Jenny and the Jaws of Life: Short Stories
by Jincy WillettSign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Shannon by:
david sedarisrecommends it for: anyone
The term "brilliant" is thrown around a lot, and not always accurately. But in this case, it's very apt. This is just brilliant. "Justine Laughs at Death" was downright disturbing, what with the allusions to rape, murder, and torture, and the weird bird imagery and cryptic phone calls. But very good. And "Best of Betty" was really funny. The whole thing is very witty, and I think Willitt is up there with Amy Hempel as a short-story writer who uses the minimum amount...more
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Read in July, 2008
I have had a good run of books over the past week or so. Jenny and the Jaws of Life was so good that I'm tempted to take a break from reading and revel in the goodness. Instead, I will reread Jenny...
Short stories are difficult. They are difficult to read and they are extremely difficult to write. Few hit the "sweet spot," the point at which there are precisely enough words to complete the idea, not a single word too many or too few, and each perfectly suited to it's ...more
Short stories are difficult. They are difficult to read and they are extremely difficult to write. Few hit the "sweet spot," the point at which there are precisely enough words to complete the idea, not a single word too many or too few, and each perfectly suited to it's ...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2008
In his introduction, David Sedaris piles tons of hyperbolic praise on this collection, including calling it the funniest collection of stories ever, which just ain't the case. Most of the stories aren't actually funny nor are meant to be.
This is dark, self-conscious satire, of an annoying eighties vintage that feels very much of its time and the many varied collections published during that recent golden age of short fiction. But with a few exceptions, the stories here, they feel more ...more
This is dark, self-conscious satire, of an annoying eighties vintage that feels very much of its time and the many varied collections published during that recent golden age of short fiction. But with a few exceptions, the stories here, they feel more ...more
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Read in November, 2007
Ignore David Sedaris’ blurb: these stories are not funny. They are occasionally wry. They’re also incredibly well-written and full of fascinating ideas. Several of them, especially “Justine Laughs at Death,” blew me away. But this is a hard book to read—very bleak, especially when you go into it expecting humor. (Damn you, Sedaris! *shakes fist*) Still, I’d recommend sucking it up and jumping in, especially if you’r...more
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
Meg- I think you'd love it!
This book is as amazingly dark as it is genius. Please don't be fooled by the David Sedaris endorsement on the cover or the accolades of supposed-hilarity pasted all over the back. It's not a grab-your-sides-and-roll-with-laughter kind of funny (like I find David Sedaris to be), rather, it's a wry-smile-creeping-up-on-you-because-this-is-strangely-familiar kind of humor. I think Shakespeare would actually be proud of this little closet full of skeletons. At any rate, its controversial standi...more
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recommended to Marissa by:
Melodee
This book was definitely more depressing than funny, despite David Sedaris' glowing review of the wit and humor in it. It is funny in the "ha ha, now I want to die" way. Sardonic in the sense of the etymological root of the word: a poisonous plant that would cause people to die with a smile on their face. I was surprised by the prevalence of rapists and murderers in the collection, although she definitely deals with them in an interesting, ironic way. The best story, "The Haunting...more
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Read in January, 2008
I enjoyed about half of the stories & some I just didn't actually get.
Synopsis
A uniquely insightful short story collection with huge appeal to women of all ages. To quote from David Sedaris: ‘It’s the sort of book that leads to late night phone calls. “I know you’re busy sleeping or whatever, but wait, I just want to read you this one passage-” You might peg Jincy Willett as a satirist but her stories are slipperier than that. Yes, they’re often funny, but there’s something ...more
Synopsis
A uniquely insightful short story collection with huge appeal to women of all ages. To quote from David Sedaris: ‘It’s the sort of book that leads to late night phone calls. “I know you’re busy sleeping or whatever, but wait, I just want to read you this one passage-” You might peg Jincy Willett as a satirist but her stories are slipperier than that. Yes, they’re often funny, but there’s something ...more
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Read in June, 2008
All of these stories were really morbid, and a couple of them were really great. I thought the best stories in the collection were driven by timing and plot, like "Julie in the Funhouse," "The Haunting of the Linguards," "Mr. Lazenbee" and "The Jaws of Life." Jincy Willett's pacing in these stories is amazing, and she's dead-on with her bleak observations about human beings struggling to relate to one another.
However, I found most of the other...more
However, I found most of the other...more
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Read in July, 2008
David Sedaris raved and raved about this collection of short stories. While I do understand the book's appeal, I had a hard time loving it to death. It's a collection of short stories that deal with some of the emotional realizations a middle aged woman undergoes. It definitely gives you sense of beautiful irony...black humor meets real tragedy. Still, perhaps I have yet to encounter some of the life experiences it pokes fun at (lots of breast cancer and male adultery), and I just can't see ...more
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I'd never heard of this author, but in a window display for David Sedaris books this title was listed as one of his favorite books. I tracked it down in the store, and found that the new edition had an introduction written by him.
I can't say enough good things about this book. The stories are equal parts dark and poignant, and oh how I wish I could craft fiction like this. A great read. Seriously, stop dicki...more
I can't say enough good things about this book. The stories are equal parts dark and poignant, and oh how I wish I could craft fiction like this. A great read. Seriously, stop dicki...more
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Read in January, 2004
David Sedaris calls it "the funniest collection of stories I’ve ever read." David Sedaris is clearly still on drugs, because this short story collection isn’t anywhere near as funny as any of Sedaris’s own works much less near the caliber of the funniest collections. I found the collection too inconsistent in quality, and no story made me laugh out loud, so another lesson not to judge a book by its cover quotes. There are a few very good shorts in here, though, but overall not ...more
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Read in July, 2008
Fun for the lovers of dark humor. Some of the stories were both touching and frightening in an existential sort of way. I've already loaned my copy out 3 times, and I hope that I get it back, as I don't usually loan out books. A pleasure to sink into the strange world of Jincy Willett, where everything is not as is seems in that 1950 kind of way. I hope that she returns to storytelling soon.
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This is a high-larious, in a very dark, dry, wry sort of way and excellent group of short stories. If you're reading it on public transport...be prepared for the sideways glances when you start laughing outloud!
If you're not a fan of dark humor, it's probably not the book for you, but if you can find the funny in things most can't...then I highly recommend it.
If you're not a fan of dark humor, it's probably not the book for you, but if you can find the funny in things most can't...then I highly recommend it.
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I picked up this book in Green Apple because David Sedaris recommended it, and as we all know, he can do no wrong. The stories lived up to the billing. They are just strange and dark in their comedy, and the characters are all vividly conceived. I've found myself coming back and reading them again and again. It's a shame she stopped publishing after this one.
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Eh.
That's kind of how I feel about this collection now. I went in with expectations from Mr. Sedaris' recommendation also and wish I wouldn't have.
There were funny parts - but hilarious? Nah. Somewhat memorable, though trying to think of any of the details now, and they're fairly fuzzy. There's just a vague discomfort and odd film in my mouth instead.
That's kind of how I feel about this collection now. I went in with expectations from Mr. Sedaris' recommendation also and wish I wouldn't have.
There were funny parts - but hilarious? Nah. Somewhat memorable, though trying to think of any of the details now, and they're fairly fuzzy. There's just a vague discomfort and odd film in my mouth instead.
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By far, this is the best short story collection I've ever read, next to Civil War in Bad Decline. Originally published in 1987, David Sedaris penned the introduction to introduce new readers to Jincy Willett's work. The Best of Betty, a collection of hostile letters and responses to a bitter advice columnist in the midst of a breakdown, truly speaks to me.
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Read in February, 2008
These stories were really hit or miss for me. I found some of the stories hard to get through, and others I absolutely loved (The Best of Betty, Under the Bed, Mr. Lazenbee). The humor is clever and at times quite grim. I enjoyed about half of the stories so much that I may return to the book at some point and give the other half a second shot.
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Willett's stories are all of a certain type. They are the kind of short story that provides sparse but significant character details, so you get a good sense of the person but not a lot of nuance. The stories themselves are well constructed and quite enjoyable. They're slice-of-life stories with a little extra plot.
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Incredible collection of stories. Are you a writer? Willet's descriptions will make you question everything you thought you knew about observation. Yes, she is that good. Her writing has a quiet to it that I just can't explain any other way. She doesn't need shiny objects or loud noises to get your attention.
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Read in May, 2007
This was so good I was only reading one story a day for a while, and then I lost my copy. Then I found it and Ijust finished it because I was tired of being disillusioned with books. Jincy kinda reminds me of Lorrie Moore, in that what's really funny in her stories is usually really sad. So.
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