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You Think It, I'll Say It
A suburban mother of two fantasizes about the downfall of an old friend whose wholesome lifestyle empire may or may not be built on a lie. A high-powered lawyer honeymooning with her husband is caught off guard by the appearance of the girl who tormented her in high school. A shy Ivy League student learns the truth about a classmate’s seemingly enviable life.
Curtis Sittenfeld has established a reputation as a sharp chronicler of the modern age who humanizes her subjects even as she skewers them. Now, with this first collection of short fiction, her “astonishing gift for creating characters that take up residence in readers’ heads” (The Washington Post) is showcased like never before. Throughout the ten stories in You Think It, I’ll Say It, Sittenfeld upends assumptions about class, relationships, and gender roles in a nation that feels both adrift and viscerally divided.
With moving insight and uncanny precision, Curtis Sittenfeld pinpoints the questionable decisions, missed connections, and sometimes extraordinary coincidences that make up a life. Indeed, she writes what we’re all thinking—if only we could express it with the wit of a master satirist, the storytelling gifts of an old-fashioned raconteur, and the vision of an American original.
Curtis Sittenfeld has established a reputation as a sharp chronicler of the modern age who humanizes her subjects even as she skewers them. Now, with this first collection of short fiction, her “astonishing gift for creating characters that take up residence in readers’ heads” (The Washington Post) is showcased like never before. Throughout the ten stories in You Think It, I’ll Say It, Sittenfeld upends assumptions about class, relationships, and gender roles in a nation that feels both adrift and viscerally divided.
With moving insight and uncanny precision, Curtis Sittenfeld pinpoints the questionable decisions, missed connections, and sometimes extraordinary coincidences that make up a life. Indeed, she writes what we’re all thinking—if only we could express it with the wit of a master satirist, the storytelling gifts of an old-fashioned raconteur, and the vision of an American original.
256 pages, ebook
First published February 6, 2017
About the author
Curtis Sittenfeld
22 books8,574 followersCurtis Sittenfeld is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, including Rodham, Eligible, Prep, American Wife, and Sisterland, as well as the collection You Think It, I'll Say It. Her books have been translated into thirty languages. In addition, her short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post Magazine, Esquire, and The Best American Short Stories, for which she has also been the guest editor. Her nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Time, and Vanity Fair, and on public radio's This American Life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,479 reviews
May 17, 2018
Solid collection. Sittenfeld is an excellent writer. These stories are all beautifully composed and they draw you in. I am impressed by how engaged I felt with each set of characters in each stories.
There is a mean undercurrent in many of the stories. Some might call it honesty. The way her characters see others, themselves... is rarely charitable. Nor does it need to be. At a few points though, I found myself thinking, “is everyone in the world really so terrible?” So much here made me cringe in the best possible way. People, man.
Also these are white middle class people stories. That’s not a bad thing. These stories are really good! But there is one story where people of color kind of serve as a backdrop against with the protagonist acts and it’s a bit awkward in that it reveals the whiteness of the collection in very distinct ways. This is an observation more than a judgment.
Prairie Wife is as amazing as ever. I’ve read that story several times and it never gets old. Look for it in BASS 2018. Which I am editing. Shameless, I am.
Anyway this is well worth reading
There is a mean undercurrent in many of the stories. Some might call it honesty. The way her characters see others, themselves... is rarely charitable. Nor does it need to be. At a few points though, I found myself thinking, “is everyone in the world really so terrible?” So much here made me cringe in the best possible way. People, man.
Also these are white middle class people stories. That’s not a bad thing. These stories are really good! But there is one story where people of color kind of serve as a backdrop against with the protagonist acts and it’s a bit awkward in that it reveals the whiteness of the collection in very distinct ways. This is an observation more than a judgment.
Prairie Wife is as amazing as ever. I’ve read that story several times and it never gets old. Look for it in BASS 2018. Which I am editing. Shameless, I am.
Anyway this is well worth reading
May 29, 2018
4.5 stars.
Many of us, whether we'll admit it or not, have made snap judgments about people. Sometimes we judge people we might have met once, or known a long time ago, and are coming into contact with them again after a while. Sometimes we believe something about a person we know well, while other times, it's people we don't know, but we formulate an opinion based on something we hear them say or do.
The characters in Curtis Sittenfeld's first story collection, You Think It, I'll Say It , are all guilty of judging others, but the tension in the 10 stories occurs when those judgments are revealed to be incorrect, either gradually or all at once. The end result are thought-provoking stories which leave their mark in your head, and at times, in your heart.
I enjoyed all of the stories in the collection, although I felt eight of them were the strongest. My favorites included: "The Prairie Wife," in which an unappreciated housewife realizes a popular celebrity was a girl she was romantically involved with briefly during summer camp, although the celebrity is now a married darling of conservatives; "Gender Studies," which follows a college professor's fling with her airport shuttle driver—for the wrong reason; "Off the Record," about a freelance writer lined up to interview an actress on the cusp of major fame, someone she had connected with when interviewing them a few years earlier; "The World Has Many Butterflies," in which a man and a woman engage in a gossipy game every time they see each other, but only one interprets that as the sign of something deeper; and "Do-Over," about a reunion between two boarding school classmates who each have different interpretations of past events.
I've been a fan of Sittenfeld's since I read her debut novel, Prep , back in 2005. I found it so engaging and surprising, and I've followed her work ever since. That same talent is more than evident in You Think It, I'll Say It —these stories aren't outlandish or unrealistic, and you could imagine the situations the characters face happening to you, or hearing about them from people you know. Her writing style is so breezy and approachable, and there were times I didn't realize how dazzling her words were until after they passed me by, kind of like a person wearing a cologne or perfume you suddenly catch the scent of.
I know short stories aren't for everyone, but this is one of those collections I think even non-story lovers might enjoy. Most of the stories feel like mini-novels, and there were at least a few I'd love to see developed into something more expansive. You Think It, I'll Say It is a prime example of why I love stories, and the incredible talent it takes to make a collection work. Come on, give it a shot!
NetGalley and Random House provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
Many of us, whether we'll admit it or not, have made snap judgments about people. Sometimes we judge people we might have met once, or known a long time ago, and are coming into contact with them again after a while. Sometimes we believe something about a person we know well, while other times, it's people we don't know, but we formulate an opinion based on something we hear them say or do.
The characters in Curtis Sittenfeld's first story collection, You Think It, I'll Say It , are all guilty of judging others, but the tension in the 10 stories occurs when those judgments are revealed to be incorrect, either gradually or all at once. The end result are thought-provoking stories which leave their mark in your head, and at times, in your heart.
I enjoyed all of the stories in the collection, although I felt eight of them were the strongest. My favorites included: "The Prairie Wife," in which an unappreciated housewife realizes a popular celebrity was a girl she was romantically involved with briefly during summer camp, although the celebrity is now a married darling of conservatives; "Gender Studies," which follows a college professor's fling with her airport shuttle driver—for the wrong reason; "Off the Record," about a freelance writer lined up to interview an actress on the cusp of major fame, someone she had connected with when interviewing them a few years earlier; "The World Has Many Butterflies," in which a man and a woman engage in a gossipy game every time they see each other, but only one interprets that as the sign of something deeper; and "Do-Over," about a reunion between two boarding school classmates who each have different interpretations of past events.
I've been a fan of Sittenfeld's since I read her debut novel, Prep , back in 2005. I found it so engaging and surprising, and I've followed her work ever since. That same talent is more than evident in You Think It, I'll Say It —these stories aren't outlandish or unrealistic, and you could imagine the situations the characters face happening to you, or hearing about them from people you know. Her writing style is so breezy and approachable, and there were times I didn't realize how dazzling her words were until after they passed me by, kind of like a person wearing a cologne or perfume you suddenly catch the scent of.
I know short stories aren't for everyone, but this is one of those collections I think even non-story lovers might enjoy. Most of the stories feel like mini-novels, and there were at least a few I'd love to see developed into something more expansive. You Think It, I'll Say It is a prime example of why I love stories, and the incredible talent it takes to make a collection work. Come on, give it a shot!
NetGalley and Random House provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
December 10, 2017
Curtis Sittenfeld is TERRIFIC!!! I LOVE THIS WOMAN...this author....her work! Oh....I’m not the only person nutty over this great woman/author.... ‘many’ of you feel the same.
I fell in love with Curtis years ago - 2005 - with her first novel “PREP”. Three years later, Sittenfeld wrote “American Wife”... and she blew me away. It was also fantastic... with a new level of maturity to boot.
I, personally, had a blast of fun reading “Eligible”: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I read a few low reviews from readers missing their beloved characters ....but I loved the modernization updated story that took place in Cincinnati. I’ve had a new ‘thing’ for Cincinnati every since reading “Eligible”...
I wish I could be part of a seminar/group where we discussed ALL BOOKS by Curtis Sittenfeld. The icing on the cake would be if Curtis lead it.
When it comes to contemporary fiction - great laughs - insights - punch’s of truth in my gut - I don’t have to look much further than a Curtis Sittenfeld book.
“You Think It, I’ll Say It”, .....is A FABULOUS COLLECTION of short stories. The title of the book is actually ‘not’ the title of one of the short stories .... rather it is a GAME played between two people - Julie and Graham - in the short story called “The World Has Many Butterflies”. It’s a game I thought about ... as “DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME”.... why? (I’ll let you figure that out)....BUT THIS IS ONE FRICKIN GREAT STORY....with an edge of caution.
“A Regular Couple” is another AWESOME STORY!!! Actually my favorite of the bunch.....so much so - I read it to Paul. He laughed - and enjoyed it as much as me! Then when we went hiking this morning- and I was tying my shoes....I had a private laugh to myself...( you’ll have to read the story to enjoy the inside joke).....
There’s a lot going on in the story - including - complete strangers were saying Maggie had betrayed feminism. She had been a prosecutor on a televised case where a man is accused of raping a cocktail waitress there was not sufficient evidence against him, but many people in the public felt he was guilty. Sound familiar? :). There is much more to ‘this’ story.
Jason and Maggie are on their honeymoon. The year is 2008. Maggie sees an old nightmarish blonde woman, Ashley Frye, who attended her high school in Cleveland 1992....who happens to be on her honeymoon, too. She is married to a guy named Ed.
*Yippy-do-da*......Jason, Maggie, Ashley, and Ed are going to enjoy some couple-bonding! Oh, boy... things just start to get fun.
Maggie’s thoughts on the morning hike are:
“Below her daypack, I could see her little butt, encased in jogging shorts, and her tan, shapely legs, which ended in gray wool socks and hiking boots. Even though we were surrounded by birch trees and wildflowers and distance snow-peaked mountains, my attention was on Ashley— I detested myself for this, and I also couldn’t help it”.
And if you like that.....wait until they meet for dinner.
ALL THE STORIES ARE GREAT! I loved everything about it and I highly recommend it.... everyone needs a few short stories and a little Curtis Sittenfeld now and then!
Thank You Netgalley, Random House, and Curtis Sittenfeld!
I fell in love with Curtis years ago - 2005 - with her first novel “PREP”. Three years later, Sittenfeld wrote “American Wife”... and she blew me away. It was also fantastic... with a new level of maturity to boot.
I, personally, had a blast of fun reading “Eligible”: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I read a few low reviews from readers missing their beloved characters ....but I loved the modernization updated story that took place in Cincinnati. I’ve had a new ‘thing’ for Cincinnati every since reading “Eligible”...
I wish I could be part of a seminar/group where we discussed ALL BOOKS by Curtis Sittenfeld. The icing on the cake would be if Curtis lead it.
When it comes to contemporary fiction - great laughs - insights - punch’s of truth in my gut - I don’t have to look much further than a Curtis Sittenfeld book.
“You Think It, I’ll Say It”, .....is A FABULOUS COLLECTION of short stories. The title of the book is actually ‘not’ the title of one of the short stories .... rather it is a GAME played between two people - Julie and Graham - in the short story called “The World Has Many Butterflies”. It’s a game I thought about ... as “DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME”.... why? (I’ll let you figure that out)....BUT THIS IS ONE FRICKIN GREAT STORY....with an edge of caution.
“A Regular Couple” is another AWESOME STORY!!! Actually my favorite of the bunch.....so much so - I read it to Paul. He laughed - and enjoyed it as much as me! Then when we went hiking this morning- and I was tying my shoes....I had a private laugh to myself...( you’ll have to read the story to enjoy the inside joke).....
There’s a lot going on in the story - including - complete strangers were saying Maggie had betrayed feminism. She had been a prosecutor on a televised case where a man is accused of raping a cocktail waitress there was not sufficient evidence against him, but many people in the public felt he was guilty. Sound familiar? :). There is much more to ‘this’ story.
Jason and Maggie are on their honeymoon. The year is 2008. Maggie sees an old nightmarish blonde woman, Ashley Frye, who attended her high school in Cleveland 1992....who happens to be on her honeymoon, too. She is married to a guy named Ed.
*Yippy-do-da*......Jason, Maggie, Ashley, and Ed are going to enjoy some couple-bonding! Oh, boy... things just start to get fun.
Maggie’s thoughts on the morning hike are:
“Below her daypack, I could see her little butt, encased in jogging shorts, and her tan, shapely legs, which ended in gray wool socks and hiking boots. Even though we were surrounded by birch trees and wildflowers and distance snow-peaked mountains, my attention was on Ashley— I detested myself for this, and I also couldn’t help it”.
And if you like that.....wait until they meet for dinner.
ALL THE STORIES ARE GREAT! I loved everything about it and I highly recommend it.... everyone needs a few short stories and a little Curtis Sittenfeld now and then!
Thank You Netgalley, Random House, and Curtis Sittenfeld!
November 15, 2018
You Think It I'll Say It is fairly typical of short story collections in that there were a couple of stand-out stories, but most of them hovered around okay/not bad. None were terrible, at least.
Everyone raves about the first story "Gender Studies" and it's hard to argue with the hype on this one. I thought that story was fantastic. It made me sit up and take notice. It made me really eager to read the rest of the offerings in the collection. It's so quiet and strange and sad. I can't quite pinpoint what it is about it exactly, but it is extremely effective. It is just a brief encounter between two very different strangers, but it left me feeling shaken.
"The Prairie Wife" was another highlight. The narrator of the story follows the successful blog of a woman she knew as a teenager, believing her shiny perfect life to be a lie and a marketing tool. One aspect of it is very well-played, but I don't want to give it away. As well as that, though, I just liked the idea that maybe it is possible for people to change; maybe that's not being fake, but honest.
Most of the stories are about fairly quiet encounters between white upper middle class people. A few of these are excellent - full of poignant insights on human nature - but a lot sort of falter after their set-up and go nowhere. "Vox Clamantis in Deserto", for one, seems just like a bizarre series of events and I didn't really get the point of it. "Bad Latch" was a weak story that left me wondering "so what?"
Some are halfway between excellent and meh. "The World Has Many Butterflies" started very strong - another doomed encounter tinged with bittersweetness - but ended on what seemed like a metaphor yet didn't quite work. The final story explores an interesting scenario, too, but isn't quite as strong as I think it could have been.
That's the problem with short story collections: it's rare to find one where I enjoy all - or even most - of the stories. Still, if you like character-driven stories, I would highly recommend grabbing a library copy of this so you can check out "Gender Studies" and "The Prairie Wife".
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Everyone raves about the first story "Gender Studies" and it's hard to argue with the hype on this one. I thought that story was fantastic. It made me sit up and take notice. It made me really eager to read the rest of the offerings in the collection. It's so quiet and strange and sad. I can't quite pinpoint what it is about it exactly, but it is extremely effective. It is just a brief encounter between two very different strangers, but it left me feeling shaken.
"The Prairie Wife" was another highlight. The narrator of the story follows the successful blog of a woman she knew as a teenager, believing her shiny perfect life to be a lie and a marketing tool. One aspect of it is very well-played, but I don't want to give it away. As well as that, though, I just liked the idea that maybe it is possible for people to change; maybe that's not being fake, but honest.
Most of the stories are about fairly quiet encounters between white upper middle class people. A few of these are excellent - full of poignant insights on human nature - but a lot sort of falter after their set-up and go nowhere. "Vox Clamantis in Deserto", for one, seems just like a bizarre series of events and I didn't really get the point of it. "Bad Latch" was a weak story that left me wondering "so what?"
Some are halfway between excellent and meh. "The World Has Many Butterflies" started very strong - another doomed encounter tinged with bittersweetness - but ended on what seemed like a metaphor yet didn't quite work. The final story explores an interesting scenario, too, but isn't quite as strong as I think it could have been.
That's the problem with short story collections: it's rare to find one where I enjoy all - or even most - of the stories. Still, if you like character-driven stories, I would highly recommend grabbing a library copy of this so you can check out "Gender Studies" and "The Prairie Wife".
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February 12, 2020
I’m relieved to have aged out of that sense that my primary obligation is to be pretty, relieved to work at a job that allows me to feel useful. Did I used to think being pretty was my primary obligation because I was in some way delusional? Or was it that I’d absorbed the messages I was meant to absorb with the same diligence with which I’d studied?
Curtis Sittenfeld’s You Think It, I’ll Say It, is a collection for the grown woman, for the woman who still thinks back on her “youth” and college years with fondness but also with a sense of wonder – is that who I was? Is this who I have become?
This is a smart collection—one that explores the natural irony in our everyday lives. There’s a lot of wistful nostalgia and contemplation in this collection on the feat—the very fact and act—of being pretty: what it means to be “pretty” and how that affects us as adult women.
“I once heard that smart women want to be told they’re pretty and pretty women want to be told they’re smart. And the most depressing part is that I think I agree.”
Here would be a great place to say that “Plausible Deniability,” “Off the Record” and “A Regular Couple” were my other favorites. I wasn’t particularly fond of “Gender Studies,” in which a woman misplaces her license and ends up having a sexual encounter with the taxi driver she believes has found the license. I first read this one in The New Yorker in the fall of 2016. There were speculations and allusions from other bloggers that maybe Sittenfeld was offering political commentary on a nation’s identity lost! (I say in my dramatic voice) due to the (imminent) election of Trump, but I didn’t see it. I just took that story at face value and it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t a favorite either.
These are just a few of the narratives you’ll find here in this 10-story collection. There were so many times that a story would start and I’d fear it was going down the route of “Everyday Yuppie,” and I cringed. BUT, EVERY time, Sittenfeld pulled the story back from the brink with a twist of irony and humor. After the third or fourth story, I just relaxed into the read and went with it, knowing that the place I’d end up in the end wasn’t where I thought I was going in the beginning. I know I’m not alone when I say that I LOVE being able to trust an author, to trust a narrator, like that. It allows for a phenomenally smooth read and for the reader to have time to become one with the characters, no matter how short the stories are.
This collection ran a gamut of stories that wasn’t necessarily wide but did manage to convey a delightful spectrum of sentiments, emotions and lessons. “Bad Latch” was by far one of my favorite stories, hilariously Yuppie and otherworldly—these sheltered, middle-class moms who spend their days at infant swimming lessons and pregnancy yoga—then the story morphed into something so much more special and resonating:
“It wasn’t that I looked down on parents who put their kids in daycare, it wasn’t that I disapproved of them, or at least if I did disapprove, I knew enough to be embarrassed by my disapproval…Nevertheless, on Sadie’s first day at Green Valley Children’s Center, I didn’t even make it out the front door before I burst into tears. I hadn’t felt that bad about some of the things that women having babies when I did…were supposed to feel bad about—an epidural, formula—but the collapse of my carefully crafted childcare setup seemed like a failure of a different magnitude."
In You Think It, I’ll Say It, Curtis Sittenfeld’s distinctive writing style is in full form. It’s casual and conversational, witty and makes for an easy, entertaining read. I also gave her a strong 4 stars for her novel Eligible for this same reason. I blew through about 60% of this collection in one sitting, so well did it flow and move me along with the characters and their ironic contemplative situations. Not only that, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Sittenfeld is a true master of showing her reader rather than telling her reader. I got to know so much about her characters simply by watching them in their everyday lives, and she, as the writer, trusted her reader enough to let us figure out what she was trying to say. Each story is set in a different city (all either during or referencing the 1990s) which I thought was a FANTASTIC device, creating a kind of survey of American—well, upperish middle class white American—life. That survey aspect was a real gem, because each story in this collection set up a different dilemma rooted in the same basic question—the question of Who am I, how did I get here, and am I okay with it? None of these stories takes an overly grandiose view of life. No one is living in a sci fi fantasy world of improbable circumstances and star ships. These stories all happen right here on Earth, literally, of course, but more importantly, figuratively. And for me, that’s always a breath of fresh air. A strong 4 stars ****
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Curtis Sittenfeld’s You Think It, I’ll Say It, is a collection for the grown woman, for the woman who still thinks back on her “youth” and college years with fondness but also with a sense of wonder – is that who I was? Is this who I have become?
This is a smart collection—one that explores the natural irony in our everyday lives. There’s a lot of wistful nostalgia and contemplation in this collection on the feat—the very fact and act—of being pretty: what it means to be “pretty” and how that affects us as adult women.
“I once heard that smart women want to be told they’re pretty and pretty women want to be told they’re smart. And the most depressing part is that I think I agree.”
An upper middle-class woman ponders the boredom and mundane quality of her routine life, only to seek out a thrill that may or may not have already been there from the start (“The World Has Many Butterflies”).
A college student at her dad’s Alma Mater who’s idolized the school for most of her life also starts to idolize one of her college friends—only to find that the friend is just an average, flawed individual like everybody else (“Vox Clamantis in Deserto”).
A young political intern with OCD snaps while volunteering at a shelter for poor urban families (“Volunteers Are Shining Stars”).
And a woman contemplates her near-hate-like jealousy for the reality lifestyle star who was her first lesbian experience way back when (“The Prairie Wife”).
Here would be a great place to say that “Plausible Deniability,” “Off the Record” and “A Regular Couple” were my other favorites. I wasn’t particularly fond of “Gender Studies,” in which a woman misplaces her license and ends up having a sexual encounter with the taxi driver she believes has found the license. I first read this one in The New Yorker in the fall of 2016. There were speculations and allusions from other bloggers that maybe Sittenfeld was offering political commentary on a nation’s identity lost! (I say in my dramatic voice) due to the (imminent) election of Trump, but I didn’t see it. I just took that story at face value and it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t a favorite either.
These are just a few of the narratives you’ll find here in this 10-story collection. There were so many times that a story would start and I’d fear it was going down the route of “Everyday Yuppie,” and I cringed. BUT, EVERY time, Sittenfeld pulled the story back from the brink with a twist of irony and humor. After the third or fourth story, I just relaxed into the read and went with it, knowing that the place I’d end up in the end wasn’t where I thought I was going in the beginning. I know I’m not alone when I say that I LOVE being able to trust an author, to trust a narrator, like that. It allows for a phenomenally smooth read and for the reader to have time to become one with the characters, no matter how short the stories are.
This collection ran a gamut of stories that wasn’t necessarily wide but did manage to convey a delightful spectrum of sentiments, emotions and lessons. “Bad Latch” was by far one of my favorite stories, hilariously Yuppie and otherworldly—these sheltered, middle-class moms who spend their days at infant swimming lessons and pregnancy yoga—then the story morphed into something so much more special and resonating:
“It wasn’t that I looked down on parents who put their kids in daycare, it wasn’t that I disapproved of them, or at least if I did disapprove, I knew enough to be embarrassed by my disapproval…Nevertheless, on Sadie’s first day at Green Valley Children’s Center, I didn’t even make it out the front door before I burst into tears. I hadn’t felt that bad about some of the things that women having babies when I did…were supposed to feel bad about—an epidural, formula—but the collapse of my carefully crafted childcare setup seemed like a failure of a different magnitude."
In You Think It, I’ll Say It, Curtis Sittenfeld’s distinctive writing style is in full form. It’s casual and conversational, witty and makes for an easy, entertaining read. I also gave her a strong 4 stars for her novel Eligible for this same reason. I blew through about 60% of this collection in one sitting, so well did it flow and move me along with the characters and their ironic contemplative situations. Not only that, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Sittenfeld is a true master of showing her reader rather than telling her reader. I got to know so much about her characters simply by watching them in their everyday lives, and she, as the writer, trusted her reader enough to let us figure out what she was trying to say. Each story is set in a different city (all either during or referencing the 1990s) which I thought was a FANTASTIC device, creating a kind of survey of American—well, upperish middle class white American—life. That survey aspect was a real gem, because each story in this collection set up a different dilemma rooted in the same basic question—the question of Who am I, how did I get here, and am I okay with it? None of these stories takes an overly grandiose view of life. No one is living in a sci fi fantasy world of improbable circumstances and star ships. These stories all happen right here on Earth, literally, of course, but more importantly, figuratively. And for me, that’s always a breath of fresh air. A strong 4 stars ****
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April 10, 2018
3.5 stars rounded up
Short stories are the tapas of the book menu. Small plates, when I like big portions. So, I was really conflicted about reading this. I like Curtis Sittenfeld, but I hate the fact that a short story typically ends just as I’m getting invested in a character.
There does seem to be a theme here, involving communication, appearances and first impressions. What do we say? What do we stay silent about? Or what do we think we know about someone vs. what is real. In each of these stories, the narrator misjudges someone.
Sittenfeld tackles some interesting subjects. Adult crushes, texting affairs, belatedly realized sexism. Almost all the stories involve the interaction between men and women.
All the stories are interesting, some really grabbed me (like The World Has Many Butterflies and Plausible Deniability) . They’re all really well written. She does a great job building up the tension between characters. And there’s always a point to be made.
But damn it, in the end it comes down to I want more. A five minute YouTube clip isn’t enough, I want a full length movie. Nothing against you, Curtis, this is just not my style. Please, please, please write a full length novel next time.
My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
Short stories are the tapas of the book menu. Small plates, when I like big portions. So, I was really conflicted about reading this. I like Curtis Sittenfeld, but I hate the fact that a short story typically ends just as I’m getting invested in a character.
There does seem to be a theme here, involving communication, appearances and first impressions. What do we say? What do we stay silent about? Or what do we think we know about someone vs. what is real. In each of these stories, the narrator misjudges someone.
Sittenfeld tackles some interesting subjects. Adult crushes, texting affairs, belatedly realized sexism. Almost all the stories involve the interaction between men and women.
All the stories are interesting, some really grabbed me (like The World Has Many Butterflies and Plausible Deniability) . They’re all really well written. She does a great job building up the tension between characters. And there’s always a point to be made.
But damn it, in the end it comes down to I want more. A five minute YouTube clip isn’t enough, I want a full length movie. Nothing against you, Curtis, this is just not my style. Please, please, please write a full length novel next time.
My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
June 20, 2018
Terrific collection of ten short stories with a very contemporary vibe. The stories explore gender bias and identity, political bias, midlife angst, social awkwardness, the culture of celebrity, social media obsessiveness and competitiveness, ambivalence about motherhood, and mental illness. Lest this sound unappetizing - who wants to be hammered over the head with all THAT stuff? - these stories are gentle, subtle and expertly crafted. Sittenfeld's writing is sublime; her perception is uncanny. And the humor - it's there, but it's not biting and mean, it's softhearted and knowing.
I loved all of stories. Sittenfeld brought me up short on one of them and cleverly exposed a bias of my own and made me laugh at myself. If you read this collection, I am referring to "The Prairie Wife" story - I made an assumption I shouldn't have. I bow to her astuteness in setting me up for the fall. I'm sure I won't be the only one!
I'd only read two of Sittenfeld's works prior to this - "Eligible" (meh) and "Sisterland" (loved!). I have yet to get to "Prep" and "American Wife," but I will definitely be reading those.
I highly recommend this to those who love perfectly crafted sort stories and gentle social commentary. A 4.5 for me.
I loved all of stories. Sittenfeld brought me up short on one of them and cleverly exposed a bias of my own and made me laugh at myself. If you read this collection, I am referring to "The Prairie Wife" story - I made an assumption I shouldn't have. I bow to her astuteness in setting me up for the fall. I'm sure I won't be the only one!
I'd only read two of Sittenfeld's works prior to this - "Eligible" (meh) and "Sisterland" (loved!). I have yet to get to "Prep" and "American Wife," but I will definitely be reading those.
I highly recommend this to those who love perfectly crafted sort stories and gentle social commentary. A 4.5 for me.
June 11, 2018
I received this book for free through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers.
This collection of short stories was so amazing!
I’ve only ever read Curtis Sittenfeld’s novel, Prep. I read that a long time ago (like around 10 years ago) but I do remember that I enjoyed it. I’ve never read any of her short stories so I did not know what to expect.
I was blown away by how good ALL the stories were. Usually with short story collections, there will be some stories I liked and some that I didn’t. But with this collection I can honestly say that I liked them all. I was trying to decide which one was my favorite, but after much debating, I just couldn’t pick one!
Subject-wise, all the stories were very current. A lot of them dealt with motherhood and marriage.
I really liked how the book came full circle. The very first story mentioned the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump and the last story mentioned the election of Donald Trump. That connection gave the book a sense of closure, which you don’t really see in short story collections.
Curtis Sittenfeld’s writing style is phenomenal. She writes with such an ease that makes it all seem so effortless. She is truly a talented writer.
Overall, if you are looking for a quality short story collection, then definitely pick this book up!
This collection of short stories was so amazing!
I’ve only ever read Curtis Sittenfeld’s novel, Prep. I read that a long time ago (like around 10 years ago) but I do remember that I enjoyed it. I’ve never read any of her short stories so I did not know what to expect.
I was blown away by how good ALL the stories were. Usually with short story collections, there will be some stories I liked and some that I didn’t. But with this collection I can honestly say that I liked them all. I was trying to decide which one was my favorite, but after much debating, I just couldn’t pick one!
Subject-wise, all the stories were very current. A lot of them dealt with motherhood and marriage.
I really liked how the book came full circle. The very first story mentioned the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump and the last story mentioned the election of Donald Trump. That connection gave the book a sense of closure, which you don’t really see in short story collections.
Curtis Sittenfeld’s writing style is phenomenal. She writes with such an ease that makes it all seem so effortless. She is truly a talented writer.
Overall, if you are looking for a quality short story collection, then definitely pick this book up!
July 11, 2021
I almost gave up on this one. I’m not typically a fan of “short story” books. 🤨 Really, the only reason I had this on my list was because of Reese. There just isn’t enough there for me to care about any of the characters or stories. ☹️ So, yeah, this just wasn’t a good match for me.
July 23, 2019
This was… a really nice surprise. Literary short stories are not something I tend to reach for, but I loved this, and I want to thank my fellow reviewerLarry so much for recommending this collection and for constantly reviewing books that don’t seem like my thing but… end up being my thing?
All these stories are about incorrect
perception: of those around you, if yourself, of a situation. And they are so much fun.
This collection had an average rating of 4.0 for me, which is a result of an exact split: five three star stories and five five star stories. Let me explain myself: I think pretty much any story in this book could be rounded up or down to a four. They are all of high writing quality, with a touch of ironic humor and plenty of sarcasm. I had personal favorites, but every one of these feels very strong, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed no matter what.
→ Gender Studies ← ★★★☆☆
About a gender studies professor and her one-night relationship with a Trump-supporting taxi driver in 2016. This is about how women can feel connected to men who don’t share their sensibilities or way of looking at the world. Loved the inner monologue, just overall mixed on what it’s trying to convey or… the point?
→ The World Has Many Butterflies ← ★★★☆☆
Follows a woman named Julie who becomes obsessed with a man named Greg because he makes her feel like herself. Sort of obvious in messaging and not particularly memorable, but I enjoyed it all the same.
→ Vox Clamantis in Deserto ← ★★★★★
Follows a woman who decides to be like a girl she sees named Rae. An interesting story about how we can be strongly impacted by someone else but not impact them at all.
→ Bad Latch ← ★★★★★
Follows a woman at a pregnancy group and her observations about Gretchen, a woman who seems engineered to make other new mothers feel bad about themselves. It’s essentially about the guilt felt by new mothers who ask for help. Also, I honestly found this hilarious?
→ Plausible Deniability ← ★★★☆☆
Follows a man emailing a woman music notes, and also his relationship with his brother. This was certainly not bad, and plays with the same kind of romantic-vs-innocent perception as the earlier The World Has Many Butterflies, but was kind of forgettable for me? Points for some twists, but overall not a fave.
→ A Regular Couple ← ★★★★★
Follows a woman named Maggie who has just defended a man accused of rape in court, her far-less-successful husband Jason, and her nightmare from high school, Ashley Frye. This story is about power dynamics between people, primarily. Again, a really interesting story – every one of the characters is hard to know what to make of.
→ Off the Record ← ★★★☆☆
This follows an interviewer named Nina on her last interview with a woman named Kelsey she met five years before. I honestly felt nothing for this; it didn’t feel like it was trying to say much, and
→ The Prairie Wife ← ★★★★★
Follows a woman obsessing over her first girl date. This one is nice because it plays with your expectations a lot – all these stories are about incorrect perception of those around you, but this one plays with audience expectations as well, which is not true of every one.
→ Volunteers are Shining Stars ← ★★★☆☆
A woman and a new volunteer who appears. I thought this one was honestly kind of… odd? It plays with a narrator who frames her actions in different light than we’d expect, which is something I always enjoy, but it honestly just didn’t do much for me.
→ Do Over ← ★★★★★
Follows two high schoolers looking back on events of their school days. This was so weird, but I adored it? Both of the two leads feel very real and are both likable and hatable depending on the page.
all in all: despite being a little variant in how much I loved the stories, I thought this book was overall quite a solid read, with some excellent stories. Would highly recommend to fans of literary short stories or slice-of-life.
✨Arc received from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review. (Jan 22)
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All these stories are about incorrect
perception: of those around you, if yourself, of a situation. And they are so much fun.
This collection had an average rating of 4.0 for me, which is a result of an exact split: five three star stories and five five star stories. Let me explain myself: I think pretty much any story in this book could be rounded up or down to a four. They are all of high writing quality, with a touch of ironic humor and plenty of sarcasm. I had personal favorites, but every one of these feels very strong, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed no matter what.
→ Gender Studies ← ★★★☆☆
About a gender studies professor and her one-night relationship with a Trump-supporting taxi driver in 2016. This is about how women can feel connected to men who don’t share their sensibilities or way of looking at the world. Loved the inner monologue, just overall mixed on what it’s trying to convey or… the point?
→ The World Has Many Butterflies ← ★★★☆☆
Follows a woman named Julie who becomes obsessed with a man named Greg because he makes her feel like herself. Sort of obvious in messaging and not particularly memorable, but I enjoyed it all the same.
→ Vox Clamantis in Deserto ← ★★★★★
Follows a woman who decides to be like a girl she sees named Rae. An interesting story about how we can be strongly impacted by someone else but not impact them at all.
→ Bad Latch ← ★★★★★
Follows a woman at a pregnancy group and her observations about Gretchen, a woman who seems engineered to make other new mothers feel bad about themselves. It’s essentially about the guilt felt by new mothers who ask for help. Also, I honestly found this hilarious?
→ Plausible Deniability ← ★★★☆☆
Follows a man emailing a woman music notes, and also his relationship with his brother. This was certainly not bad, and plays with the same kind of romantic-vs-innocent perception as the earlier The World Has Many Butterflies, but was kind of forgettable for me? Points for some twists, but overall not a fave.
→ A Regular Couple ← ★★★★★
Follows a woman named Maggie who has just defended a man accused of rape in court, her far-less-successful husband Jason, and her nightmare from high school, Ashley Frye. This story is about power dynamics between people, primarily. Again, a really interesting story – every one of the characters is hard to know what to make of.
→ Off the Record ← ★★★☆☆
This follows an interviewer named Nina on her last interview with a woman named Kelsey she met five years before. I honestly felt nothing for this; it didn’t feel like it was trying to say much, and
→ The Prairie Wife ← ★★★★★
Follows a woman obsessing over her first girl date. This one is nice because it plays with your expectations a lot – all these stories are about incorrect perception of those around you, but this one plays with audience expectations as well, which is not true of every one.
→ Volunteers are Shining Stars ← ★★★☆☆
A woman and a new volunteer who appears. I thought this one was honestly kind of… odd? It plays with a narrator who frames her actions in different light than we’d expect, which is something I always enjoy, but it honestly just didn’t do much for me.
→ Do Over ← ★★★★★
Follows two high schoolers looking back on events of their school days. This was so weird, but I adored it? Both of the two leads feel very real and are both likable and hatable depending on the page.
all in all: despite being a little variant in how much I loved the stories, I thought this book was overall quite a solid read, with some excellent stories. Would highly recommend to fans of literary short stories or slice-of-life.
✨Arc received from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review. (Jan 22)
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September 10, 2020
I stumbled on this collection of short stories on a communal bookshelf at work and without much thinking I started reading it. I didn’t enjoy the first story much at all however I pretty much adored the rest!
Each story was just so real and relatable. I felt like I could have been any one of the protagonists, having the thoughts they were having.
This was my favourite read of 2018.
Each story was just so real and relatable. I felt like I could have been any one of the protagonists, having the thoughts they were having.
This was my favourite read of 2018.
July 20, 2018
4.5 stars
Loved this short story collection, grateful for my Goodreads' friends for pointing me to it. Curtis Sittenfeld gives us several perceptive stories about adults with messy pasts, nuanced relationships, and very real emotions. A few of the stories feature: a woman who sees her old queer fling marry a man and start her own cooking show, a newly divorced Gender Studies professor who has a hot and cold hookup with a Trump supporter, and a shy Ivy League student who learns the truth about her classmate's entrancing, enviable life. Sittenfeld has a talent for creating plots and situations that pulse with a quiet drama that connects you to her characters, even if only for 10 to 20 pages.
I most appreciated Sittenfeld's empathy for her characters and her intelligence. A lot of these stories focus on suburban lives, of women and men dealing with divorce, gender roles, infidelity, desire for old flames, jealousy, and more. Sittenfeld develops her characters with such skill that their unlikability is human, relatable, and almost comforting in its authenticity. So many times I would finish a story and think "oh wow, it's okay if I don't have my life completely figured out right now, or even when I'm 30, or 40, or ever" and "we really are always learning, making mistakes, and hopefully learning from them." I suspect Sittenfeld draws such distinct, fleshed out characters with so few pages at her disposal through capturing their emotions well. She describes nostalgia, longing, regret, hope, and contentment with great eloquence. Finally, her writing is so smart. Though it feels effortless when read, I can see that the creation of these stories - where they start, how much background to provide about each character, etc. - must require so much finesse and time spent mastering her craft.
Overall, an excellent short story collection I would recommend to anyone interested in contemporary life, especially the intricacies of relationships throughout the lifespan. As Roxane Gay noted in her review of You Think It, I'll Say It, the book is very white, but I did not mind that much and took it as a sign that Sittenfeld knows how to stay in her lane when it comes to race. I am excited to read more by this author and already reserved another one of her books at my local library.
Loved this short story collection, grateful for my Goodreads' friends for pointing me to it. Curtis Sittenfeld gives us several perceptive stories about adults with messy pasts, nuanced relationships, and very real emotions. A few of the stories feature: a woman who sees her old queer fling marry a man and start her own cooking show, a newly divorced Gender Studies professor who has a hot and cold hookup with a Trump supporter, and a shy Ivy League student who learns the truth about her classmate's entrancing, enviable life. Sittenfeld has a talent for creating plots and situations that pulse with a quiet drama that connects you to her characters, even if only for 10 to 20 pages.
I most appreciated Sittenfeld's empathy for her characters and her intelligence. A lot of these stories focus on suburban lives, of women and men dealing with divorce, gender roles, infidelity, desire for old flames, jealousy, and more. Sittenfeld develops her characters with such skill that their unlikability is human, relatable, and almost comforting in its authenticity. So many times I would finish a story and think "oh wow, it's okay if I don't have my life completely figured out right now, or even when I'm 30, or 40, or ever" and "we really are always learning, making mistakes, and hopefully learning from them." I suspect Sittenfeld draws such distinct, fleshed out characters with so few pages at her disposal through capturing their emotions well. She describes nostalgia, longing, regret, hope, and contentment with great eloquence. Finally, her writing is so smart. Though it feels effortless when read, I can see that the creation of these stories - where they start, how much background to provide about each character, etc. - must require so much finesse and time spent mastering her craft.
Overall, an excellent short story collection I would recommend to anyone interested in contemporary life, especially the intricacies of relationships throughout the lifespan. As Roxane Gay noted in her review of You Think It, I'll Say It, the book is very white, but I did not mind that much and took it as a sign that Sittenfeld knows how to stay in her lane when it comes to race. I am excited to read more by this author and already reserved another one of her books at my local library.
March 1, 2019
Curtis Sittenfeld has a near perfect bead on the earlier stages of middle age in present days; most if not all of her stories revolve about a primary character who graduated high school in the early to mid-1990s and is suffering the preliminary throes, at least, of existentialism
Two of the stories were such empathic thwacks each left me breathless with how dead-on it captured soulful pains recently experienced. Besides the briefest one, with breastfeeding its pivot ("Bad Latch"), I identified with and thoroughly enjoyed all the splendid stories, despite most being female-centric and slanted--justly so--against men.
I was tickled to discover Sittenfeld's mordant wit and sense of humor, the finest of any female author in my recent memory, e.g., husband responding to wife asking whether he found woman attractive, "She's hot, but in a cheesy way. You know, what she looks like is a pharmaceutical rep. "
This collection deserves a finalist slot on all the prestigious book award nominations in the coming months. The best collection I have read since the tremendous trifecta a few years back of Fortune Smiles, The Tsar of Love and Techno, and Thirteen Ways of Looking.
Very highly recommended.
Two of the stories were such empathic thwacks each left me breathless with how dead-on it captured soulful pains recently experienced. Besides the briefest one, with breastfeeding its pivot ("Bad Latch"), I identified with and thoroughly enjoyed all the splendid stories, despite most being female-centric and slanted--justly so--against men.
I was tickled to discover Sittenfeld's mordant wit and sense of humor, the finest of any female author in my recent memory, e.g., husband responding to wife asking whether he found woman attractive, "She's hot, but in a cheesy way. You know, what she looks like is a pharmaceutical rep. "
This collection deserves a finalist slot on all the prestigious book award nominations in the coming months. The best collection I have read since the tremendous trifecta a few years back of Fortune Smiles, The Tsar of Love and Techno, and Thirteen Ways of Looking.
Very highly recommended.
April 17, 2018
***NO SPOILERS***
Sittenfeld’s is a style I adore--brave, insightful commentary on real life written in engaging prose--and it works perfectly for this collection, my newest favorite. Most of these stories have a wistful quality, some outright sad, but in a way that left an impression on me rather than plunged me into a depression. Many take a little surprise turn, adding the spark that makes this collection such a great one. Absent is anything purely cheerful or sugary. At most, there are bittersweet moments.
My common complaint with short stories is that often their premise is too ambitious for the format. Twenty or so pages is so few and too many short story writers lack the talent to work within that limitation. Sittenfeld went deep but exercised restraint; the premise of each fits just right. At the end of almost every story, I was disappointed not because she didn’t fully realize her premise but because a story I enjoyed had come to an end. I long for a full-length book for some of these.
I was particularly moved by “Gender Studies,” “A Regular Couple,” “Off the Record,” “The Prairie Wife,” and “Volunteers Are Shining Stars.” These explore big themes such as class differences, sexual confusion and exploration, snobbery, and insecurity, to name a few, and various smaller life dilemmas. They’re the kinds of common themes that connect one human being to another, and dilemmas everyone has faced just by virtue of being alive.
I feel sure that Sittenfeld fans will enjoy this collection, but I also recommend this to lovers of literary fiction, especially of the very candid variety. There’s real life in these pages.
Recommended similar reading: Nine Inches: Stories by Tom Perrotta.
NOTE: I received this as an Advanced Reader Copy from LibraryThing in April 2018.
Sittenfeld’s is a style I adore--brave, insightful commentary on real life written in engaging prose--and it works perfectly for this collection, my newest favorite. Most of these stories have a wistful quality, some outright sad, but in a way that left an impression on me rather than plunged me into a depression. Many take a little surprise turn, adding the spark that makes this collection such a great one. Absent is anything purely cheerful or sugary. At most, there are bittersweet moments.
My common complaint with short stories is that often their premise is too ambitious for the format. Twenty or so pages is so few and too many short story writers lack the talent to work within that limitation. Sittenfeld went deep but exercised restraint; the premise of each fits just right. At the end of almost every story, I was disappointed not because she didn’t fully realize her premise but because a story I enjoyed had come to an end. I long for a full-length book for some of these.
I was particularly moved by “Gender Studies,” “A Regular Couple,” “Off the Record,” “The Prairie Wife,” and “Volunteers Are Shining Stars.” These explore big themes such as class differences, sexual confusion and exploration, snobbery, and insecurity, to name a few, and various smaller life dilemmas. They’re the kinds of common themes that connect one human being to another, and dilemmas everyone has faced just by virtue of being alive.
I feel sure that Sittenfeld fans will enjoy this collection, but I also recommend this to lovers of literary fiction, especially of the very candid variety. There’s real life in these pages.
Recommended similar reading: Nine Inches: Stories by Tom Perrotta.
NOTE: I received this as an Advanced Reader Copy from LibraryThing in April 2018.
April 11, 2018
Anyone who follows my reviews probably already knows that I am a huge fan of Curtis Sittenfeld, so when this ARC unexpectedly arrived in the mail, I was beside myself with excitement. I intended to save it until I finished the book I'd just started, but when I idly paged through You Think It, I'll Say It, I was immediately drawn into the first story, "Gender Studies," and wanted nothing more than to keep reading. The funny thing is, I'd already read "Gender Studies" when it appeared in the New Yorker last year. I decided if I was that sucked in by something I'd already read, putting aside my current book and picking up this one was the only sensible thing to do.
And I was right! I usually hesitate to read a book of short stories all at once, preferring to space the stories out over time, but when it came to You Think It, I'll Say It I just rushed in and never felt any of my usual desire to slow things down. Sittenfeld's protagonists, with their tendency to miss important details even as they overthink nearly everything, just speak to me. The title story even contains a character named Julie who displays an obliviousness that was so uncomfortably familiar to me that I felt weirdly as if Sittenfeld had somehow actually written it about me (you think it, I'll say it, indeed). There was the usual humor and brisk pacing, and what struck me most was that nearly all of these stories had an actual plot, where things happen and there's a definite conclusion. Given how many short stories seem deliberately low on plot, this is worth remarking on, and a definite plus in my opinion. It's true that eventually a lot of these characters began to feel similar to me, which is one of the main risks a reader takes in reading a short-story collection all in one go, but the stories themselves were each so unique that this wasn't too much of a drawback.
Indeed, the only real complaint I have about this collection is that I wished I could have gotten to know these people even better. I think I'm always going to prefer a Curtis Sittenfeld novel, where she's able to settle in to her characters to the extent that their epiphanies seem totally natural, remarkably insightful, and completely earned. There's no way I'd give You Think It, I'll Say It less than 4 stars, but really it's an array of appetizers, and I'm already looking forward to her next main course.
I won this ARC through either a Shelf Awareness giveaway or a giveaway directly from the publisher—I'm not sure which! Either way, thank you to Random House.
And I was right! I usually hesitate to read a book of short stories all at once, preferring to space the stories out over time, but when it came to You Think It, I'll Say It I just rushed in and never felt any of my usual desire to slow things down. Sittenfeld's protagonists, with their tendency to miss important details even as they overthink nearly everything, just speak to me. The title story even contains a character named Julie who displays an obliviousness that was so uncomfortably familiar to me that I felt weirdly as if Sittenfeld had somehow actually written it about me (you think it, I'll say it, indeed). There was the usual humor and brisk pacing, and what struck me most was that nearly all of these stories had an actual plot, where things happen and there's a definite conclusion. Given how many short stories seem deliberately low on plot, this is worth remarking on, and a definite plus in my opinion. It's true that eventually a lot of these characters began to feel similar to me, which is one of the main risks a reader takes in reading a short-story collection all in one go, but the stories themselves were each so unique that this wasn't too much of a drawback.
Indeed, the only real complaint I have about this collection is that I wished I could have gotten to know these people even better. I think I'm always going to prefer a Curtis Sittenfeld novel, where she's able to settle in to her characters to the extent that their epiphanies seem totally natural, remarkably insightful, and completely earned. There's no way I'd give You Think It, I'll Say It less than 4 stars, but really it's an array of appetizers, and I'm already looking forward to her next main course.
I won this ARC through either a Shelf Awareness giveaway or a giveaway directly from the publisher—I'm not sure which! Either way, thank you to Random House.
May 9, 2018
I’m a big fan of Sittenfeld’s and I’ve read and ❤️ all of her books. So it pains me to write this review. This book didn’t resonate with me in any way, shape or form. When I would try to delve into each story with an open mind and connect with the characters, the stories just seemed oddly weird or completely fell flat.
Out of the 10 short stories, Bad Latch and The Prairie Wife, were the only two I was glad I read, as I considered several times of abandoning it all together.
I’m totally in the minority here, as there are so many raving reviews by other readers, so please take my review with a grain of salt, and definitely consider reading this book, especially if you are a super fan of the author as I have been for so many years !
⭐️⭐️ Stars !!
Out of the 10 short stories, Bad Latch and The Prairie Wife, were the only two I was glad I read, as I considered several times of abandoning it all together.
I’m totally in the minority here, as there are so many raving reviews by other readers, so please take my review with a grain of salt, and definitely consider reading this book, especially if you are a super fan of the author as I have been for so many years !
⭐️⭐️ Stars !!
September 4, 2018
4 Stars
You Think It, I'll Say it is a collection of short stories that tackles the complexities and diversity of judgment. Whether it's based on personal biases, misgivings, or hilariously misconstrued situations the character's in Curtis Sittenfeld's stories are all victims of their own preconceived notions. We as readers get to see how damaging and self-sabotaging it is to let judgement fester within. Whether it's through a naive university student falsely idolizing her less then perfect friend, or a shelter volunteer feeling antagonistic towards the perky new girl, or a woman internet stalking her ex-lover turned famous lifestyle guru. You Think it, I'll say it is not a chastising towards judgement it's just a reflection and examination on a very common thing human's do towards each other. It's the old adage don't judge a book by it's cover we all know it, try to abide by it, but at the end of the day we all go into new situations and meet new people placing our own hidden meanings on different circumstance based purely on personal bias that we have accumulated through life. Judgment is human nature and it was fun to read a collection of short stories circling around that theme.
I love Curtis Sittenfeld's writing! Her short stories are complex and unique and always leave you satisfied by the conclusion. I highly recommend this read, and judging (see what I did there) by my own love of this book and her last one Eligible, I am now certain I must devour everything this woman has written!
You Think It, I'll Say it is a collection of short stories that tackles the complexities and diversity of judgment. Whether it's based on personal biases, misgivings, or hilariously misconstrued situations the character's in Curtis Sittenfeld's stories are all victims of their own preconceived notions. We as readers get to see how damaging and self-sabotaging it is to let judgement fester within. Whether it's through a naive university student falsely idolizing her less then perfect friend, or a shelter volunteer feeling antagonistic towards the perky new girl, or a woman internet stalking her ex-lover turned famous lifestyle guru. You Think it, I'll say it is not a chastising towards judgement it's just a reflection and examination on a very common thing human's do towards each other. It's the old adage don't judge a book by it's cover we all know it, try to abide by it, but at the end of the day we all go into new situations and meet new people placing our own hidden meanings on different circumstance based purely on personal bias that we have accumulated through life. Judgment is human nature and it was fun to read a collection of short stories circling around that theme.
I love Curtis Sittenfeld's writing! Her short stories are complex and unique and always leave you satisfied by the conclusion. I highly recommend this read, and judging (see what I did there) by my own love of this book and her last one Eligible, I am now certain I must devour everything this woman has written!
January 1, 2019
Sittenfeld's characters deal with some thoroughly modern problems - should a feminist shave her pubic hair, is it okay to out an old flame on social media, whether or not to have sex with a Trump supporter . . . but they also have the same needs and wants we all have: the desire to be accepted, connect with friends, and find love. They worry over their children's futures, and are occasionally tempted to stray outside the marriage bed. Therein, I believe, lies the appeal of this short story collection: you might be shaking your head at some of the characters' choices, but you may just see a little of yourself in them as well.
If you're still not sure Sittenfeld is for you, try out these two stories from The New Yorker, and see what you think.
https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the...
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
I really like her stuff; you may not.
If you're still not sure Sittenfeld is for you, try out these two stories from The New Yorker, and see what you think.
https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the...
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
I really like her stuff; you may not.
May 21, 2018
Nope. Just nope.
May 14, 2018
You Think It, I'll Say It is Curtis Sittenfeld's first short story collection. It is also my first Sittenfeld. After cutting her teeth on novels, she has decided to pare things back and present us with a collection of ten contemporary short stories - all of which are near perfect.
My standout story has to be 'Off the Record', the story of a journalist (and new mother) who conducts a truly disastrous cover story interview with one of Hollywood's biggest names. It is a comic and incredibly cringe-inducing story about motherhood and its perils.
I wish I had more to say about this collection, but I'm afraid I hate nothing more than just listing superlatives. I will genuinely be impressed if a better collection of stories is published in 2018. Sittenfeld, mon amour.
My standout story has to be 'Off the Record', the story of a journalist (and new mother) who conducts a truly disastrous cover story interview with one of Hollywood's biggest names. It is a comic and incredibly cringe-inducing story about motherhood and its perils.
I wish I had more to say about this collection, but I'm afraid I hate nothing more than just listing superlatives. I will genuinely be impressed if a better collection of stories is published in 2018. Sittenfeld, mon amour.
July 18, 2018
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Curtis Sittenfeld is one of those hit-or-miss authors for me, where I really like some of her books, but I wouldn't call her a favorite author because she's let me down too many times. Cases in point: while PREP and THE MAN OF MY DREAMS are among my favorite books, AMERICAN WIFE and SISTERLAND were both crushing disappointments that I could hardly stand to get through.
With that in mind, I approached YOU THINK IT, I'LL SAY IT with hopeful caution. "Please don't let me down again," I thought.
YOU THINK IT, I'LL SAY IT consists of ten very different stories that look at women as if they were specimens in a Petri dish. Have you ever looked at a Petri dish? They can be pretty disgusting, as fascinating as they are, and you might not like what you see in them, even if you can't quite bring yourself to look away. Such it is with the women in these short stories.
Gender Studies: ☆☆☆
Initially, I gave this four stars, but I think I was being over-generous. It's a weird story about a gender studies professor who think she's lost her driver's license, so she calls up her cab driver (who revealed himself to be a Trump supporter during their drive) and asks him to look for it. He pretends he's found it but says he'll only give it back if she buys him a drink (red flag). They end up hitting it off and having a sexual encounter of sorts, but it quickly sours. Deeper meaning ensues.
I liked this one initially because it shows how people are rarely as black and white as we think they are, but the more I thought about it, the more I disliked how the woman was portrayed as being at least partially in the wrong. That dude was a manipulative creep. F him, and his skeevy tactics.
The World Has Many Butterflies: ☆☆½
Probably my least favorite in the collection, although any story that involves cheating is going to earn my side-eye. This story is about two married friends of the opposite sex who like to play this game where they casually sh*t-talk mutual acquaintances. The woman in the relationship builds what they have up as being something more, and it turns into a meditation on extramarital affairs.
I thought this one was too unlikely, and the heroine was too unlikable and immature. The most interesting thing about this short story is the title (and if you're interested, this is the story from which the collection itself draws its title; it's the name of the sh*t-talking game the couple plays).
Vox Clamantis in Deserto: ☆☆½
Another story I didn't really like all that much upon further reflection. Probably because it feels like a washed-out, shorter version of PREP. Set in Dartmouth, it's about a student who becomes weirdly fixated on one of her classmates and her boyfriend. It's got the class anxiety and slumming around of PREP, but without the character depth, and I couldn't really get into it, even though I'd have liked to.
Bad Latch: ☆☆☆
Another weak story, Bad Latch is about mothers one-upping one another, and addresses the bias that natural breast-feeding and natural birthing are better, as well as the ugly side of motherhood that involves fear, anxiety, and the desire to conform to societal expectations. I didn't really like this one much better than the previous two, but I'm rounding up a bit because the topics that it mentions are so relevant and because all too often, motherhood is written about as the be-all, end-all of womanhood.
Plausible Deniability: ☆☆☆½
This story is also about cheating. It is about two brothers - one of them is married, one of them is unmarried. The married brother confides to his unmarried brother a desire to cheat on his wife, and is always venting about her. His unmarried brother is unsympathetic and urges him not to cheat. But the married brother doesn't know that his unmarried brother and his own wife are writing to one another.
I thought this was an interesting story, and it does subtly bring up the difference between physical and emotional cheating, and how both are equally damaging to a relationship.
A Regular Couple: ☆☆☆☆½
I think A Regular Couple is the story I related to most out of this collection. Two couples end up meeting at this resort, and it turns out the wives knew each other in high school. One of them was the stereotypical pretty "mean girl," and the other was an awkward loser. Now, in middle-age, the tables have flipped, and the mean girl is kind of washed out and unsuccessful and the awkward one is a rich and successful lawyer. However, the meeting brings back all of the awkward girl's social neuroses.
I recently had my ten-year reunion so I found this story interesting, because it's amazing how some people can stay the same while still changing so much. The awkward girl couldn't let go of her high school resentment and expects that the mean girl feels the same. It ends up being much more interesting than the typical "nerd's revenge" fantasy that I was expecting, and I liked that.
Off the Record: ☆☆☆☆
This was another story that I enjoyed a lot. A single mom journalist with a newborn baby is interviewing a vivacious young starlet whose career is on the rise. An ordinary interview quickly becomes juicy and potentially devastating for the starlet, and the journalist is desperately trying to jot everything down while keeping the starlet placated enough that she won't remember that she's "on the record," even as she's fielding calls from her nanny claiming that her baby is at death's door.
This is one of those "devil's choice" scenarios, where the journalist is essentially forced to choose between her baby and a potentially career-pivoting moment. The tension was really well done, and I liked the twisted ending. These darker, more unhappy stories really appeal to me for some reason (what does that say about me?); Sittenfeld is really good at writing unlikable characters.
The Prairie Wife: ☆☆☆☆½
After A Regular Couple, this was my second-favorite story. This is about a woman who likes to spite-watch a YouTube influencer, while damning her as a hypocrite and fantasizing about ruining her career. At first, you think it might be jealous but then you found out it's because the influencer has branded herself as a farm-to-table, 1950s ideal of an evangelical rustic Stepford Wife, when the woman in question knows firsthand that the influencer is a lesbian because they hooked up when they were young. The ending to this story was great, and was much more positive than I expected.
Volunteers Are Shining Stars: ☆☆☆☆
This story has an almost Patricia Highsmith vibe to it. The heroine of this book volunteers at a shelter for low-income women and their children. She also has OCD, of which she is in denial about, and while her compulsions may be obvious from the get-go, her obsessions are somewhat sinister - especially when they cause her to fixate on one of the other volunteers: could she be a sociopath?
Do-Over: ☆☆☆
Another short story that mentions Trump? Nooooo. This story has a male protagonist. Trump's "win" has made him question one of his own wins, when he was elected student council president in high school. He ends up reconnecting with the woman he "beat," seeking her out to apologize.
Much to his dismay, it ends up going badly. She gives him a royal dressing down while calling him out on his privilege, and he has literally no good response to anything she says, apart from that old fall-back about her not being ladylike or attractive. It ends up being a pretty grim portrayal of how men view women - especially successful, dominant women - and how privilege can be blinding.
For the most part, I liked this collection. There were no truly awful stories in it, and I liked that Sittenfeld actually took on some pretty challenging and controversial topics. She writes grit and grunge well, and I think it's neat that you can like her characters even as they make you cringe.
That said, it's a somewhat mixed array of stories and I think it's a mistake to put the strongest stories in the middle, where they will be forgotten, leading with the weakest stories in the bunch, and then sandwiching the whole affair with two Trump-related tales that are kind of downers. The arrangement could have been much better, to showcase the strongest stories, leaving the weakest towards the end.
Thanks to Netgalley/the publisher for the review copy!
3 to 3.5 stars
April 18, 2018
This short story collection features ten short stories from author Sittenfeld, featuring a cast of diverse, real characters. Told from a variety of point of views--a bored housewife, a wealthy bachelor, a new mom, and more--they offer pointed and humorous insight into current society.
I typically am not a huge fan of short stories because they don't give me enough information about the characters, and I'm a very character-driven person. But when I saw that Curtis Sittenfeld had a short story collection coming out, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist. She gets a lot of press for Prep, but I feel like American Wife and Eligible are both still so fully ingrained in my brain. I loved them both so much, and they are go-to recommendations when I get the standard, "oh you like to read, what should I read?" question.
But, I digress. Sittenfeld. Short stories. I shouldn't have been surprised, honestly, that her collection would be above the typical fare. I probably enjoyed this set of short stories more than any other I've read in ages. It's so well-written and engaging. As with Sittenfeld's other work, the stories are so wonderfully descriptive, so you can immediately picture the characters and their situations. I felt like I was quickly transported to the setting of each story as soon as it began.
The stories are similar but not repetitive, which was also refreshing, and seem to be real, instead of striving to reach some sort of literary bar that makes them tedious and therefore unreadable. They are about real, relatable characters struggling with misinformed impressions, lingering resentments, and different types of relationships. But - oh hooray - even better, the majority of the stories didn't leave me with that unfinished feeling. They are honestly fascinating, and I enjoyed how they all start (I enjoyed them all the way through too, of course, but it seemed like each had a bit of a common thread in its beginning). I could have read more about each story's characters, sure, but I didn't feel frustrated when they ended, which was so amazing and different for me.
I really liked each and every story. For instance, there's "Vox Clamantis in Deserto" which begins with a woman (girl?) who idolizes a fellow college student from afar in line at the post office. Two of the stories, "Plausible Deniability" and "The Prairie Wife," had actual twists and surprises, which was so much fun. And some of the longing that came across in these characters was very touching and heartfelt. I have a soft spot for slightly nerdy high school/college kids, even once they're all grown up, and for slightly fatigued moms, so these stories were my cup of tea.
Overall, this was a great set of short stories. They are filled with real people set in complicated yet enjoyable and interesting situations. They are easy-to-read and don't leave you wanting for more--except maybe more stories. This only cements my feeling that I'll continue to read (and adore) anything Ms. Sittenfeld writes.
I received a copy of this story collection from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 04/24/2018.
You can read my review of ELIGIBLE here (spoiler: it's awesome).
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I typically am not a huge fan of short stories because they don't give me enough information about the characters, and I'm a very character-driven person. But when I saw that Curtis Sittenfeld had a short story collection coming out, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist. She gets a lot of press for Prep, but I feel like American Wife and Eligible are both still so fully ingrained in my brain. I loved them both so much, and they are go-to recommendations when I get the standard, "oh you like to read, what should I read?" question.
But, I digress. Sittenfeld. Short stories. I shouldn't have been surprised, honestly, that her collection would be above the typical fare. I probably enjoyed this set of short stories more than any other I've read in ages. It's so well-written and engaging. As with Sittenfeld's other work, the stories are so wonderfully descriptive, so you can immediately picture the characters and their situations. I felt like I was quickly transported to the setting of each story as soon as it began.
The stories are similar but not repetitive, which was also refreshing, and seem to be real, instead of striving to reach some sort of literary bar that makes them tedious and therefore unreadable. They are about real, relatable characters struggling with misinformed impressions, lingering resentments, and different types of relationships. But - oh hooray - even better, the majority of the stories didn't leave me with that unfinished feeling. They are honestly fascinating, and I enjoyed how they all start (I enjoyed them all the way through too, of course, but it seemed like each had a bit of a common thread in its beginning). I could have read more about each story's characters, sure, but I didn't feel frustrated when they ended, which was so amazing and different for me.
I really liked each and every story. For instance, there's "Vox Clamantis in Deserto" which begins with a woman (girl?) who idolizes a fellow college student from afar in line at the post office. Two of the stories, "Plausible Deniability" and "The Prairie Wife," had actual twists and surprises, which was so much fun. And some of the longing that came across in these characters was very touching and heartfelt. I have a soft spot for slightly nerdy high school/college kids, even once they're all grown up, and for slightly fatigued moms, so these stories were my cup of tea.
Overall, this was a great set of short stories. They are filled with real people set in complicated yet enjoyable and interesting situations. They are easy-to-read and don't leave you wanting for more--except maybe more stories. This only cements my feeling that I'll continue to read (and adore) anything Ms. Sittenfeld writes.
I received a copy of this story collection from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 04/24/2018.
You can read my review of ELIGIBLE here (spoiler: it's awesome).
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July 26, 2018
A wonderland of short stories that I've sprinted through twice. Well, first was the sprint; second was the stroll. I wanted to get every morsel, every tidbit of meaning or laugh and lesson. Each story is an independent book full of characters with full on emotion, yours or theirs.
Ten stories.
Gender Studies - A story about a mistake.
The World has Many Butterflies - Petty banter leads a woman to signals crossed.
Vox clamantis in Deserto - Never assume by words on a shirt.
Bad Latch - Babies change us.
Plausible Deniability - "Neither 'plausible deniability' nor 'lie of omission' is really a legal term. They're more like movie or TV versions of the law."
Regular Couple - Do we ever stop playing our high school roles?
Off the Record - Are actors always on?
The Prairie Wife - A person can change and still stay themselves inside.
Volunteers are Shining Stars - Are we doing it for them or for us?
Do Over - "Be your own advocate." You can never go back.
*All comments on each story are my own.
Thank you Netgalley and Curtis Sittenfeld.
Ten stories.
Gender Studies - A story about a mistake.
The World has Many Butterflies - Petty banter leads a woman to signals crossed.
Vox clamantis in Deserto - Never assume by words on a shirt.
Bad Latch - Babies change us.
Plausible Deniability - "Neither 'plausible deniability' nor 'lie of omission' is really a legal term. They're more like movie or TV versions of the law."
Regular Couple - Do we ever stop playing our high school roles?
Off the Record - Are actors always on?
The Prairie Wife - A person can change and still stay themselves inside.
Volunteers are Shining Stars - Are we doing it for them or for us?
Do Over - "Be your own advocate." You can never go back.
*All comments on each story are my own.
Thank you Netgalley and Curtis Sittenfeld.
August 23, 2018
[4.5] It is rare that I rate a short story collection 5 stars because I usually find the quality of stories uneven. Not with this book. In all of the stories, Sittenfeld brilliantly captures each character's insecurities and confusion with razor-sharp wit. This was a compulsively readable book and easy to love.
June 14, 2019
You Think It, I'll Say It is a collection of short stories, mostly centered around middle-aged people who are unhappy with their lives and feel their prime is past them. I found the writing to be compelling, but I didn't really understand the point of most of the stories.
They seem to center around people who were nostalgic for their youth, or who'd grown bitter and regretful, or who were envious of others. Sure, it was uncomfortable to read about these things, and it made me feel pity and sadness for the characters. But in the end, I'm not sure what I was supposed to get out of them. Since these are short stories, I wonder if they were longer and more fleshed out, I would like them better.
Since I found Sittenfeld's writing to be engaging, I won't rule out reading her other books. But I'll probably steer away from more of her short stories.
They seem to center around people who were nostalgic for their youth, or who'd grown bitter and regretful, or who were envious of others. Sure, it was uncomfortable to read about these things, and it made me feel pity and sadness for the characters. But in the end, I'm not sure what I was supposed to get out of them. Since these are short stories, I wonder if they were longer and more fleshed out, I would like them better.
Since I found Sittenfeld's writing to be engaging, I won't rule out reading her other books. But I'll probably steer away from more of her short stories.
December 25, 2023
This is a Reese’s Book Club Pick.
This isn’t why I picked it. It was actually a donation to my Little Free Library Shed. So, I thought I would read it. I am now bringing my review to Goodreads.
This is a collection of short stories which seem to give attention to the inner lives of women. When we consider or discuss imagination in fiction, we often just mean worldbuilding. This author is set resolutely in the ordinary. She has us in parking lots, or “nice” restaurants, in local gyms and SUVs. Her imagination is not fantastical; it is empathetic.
She has a vision that makes us consider that character’s inner life, along with a backstory.
And...
Women in these stories often have a consuming, vicious resentment of each other, the kind that comes from seeing someone who seems like either a better or a worse version of themselves. But, before each story’s conclusion, these resentments are subverted, and a more complicated and richer version of each woman is revealed. And lots, and lots of feelings.
So...
You either like them, or you don’t. And maybe that is how you will feel about this collection of stories.
This isn’t why I picked it. It was actually a donation to my Little Free Library Shed. So, I thought I would read it. I am now bringing my review to Goodreads.
This is a collection of short stories which seem to give attention to the inner lives of women. When we consider or discuss imagination in fiction, we often just mean worldbuilding. This author is set resolutely in the ordinary. She has us in parking lots, or “nice” restaurants, in local gyms and SUVs. Her imagination is not fantastical; it is empathetic.
She has a vision that makes us consider that character’s inner life, along with a backstory.
And...
Women in these stories often have a consuming, vicious resentment of each other, the kind that comes from seeing someone who seems like either a better or a worse version of themselves. But, before each story’s conclusion, these resentments are subverted, and a more complicated and richer version of each woman is revealed. And lots, and lots of feelings.
So...
You either like them, or you don’t. And maybe that is how you will feel about this collection of stories.
July 3, 2019
Nothing here really interested me except that Mark Deakins narrated two of the stories. At my age, I think I'm over obsessing about people from high school and who broke up with whom because what's her name gave BJ's. These stories seemed to want to relive, reimagine what might have been. I'd rather look forward (to better stories).
Itmay would have been better if Mark Deakins' sexy voice was utilized more.
It
May 3, 2018
Sittenfeld’s work is always perfectly balanced between women’s fiction and literary fiction, and she describes families and romantic relationships expertly, in prose so deliciously smooth it slides right down. If you’re a fan of her novels, I would certainly recommend these 11 short stories to you. They’re about marriage, parenting, authenticity, celebrity and social media in Trump’s America, with the two key recurring elements of role reversal and retrospect.
The opening story, “The Nominee,” which only appears in the U.K. edition, feels like a natural follow-up to American Wife. Though never named, the narrator is clearly Hillary Clinton, and in a voice that’s consistent with her memoirs she ponders her struggle to earn popular appeal: “The typical American voter doesn’t wish to share a beer with me.” It’s 2016 and she’s about to be interviewed by a younger female journalist who has written about her dozens of times. Back in 2002 she was compassionate when this journalist fell apart during an interview, but she knows not to expect the same courtesy in return. No, she fully expects to be burned. But still the nominee truly believes she’ll win, as the opposite outcome would be catastrophic.
Yet that’s the reality in the final story, “Do-Over,” which was shortlisted for this year’s Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award. In the wake of Trump’s election, Clay hears from Sylvia, a high school classmate, out of the blue and meets up with her for dinner in Chicago. She’s still sore about the sexist nature of the election at Bishop Academy in which, despite having tied, she was given the patronizing, made-up role of “assistant prefect” while Clay was named senior prefect. Sylvia has engineered this fake date as a gift to herself, to see what could happen, and she’s going to behave as badly as she wants.
The role reversal is clearest in “Gender Studies” and “A Regular Couple.” In the former, Nell, a gender studies professor, accidentally uses a taxi driver for sex. In the latter, Maggie is on her honeymoon with Jason; though they’re both lawyers, she recently handled a sportsman’s rape trial and earns 20 times what Jason does in nonprofit immigration law. There’s another flipping of positions in this one: among the other honeymooners at their ski resort is Ashley Frye, who was one of the popular girls at Maggie’s high school and made her feel awkward and inferior. But Maggie’s TV appearances have given her an aura of celebrity: now she’s the popular one, and she has an idea for how to get revenge on Ashley.
The most similar to Sittenfeld’s early fare is “Vox Clamantis in Deserto,” in which a college student loses her virginity under bizarre circumstances in 1994. Several stories involve a dual time setting: a decade or more later, characters reflect on the strange turns their lives have taken to get them where they are now and have a chance to rethink the decisions they made.
My favorite single story is “Plausible Deniability,” the only time I can think of that Sittenfeld has used a male point-of-view. The narrator is William, a 41-year-old lawyer in St. Louis who has distinctly different relationships with his brother and his sister-in-law. There’s a clever surprise in this one, as there is later on in “The Prairie Wife,” and it makes you ask about the various ways there are of being close with another person.
Other stories concern new mothers’ guilt and compromises, the temptation of adultery, and the danger of jealousy and making up your mind about someone too soon. I was less sure about “Volunteers Are Shining Stars,” voiced by a character with OCD and set among African-Americans at a family shelter in Washington, D.C., and I thought “Off the Record” was a bit too similar to “The Nominee.” Overall, though, this is a whip-smart, current and relatable book, ideal for readers who don’t think they like short stories.
Originally published, with a personal anecdote, on my blog, Bookish Beck.
The opening story, “The Nominee,” which only appears in the U.K. edition, feels like a natural follow-up to American Wife. Though never named, the narrator is clearly Hillary Clinton, and in a voice that’s consistent with her memoirs she ponders her struggle to earn popular appeal: “The typical American voter doesn’t wish to share a beer with me.” It’s 2016 and she’s about to be interviewed by a younger female journalist who has written about her dozens of times. Back in 2002 she was compassionate when this journalist fell apart during an interview, but she knows not to expect the same courtesy in return. No, she fully expects to be burned. But still the nominee truly believes she’ll win, as the opposite outcome would be catastrophic.
Yet that’s the reality in the final story, “Do-Over,” which was shortlisted for this year’s Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award. In the wake of Trump’s election, Clay hears from Sylvia, a high school classmate, out of the blue and meets up with her for dinner in Chicago. She’s still sore about the sexist nature of the election at Bishop Academy in which, despite having tied, she was given the patronizing, made-up role of “assistant prefect” while Clay was named senior prefect. Sylvia has engineered this fake date as a gift to herself, to see what could happen, and she’s going to behave as badly as she wants.
The role reversal is clearest in “Gender Studies” and “A Regular Couple.” In the former, Nell, a gender studies professor, accidentally uses a taxi driver for sex. In the latter, Maggie is on her honeymoon with Jason; though they’re both lawyers, she recently handled a sportsman’s rape trial and earns 20 times what Jason does in nonprofit immigration law. There’s another flipping of positions in this one: among the other honeymooners at their ski resort is Ashley Frye, who was one of the popular girls at Maggie’s high school and made her feel awkward and inferior. But Maggie’s TV appearances have given her an aura of celebrity: now she’s the popular one, and she has an idea for how to get revenge on Ashley.
The most similar to Sittenfeld’s early fare is “Vox Clamantis in Deserto,” in which a college student loses her virginity under bizarre circumstances in 1994. Several stories involve a dual time setting: a decade or more later, characters reflect on the strange turns their lives have taken to get them where they are now and have a chance to rethink the decisions they made.
My favorite single story is “Plausible Deniability,” the only time I can think of that Sittenfeld has used a male point-of-view. The narrator is William, a 41-year-old lawyer in St. Louis who has distinctly different relationships with his brother and his sister-in-law. There’s a clever surprise in this one, as there is later on in “The Prairie Wife,” and it makes you ask about the various ways there are of being close with another person.
Other stories concern new mothers’ guilt and compromises, the temptation of adultery, and the danger of jealousy and making up your mind about someone too soon. I was less sure about “Volunteers Are Shining Stars,” voiced by a character with OCD and set among African-Americans at a family shelter in Washington, D.C., and I thought “Off the Record” was a bit too similar to “The Nominee.” Overall, though, this is a whip-smart, current and relatable book, ideal for readers who don’t think they like short stories.
Originally published, with a personal anecdote, on my blog, Bookish Beck.
March 10, 2018
Genre: Adult Fiction
Publisher: Random House
Pub. Date: April 24, 2018
I very much enjoyed the author’s previous novels, “Prep” and “American Wife.”
The later was a barely hidden portrayal of President George W. Bush’s wife, Laura. I enjoyed “Prep” but felt that “Wife” was a stellar read. These books are why I wanted to read the author, Curtis Sittenfeld, again. In her newest work, Sittenfeld pens ten short stories that consist of characters who are financially comfortable, all with a female protagonist. The characters' ages range from the college years through middle-age, showing how women with distinctive personalities wrestle with the different challenges that arrive at different times in their lives.
The book’s title comes from the story “The World Has Many Butterflies.” In this tale, a married woman flirts with a man in their social network. She is unaware that he is homosexual. They play the game of You Think It, I’ll Say It. This is a not so nice game played in pairs. Now, we all have made unfair judgments on people we know. One usually keeps these thoughts to themselves. However, she is trying to impress him with her critical comments on what she assumes he's also thinking about their fellow guests. At first, it is oddly liberating reading about someone who is speaking her true thoughts. That doesn’t last long. There is a nice twist at the end.
"Off the Record" is about a celebrity journalist who is a new single mother. She is assigned to travel to Hollywood to interview a major starlet. The journalist is desperate to jump-start her career with this interview. The starlet over shares regarding her own life and proceeds to ask her interviewer to keep these details off the record. Will she or won’t she? This tale had a surprise ending and some major bitchiness is displayed.
"The Prairie Wife" revolves around a woman with her wife and their two young sons. She is obsessed with a famous woman (think Martha Stewart) who she met as a teen at summer camp. She follows her now-famous friend on social media, which she hates doing, but is too addicted to stop. The famous one has a cooking television show where she presents herself as a wholesome, down to earth country gal. Her old camp cabin buddy knows she is anything but how she presents. The question here: is will she use her knowledge to ruin the other’s career? She is hoping this will end her addiction and jealousy. Does she or doesn’t she?
The author writes a thoroughly satisfying collection on human nature. She is brutally honest in her assessments of decent women vs. catty women. She writes about our sexuality, aging, identity and gender dynamics. She throws in a bit of political feelings, since in the first and last stories Donald Trump makes an appearance.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
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Publisher: Random House
Pub. Date: April 24, 2018
I very much enjoyed the author’s previous novels, “Prep” and “American Wife.”
The later was a barely hidden portrayal of President George W. Bush’s wife, Laura. I enjoyed “Prep” but felt that “Wife” was a stellar read. These books are why I wanted to read the author, Curtis Sittenfeld, again. In her newest work, Sittenfeld pens ten short stories that consist of characters who are financially comfortable, all with a female protagonist. The characters' ages range from the college years through middle-age, showing how women with distinctive personalities wrestle with the different challenges that arrive at different times in their lives.
The book’s title comes from the story “The World Has Many Butterflies.” In this tale, a married woman flirts with a man in their social network. She is unaware that he is homosexual. They play the game of You Think It, I’ll Say It. This is a not so nice game played in pairs. Now, we all have made unfair judgments on people we know. One usually keeps these thoughts to themselves. However, she is trying to impress him with her critical comments on what she assumes he's also thinking about their fellow guests. At first, it is oddly liberating reading about someone who is speaking her true thoughts. That doesn’t last long. There is a nice twist at the end.
"Off the Record" is about a celebrity journalist who is a new single mother. She is assigned to travel to Hollywood to interview a major starlet. The journalist is desperate to jump-start her career with this interview. The starlet over shares regarding her own life and proceeds to ask her interviewer to keep these details off the record. Will she or won’t she? This tale had a surprise ending and some major bitchiness is displayed.
"The Prairie Wife" revolves around a woman with her wife and their two young sons. She is obsessed with a famous woman (think Martha Stewart) who she met as a teen at summer camp. She follows her now-famous friend on social media, which she hates doing, but is too addicted to stop. The famous one has a cooking television show where she presents herself as a wholesome, down to earth country gal. Her old camp cabin buddy knows she is anything but how she presents. The question here: is will she use her knowledge to ruin the other’s career? She is hoping this will end her addiction and jealousy. Does she or doesn’t she?
The author writes a thoroughly satisfying collection on human nature. She is brutally honest in her assessments of decent women vs. catty women. She writes about our sexuality, aging, identity and gender dynamics. She throws in a bit of political feelings, since in the first and last stories Donald Trump makes an appearance.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
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May 13, 2018
Reece Witherspoon’s May 2018 Book Club pick.
A collection of 10 short stories about relationships and gender roles told on many viewpoints; a lawyer, a mother, student, etc.
It’s stories delve into the snap judgement we put on others that are usually askew. The writing was wonderful and the stories gave me a sneak peek into these individual lives, lives different from my own (but not so different they couldn’t happen or to a friend.)
This book is the inspiration for a tv series being developed by Reese Witherspoon. I enjoyed the book and has peaked my interest, I’ll definitely check into it when it becomes available! 🙋🏼♀️🌈
A collection of 10 short stories about relationships and gender roles told on many viewpoints; a lawyer, a mother, student, etc.
It’s stories delve into the snap judgement we put on others that are usually askew. The writing was wonderful and the stories gave me a sneak peek into these individual lives, lives different from my own (but not so different they couldn’t happen or to a friend.)
This book is the inspiration for a tv series being developed by Reese Witherspoon. I enjoyed the book and has peaked my interest, I’ll definitely check into it when it becomes available! 🙋🏼♀️🌈
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