The Age of Grief
by Jane Smiley
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of The Age of Grief.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 254)
Read in September, 2007
To me thus far, it seems that Smiley is at her best when chronicling the the drama of the everyday, of the domestic, as in the story that opens this collection, "The Pleasure of Her Company." When she tries to add more extreme actions, as she does at the end of the next story, "Lily," they fall flat. The other story in the collection I wasn't entirely impressed with was the fourth, "Long Distance." It ends in an epiphanic moment, which I found a bit hackneyed. O...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
i liked this book, though i thought the first story and the novella were the best parts. disliked the story "lily," bc it seemed, in terms of the overall collection, a bit too much like the one before and the characters in that particular one were a little flat. "dynamite" was also a bit disappointing. but i read "the pleasure of her company" twice and i used some descriptions from it in my "art of writing" class. the novella part, "the age of grief,&...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Some of the stories I'm not a huge fan of. But the reason to buy this/read this is the novella at the end, the age of grief. Which later was turned into "The Secret Lives of Dentists" movie, which really didn't do it justice in my opinion. But I don't think it could, because the essence of this novella is the internal dialogue of the main character. (Why is spell check saying dialogue is wrong? dialog?) Anyways, this is one of those stories I always come back to... I wish I wouldn't...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
I enjoyed this collection more than the stars indicate because overall, this collection feels like it works better in its parts than its whole. The novella by the same name stood out as did certain stories but it was pieces, phrases and moments from the various stories which she captures and which still run through my mind. I keep going back to look these parts up because the are such truths. A great read for those trying to work on how they use peripheral characters in their work.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
I actually only read the novella part of the book. The author is very heavy-handed. The prose and seemingly unimportant details she adds are charming at first, but, then, it all grew tiresome and burdensome. The prose is clunky as her long, long, long periodic sentences are not constructed well. The end doesn't pay off, either. I really wanted someone to **spoiler alert** die or divorce or, I don't know...something.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
recommended to Eliza T. by:
Hester
Smiley writes about the pain of love and relationships in this collection of 5 short stories and a novella.All the 35ish main characters struggle with the love they have--the love the don't have but think they want or the love that is slipping away in front of their eyes----MY REVIEW is cliche--Jane Smiley's writing is not. It is funny and quirky and painful and familiar.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
my biggest problem with Jane Smiley is that I always forget how muich I don't like her until I get about 60 pages in on the next book and loose interest.
*updated 2 months later*
its confirmed...I just don't like her writing style. Have made no progress since this original review.
*updated 2 months later*
its confirmed...I just don't like her writing style. Have made no progress since this original review.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Several short stories and a novella focusing on marriage, love, and friendship. Jane Smiley is a good writer which makes this book enjoyable. It is not overly uplifting or full of happy endings. Rather, it is a reflection on the complexity of relationships.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Interesting point of view in this one. It allowed for something of a surprise at the end. In all, not my favorite of Smiley's but it's still Jane, so there's only so much my attention flags. Her basic prose integrity can pull me through just about any plotline.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
The title story (novella) is my favorite, though I have some doubts that a husband would respond in such a way to such circumstances. But he's a father, too. Also liked "The Pleasure of Her Company."
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2003
Smiley is a woman who has obviously thought a lot about marriage--I believe she's been married three times. She writes that most people live their marriage in "the ironic middle."
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2007
A collection of short stories, some better than others. The longest story, The Age of Grief, is the best. The story was made into a movie called "The Secret Lives of Dentists."
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I really liked the novella...but the stories? Not so much. It's been too long since I read this book to comment on why, but that's my take on things.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I usually don't like short stories, but these were really good. Just about all of them were quite absorbing.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
disappointing book. Some of the short stories were okay, but the novella "The Age of Grief" left me flat.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Read in July, 2008
I especially loved the novella and the first story in the collection ("The Pleasure of Her Company").
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 1994
Another of my all time favorites - need a new copy - I've literally read it to pieces.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2002
I am a big Smiley fan and could not understand the appeal of this. I was bored.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I like that they're short stories, but they were a little odd for me.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2005
reading the title novella made me not give up my thesis after all.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
