories. There were certainly a few good ones in this new collection, a couple with absurd topics or twists that made me think. Smith has a dry wit and a level of wordplay that strikes me as particularly British, akin to some of Jeanette Winterson's short stories. But not as good as Hotel World or The Accidental.