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Secrets & Surprises
by
Ann Beattie
These fifteen stories by Ann Beattie garnered universal critical acclaim on their first publication, earning Beattie the reputation as the most celebrated new voice in American fiction. Today these stories -- "A Vintage Thunderbird;" "The Lawn Party, " " La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans," to name a few -- seem even more powerful, and are read and studied as classics of t...more
ebook, 320 pages
Published
September 29th 2010
by Vintage
(first published 1978)
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Can't believe I never read this before as she is one of my faves. Though the stories are 30+ years old, they all feel shockingly relevant to today.
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Probably the most perfect collection of stories I can think of. "Distant Music" should, if you're a decent person, make you cry.
Boring and pointless. Not really short stories, just depressing vignettes mostly. Blech!
Oct 17, 2007
J.P.
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
literary fiction fans
They say Raymond Carver was the master of the 'minimalist' short story. I love Carver's work---but I believe Beattie gives him a run for his money in regards to the title of "master".
This is classic, in the best sense of the term---and also illustrates why 'minimalist' stories are anything but spare in terms of characterization, plot and theme.
This is classic, in the best sense of the term---and also illustrates why 'minimalist' stories are anything but spare in terms of characterization, plot and theme.
Beattie perfected that flat, New-Yorker style of writing - which can sometimes be an annoying cliche - but her best stories are poignant snapshots of non-communication and crisis, and a number of them are here.
May 19, 2013
Jeremy Miller
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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Ann Beattie (born September 8, 1947) is an American short story writer and novelist. She has received an award for excellence from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters and a PEN/Bernard Malamud Award for excellence in the short story form. Her work has been compared to that of Alice Adams, J.D. Salinger, John Cheever, and John Updike. She holds an undergraduate degree from Americ...more
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