Scan barcode
ejamie77's review against another edition
2.0
This collection of linked short stories made me feel unhealthy. Every character was a train wreck, yet I couldn't look away. I was attracted to this author by her review in NYT of my favorite book of the year so far (Amy Bloom's Lucky Us); Landis did not share my love for the book, but her observations made me want to check out what she was about. Each story held my interest, but the characters and scenarios felt so unrealistic, so hollow, and alienating. At least it was quick. I will happily return this to the library today.
rosemaryslibrarian's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-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
1.0
I’m sorry but I hated this… the writing was too metaphorical which I normally enjoy but this was too much. Some chapters were great, but most were ??????
Also TRIGGER WARNING for the literal first sentence of this book!!!! Caught me off guard so if SA is a tough subject skip the first chapter. It didn’t have anything important to say anyway so you won’t miss anything by skipping.
Also TRIGGER WARNING for the literal first sentence of this book!!!! Caught me off guard so if SA is a tough subject skip the first chapter. It didn’t have anything important to say anyway so you won’t miss anything by skipping.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual assault
jasminenoack's review against another edition
5.0
I'm depressed, this book is depressing. Whether those two things are interacting is questionable, but it makes the state interaction work quite well. It also perhaps makes me more susceptible to empathy for the character and association. sliding from normal people don't live like this to normal people don't feel like this to I'm not normal to suddenly no one is normal. I make no promises that the book will slide that way for everyone. In fact for all my friends out there who tell me how they hate books where horrible things happen you won't like this book, you will shut it out. Horrible things happen real things happen. I feel like i would ruin the book to tell any of the things. But at least for me this book is about what it really is to be normal, and what it really is to be alive, and well it isn't a pretty sight.
dilan11's review against another edition
5.0
I generally hate these girl-coming-of-age books but this one stunned me. The location is a bit unsual NYC for these types of stories and yet somehow the main character's life seems almost claustrophobic. Both the daughter and the mother and all the peripheral characters are precisely drawn and yet mysterious. The slight inclusion of the sick father is perfect, not at all overdone. I think that Landis must have done a great deal of editing and rewriting to get this just right. This is going right on the Re-read list.
2nd reading - still 5 stars. I love some of the ancillary characters as well. Bonita is a gem as is of course Angelina Yost.
2nd reading - still 5 stars. I love some of the ancillary characters as well. Bonita is a gem as is of course Angelina Yost.
torts's review against another edition
2.0
Not what I expected. The title struck me as funny, satirical or something. It was more like [b:House on Mango Street|139253|The House on Mango Street|Sandra Cisneros|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348245688s/139253.jpg|2000351] for yuppies.
anndouglas's review against another edition
3.0
A series of linked stories that focus on Leah, a teenaged girl who is struggling to make sense of her life and relationships.
More...