In Thisbe Nissen's award-winning debut story collection, characters teeter on the verge of love, of life, of oncoming cataclysms after which Things...
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reviews
May 10, 2010
Reader
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Thisbe Nissen was invited as a speaker to my college this year, and I was given the assignment of reading at least one of her books. I was disappointed with this collection. The writing feels dead, the settings and the characters need more "fleshing out" (I barely ever knew what to visualize, because she doesn't describe enough), and I thought most of the characters were interchangeable because they had no distinctive personalities for the most part. I also found her constant use of me
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Dec 29, 2009
Natalie
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I agree with what a lot of the reviewers here have said. While I can recognize that the writing is good and that the structure is sound, the characters were often interchangable and the plot lines not all that compelling to me. Many of them felt quite dated--like they would have been really scandalous and exciting ten or fifteen years ago, but today, eh. I liked "819 Walnut" because of its collective narration. I also really enjoyed "The Animal's Best Interest". I also l
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Aug 03, 2010
Leesa
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my husband gave this to me for my 23rd birthday. now i'm 32. i read it back then and remember loving it, but have picked it up to read again. will surely report back after my reread. i just remember that the third story is called "when the rain washes you clean you'll know." and fleetwood mac lyrics are always gonna get my love. now and forever.
Sep 10, 2009
Kori
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An enjoyable read with some fine, fine writing. Has some political themes that are at times a little overbearing, and the structure of many of the stories - odd, fragmented plots that often leave more questions than answers - is still on my mind. Nonetheless, Nissen creates a cast of compelling, fascinating characters that kept me driving through each story. Gotta love books about hippies and Deadheads.
Sep 28, 2008
Amber
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This is a complete waste of $$$$$$$$
This book is just not good. It was recommended to me because I bought a Judy Budnitz book (which was a gem, like all her others). But after reading about half of the stories I can tell you that this book is not worth a dime. It reminds me of critiquing someone's work in a creative writing class. I don't want to be mean and I want to tell you SOMETHING good about this collection but really...its adolescent and lacks style. You can tell that the author rea More...
This book is just not good. It was recommended to me because I bought a Judy Budnitz book (which was a gem, like all her others). But after reading about half of the stories I can tell you that this book is not worth a dime. It reminds me of critiquing someone's work in a creative writing class. I don't want to be mean and I want to tell you SOMETHING good about this collection but really...its adolescent and lacks style. You can tell that the author rea More...
Sep 06, 2011
Wendy
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Yes, a few are a little workshoppy, a few are a little "Hello, I am a mysterious 2-page short story that has no middle or end," but every story was interesting and touching in some way and struck a chord with the emotional and slightly angsty child/middle/high/college/adult in me.
Book dish: cookies.
Book dish: cookies.
Sep 22, 2009
lindsay
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If the sign of a good short story is that you're annoyed when you turn the page and find out it's over because you want to know what happens to the characters tomorrow, then this collection get full marks.
Jan 05, 2009
Lisa
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I read this in Florence and it is an exceptionally weird and strange book, but very good.
Feb 04, 2009
Erica
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I probably would have loved this if I'd read it 15 years ago...now, not so much. Well crafted writing but the stories themselves felt really forced. I get the feminine angst angle but it I would have felt a lot "cooler" after having read this at 16 or 17 rather than in my 30's.
Jul 14, 2010
Amy
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Thisbe Nissen is a wonderful writer - real, raw, funny, sad, and sexual - can't believe this was her first book...
May 05, 2011
Marie
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Nissen's collection consists of 16 coming-of-age stories that primarily deal with sexuality and sexual orientation and negative body image. My favorites in the collection are 3 1/2 x 5, Apple Pie, Accidental Love, Out of the Girl's Room and into the Night, and 819 Walnut. What I love most is that I was able to read the stories separately and appreciate them individually, but by the end I was also able to appreciate it as a whole.
May 22, 2007
Andrea
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In general, I really really like Thisbe Nissen. I think she puts a new spin on the traditional coming of age story. I've actually given her short stories to actresses in plays I've worked on as a reference for how I think about their characters. She writes about people that are a little bit on the fringes of society and she is able to impart grace and beauty to difficult subjects and life moments.
Aug 22, 2007
Allison
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A collection of short stories dealing with love, abandonment, hope, and security. The author does a nice job of giving a hint of resolution for the stories without going overboard. I had wished some of the characters would have been more entertaining and quirky as was in the "The Animal's Best Interest" towards the end of the collection.
Dec 16, 2009
Susie
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i remember feeling deceived when reading this book years ago -- it read completely as young adult fiction for girls; why did i even pick it up? perhaps i was seduced by the cover's elegant design. i've read some of thisbe's more recent work and enjoyed her style, but not this collection.
Nov 03, 2007
Anya
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A lovely collection of short stories ranging from the quirky to the very touching. There will be at least one story here to tug on your heart or make you smile. I wish Thisbe would write more short stories so that I can keep reading them.
Jun 15, 2010
Sharonlee
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I'm glad I finally got around to reading these stories. I really, really like this writer's "voice". There were a couple of times when I thought she needed to, y'know, kill her darlings, but overall this is a lovely collection.
Jul 11, 2008
Stefanie
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another award winner: another disappointed expectation. maybe i just couldn't relate to the exploration of lesbian/bicurious relationships that comprised many of the stories. i did enjoy 3 1/2 x 5.
Mar 06, 2008
Eliza
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I really appreciated how Nissen brought varied points of view to her short stories. The characters are not as simplistic as they seem...they feel very real. It was a great book for reading on the bus!
Dec 17, 2009
David
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Among other things, Nissen is a master of Point of View, trying out every possible window that can be set up between the reader and the main character -- and she exploits all the options to incredible effect.
May 26, 2008
Alethea
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When you want to be in love, are in love now and don't want to be, or want to love love again, after hating it for a bit, a little Thisbe Nissen is what you need.
Aug 27, 2007
Kerry
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Nissen's beautifully written short stories are about making connections with other people across all kinds of boundaries. All her characters are charmingly flawed.
Mar 22, 2007
nicole
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i think i liked this in high school just because there was a sex scene in one of the short stories that didn't involve heaving bosoms.
Nov 11, 2008
Jennifer
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Loved some of the flash fiction in this book. A great book of short stories to read just before bed. Beautifully written.
Aug 12, 2008
GREAT short story book. Local Iowa City author...I recommend all her books, this is the only collection of short stories.
Jan 05, 2008
Venessa
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The title is not the only amazing thing about these short stories, which examine love and all of it’s many forms.
