The "New York Times"-bestselling author presents a collection of nine literary short stories. The title story is a harrowing, powerfully moving dra...
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Aug 23, 2011
Jeanette
rated it: 
4.5 stars
A lot of short stories consist of 10-20 pages of foreplay followed by a big cow flop of a denouement, with nary a climax in sight. Some don't even bother with a denouement, they just end abruptly, leaving the reader with the literary equivalent of lover's nuts. I have given up on many and many a short story collection for this reason.
Happily, Lauren Groff is no tease. Her stories are thoroughly satisfying. She takes a little longer, 30-40 pages per story, an More...
A lot of short stories consist of 10-20 pages of foreplay followed by a big cow flop of a denouement, with nary a climax in sight. Some don't even bother with a denouement, they just end abruptly, leaving the reader with the literary equivalent of lover's nuts. I have given up on many and many a short story collection for this reason.
Happily, Lauren Groff is no tease. Her stories are thoroughly satisfying. She takes a little longer, 30-40 pages per story, an More...
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Mar 24, 2009
karen
rated it:
i dont usually like stories (i think a few of my reviews start out this way - ha) but i love the way this lady writes. i was hoping after the first story that they would all take place in the same town as monsters of templeton, but no luck. theres one story i definitely need to reread, but i have a feeling i will be picking this up in the future to reread all the way through.
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May 12, 2009
Marina
rated it: 
Sometimes when no novel is keeping my attention I turn to my first love in reading which is the short story. When done right, a short story is magical, better than any full length read. Yet again I found a perfect short story, it's the first one I read called "L.DeBard and Aliette" and it was outstanding, mesmerizing and gave me chills thoughout and lleft me sobbing at the end. I fully recommend this collection to everyone based on this story alone. I hope Emily picks up this collect
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Mar 03, 2009
Stephanie
rated it:
These stories were all so different from each other, yet they all seemed to have an underpinning quality of sadness to them. These are among the best short stories I have read in a while.
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Dec 29, 2011
Angela
rated it:
I'm incredibly picky about what I'll read, but after her short story in The New Yorker I was hooked. It was like love at first sight with this author. Lauren Groff is easily one of the most talented writers of our time and I will read ANYTHING she writes. These stories were INCREDIBLE. I'm making all of my friends read this book immediately so that I'll have people to talk to about it.
I just opened the book so that I could list my favorite stories, but they're all wonderful! I love th More...
I just opened the book so that I could list my favorite stories, but they're all wonderful! I love th More...
Oct 12, 2011
Kimberly Faith
rated it:
Laura Groff writes intimidating stories. They are often in Best American Short Story volumes and there's no questioning it. This girl can write and can teach with her writing. Her sentences are stirring and her ideas are epic. She's as at ease writing about contemporary life as the flu epidemic of 1818 or war correspondents fleeing Nazis. The fact that she covers such challenging topics in the short story form further attests to her skill. After reading this collection, I felt humbled and gratef
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Feb 14, 2011
Rachel
rated it: 
I don't know what it is about short fiction that makes authors think it has to be dark or bleak or at least flat. For some reason there seems to be this belief that it's okay for a novel to be enjoyable, or pleasant and happy; it's okay for the characters in a novel to be people the reader actually likes and cares about, but in a short story, you have so little time to make it mean something, you have to be "experimental." I loved Lauren Groff's novel, The Monsters of Templeton. She da
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Jan 09, 2011
Ally
rated it:
"Delicate Edible Birds" is one of the most enjoyable short story collections I've read in years. Lyrical, beautiful, haunting, it is one of those books whose language alone makes you slow down and savor every morsel.
The stories themselves are beautiful, too, each following the arc of female protagonists in the twentieth century. The women themselves are the "delicate edible birds" to which the title refers; the medieval ages metaphor of "byrd" (as bride More...
The stories themselves are beautiful, too, each following the arc of female protagonists in the twentieth century. The women themselves are the "delicate edible birds" to which the title refers; the medieval ages metaphor of "byrd" (as bride More...
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Apr 21, 2009
Dawn
rated it:
More hits than misses in this book of lovingly crafted short stories. The first story suffered from an identity crisis. It's about an overweight teen who's a swim team star, who lives in a small town, has an odd sister, a strange mother, and lives in a weird town where the Chinese restaurant ends up being a front for prostitution. And did I mention the eccentric, old millionaire who ends up taking an interest in the younger sister? The story felt like it was going in way too many directions
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Apr 23, 2009
Judy
rated it: 
I've been intrigued by the reviews of The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff, so when I saw this collection of short stories I snapped it up immediately. And I'm glad that I did. This collection of nine stories is uneven, but when they work, they sing. While the settings and the subjects of the stories differ widely, there are some unifying themes. Images of water and fire infuse these stories. And the stories present a series of young girls who are forced to lose their childhood illusio
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Jul 13, 2009
Jake
rated it:
I'm not a short story person. I prefer novels, and I actually don't think I've read a book of short stories in about 6 years (excluding the ones I read in college). I gave this one a try, though, because I loved The Monsters of Templeton and I knew that I was going to meet Lauren Groff. I am so glad I read it. Short stories are just a different reading experience, and these are like miniature novels. The characters are incredibly well-developed, and each of the nine stories has its own flavor an
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Aug 13, 2009
Oleg
rated it:
Having been relegated to reading academic writing throughout graduate school, I was so moved to read this excellent writing by Lauren Groff.
The stories, each so different, were sagas in their scope; whole lives were revealed. I'm not sure which stories were my favorites since all of them touched intimate places in my emotional architecture. I know I didn't like Fugue much since it was not as straightforward as the others.
The stories were powerful, I had to pause between t More...
The stories, each so different, were sagas in their scope; whole lives were revealed. I'm not sure which stories were my favorites since all of them touched intimate places in my emotional architecture. I know I didn't like Fugue much since it was not as straightforward as the others.
The stories were powerful, I had to pause between t More...
Mar 01, 2009
Jeff
rated it:
Lauren Groff is an immensely talented writer as evidenced not only in her astounding debut novel, "The Monsters of Templeton," but also in this consummately and astutely written collection of short stories. Although all of the stories have Groff’s distinctive authorial voice, they are as varied as the diverse worlds and characters they depict. Whether Groff is telling the story of an American war correspondent facing a horrific ultimatum from a Nazi sympathizer or that of a disenfranch
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Apr 17, 2011
Amy
rated it:
Not everyone likes short stories. Not even all library students! But to me, a short story can be a beautiful tale, despite its brevity. When well-crafted, they can encapsulate deep truths, within a few pages. I found this to be true within "Delicate Edible Birds," the inaugural collection of short stories by author Lauren Groff, more famously known for her 2008 novel, "The Monsters of Templeton." Groff's nine stories are beautifully told; each very unique; and overall, a trib
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Feb 26, 2011
I really like this book. First, there’s the title. Then, there are the stories. The title is somehow tender and savage at the same time. The stories got me. One after the other.
Before my two or three readers gasp, “But she LIKES everything,” let me tell you: It’s Not True. I’m still trying to figure out the politics, if you will, of the book review. Don’t say anything if you don’t have anything nice to say? Never give a bad review? So what good is a review if it’s no review More...
Before my two or three readers gasp, “But she LIKES everything,” let me tell you: It’s Not True. I’m still trying to figure out the politics, if you will, of the book review. Don’t say anything if you don’t have anything nice to say? Never give a bad review? So what good is a review if it’s no review More...
Jan 01, 2010
Halle
rated it:
I picked up this book because of its beautiful cover, and the fact that the writer is a woman from the mid-west.
My favorite story was "Blythe," about a stay-at-home mother taking a night class in poetry where she meets her new best friend-- a crazy, charismatic female artist.
Other than Blythe, I had a hard time getting into most of the stories. And because the stores are unrelated without a central theme, I found transitioning to be choppy and uncomfortable.
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My favorite story was "Blythe," about a stay-at-home mother taking a night class in poetry where she meets her new best friend-- a crazy, charismatic female artist.
Other than Blythe, I had a hard time getting into most of the stories. And because the stores are unrelated without a central theme, I found transitioning to be choppy and uncomfortable.
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Dec 10, 2009
Christine
rated it:
I've never read "Monsters at Templeton," apparently Groff's masterpiece with rave reviews posted everywhere by some mighty minds. But I picked up "Delicate, Edible Birds" at the library during a bird phase, where I blindly gathered only books with nature-driven artwork. I returned home to find three bird covers, one butterfly cover and one tree with a bird cover. Odd but true.
Anyway, I hadn't realized the book was a compilation of stories, something normally unapp More...
Anyway, I hadn't realized the book was a compilation of stories, something normally unapp More...
Jun 27, 2009
nicole
rated it:
this is one of those reads where you race through the first 80%, staying up so late until you finally finish "l. debard and aliette", having your heart break over the tiniest details in "watershed", you get stuck at "sir fleeting" and the whole book seems to drag because you had the audacity to put it down to pursue other things in life, like taking walks at lunch or watching michael jackson videos. but then you finish the final story in one sitting and toss the boo
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Feb 18, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
I may have been living under some kind of rock, but I’d never heard of Lauren Groff before I received a review copy of her short story collection, Delicate Edible Birds. I have now made it my mission to track down everything on her back list and to watch for all forth coming works. Because these nine stories are treasures, every one.
“Lucky Chow Fun” – the fate of the servers at the new Chinese restaurant in the fictional town of Templeton say a lot about the inhabitants of the town.
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“Lucky Chow Fun” – the fate of the servers at the new Chinese restaurant in the fictional town of Templeton say a lot about the inhabitants of the town.
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May 13, 2010
Maggie
rated it:
As you may or may not recall, I had fairly mixed emotions about Lauren Groff's first novel, The Monsters of Templeton. In a nutshell, I could tell that she was capable of writing some beautiful stuff, but several elements of the book grated on my nerves and very nearly ruined the experience for me. So, although Groff wasn't really an author I felt too terribly excited about, I'm a sucker for short stories, birds, and impossibly pretty book covers, so I thought I'd give her another chance to wow
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Aug 31, 2009
Renee
rated it:
Alright, once again I'm going to review a book based very strongly on what I personally prefer--which we all do to some extent, but this one sorta takes the cake for being nitpicky. But, I've been on a short story kick recently so I've had a lot to compare this book to, and this is why I gave it an unfavorable rating.
1. Groff's short stories cover a lot of time. She'll take you from the day somebody is born until the day they die. What happens, then, is that the stories become these More...
1. Groff's short stories cover a lot of time. She'll take you from the day somebody is born until the day they die. What happens, then, is that the stories become these More...
Jun 02, 2010
Lady Feral
rated it:
I almost feel trigger happy with my five star ratings lately, but what the hell, if something moves me, the author deserves credit.
Where some story collections, (think Miranda July's No One Belongs Here More Than You) are dull, similar pieces with nothing memorable, Lauren Groff somehow manages to built a complete world. In her way, she can tell a story that goes from two, three generations through and still feels like you've read a novel in only 30 pages.
"L. DeBard and A More...
Where some story collections, (think Miranda July's No One Belongs Here More Than You) are dull, similar pieces with nothing memorable, Lauren Groff somehow manages to built a complete world. In her way, she can tell a story that goes from two, three generations through and still feels like you've read a novel in only 30 pages.
"L. DeBard and A More...
Aug 05, 2011
Melanie
rated it:
“Monsters of Templeton” might just be one of my favorite books, so I was looking forward to picking up Groff’s collection of short stories. Overall, I am not usually a fan of the short story format, but found this collection to be satisfying and cohesive- each story seemed fully developed. I loved "Sir Fleeting" and “Blythe”, but was a little disappointed in the title story which ended the collection. Overall, I love this writer and can’t wait to see what is published next!
May 01, 2009
Kerfe
rated it:
An uneven collection, but there are some lovely stories here. At times, particularly in the first stories of the collection, the women and their situations seem forced and too contrived. But more often, especially in the later stories, Groff writes revealingly from the heart of the characters, which gives them urgency and life. I was particularly taken by "Watershed" and the uncertainty and truth of its "no ending, no neatness".
As Groff concludes wisely, "
As Groff concludes wisely, "
Aug 01, 2009
Renee
rated it:
I loved this book; at times the stories felt like the ebb and flow of water, pulling in and then pushing back all at the same time.
Delicate Edible Birds is a collection of nine short stories that deal with the intimate details of women's lives in the face of adversity. They are all told by woman who are at different stages, ages, and stations in their lives. I listed to this book on audio and the reader has a superb voice and was a perfect match for the stories.
Delicate Edible Birds is a collection of nine short stories that deal with the intimate details of women's lives in the face of adversity. They are all told by woman who are at different stages, ages, and stations in their lives. I listed to this book on audio and the reader has a superb voice and was a perfect match for the stories.
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Apr 03, 2009
Arlene
rated it:
This book was a departure from what I typically enjoy reading, but I enjoy short stories...so I gave this book a whirl. This author has a wonderful talent to depict very vivid, interesting characters with all of their ugliness, personality flaws, social improprieties and shocking attractions and impulses. They find themselves in very uncomfortable and intense moments that almost makes you want to put the book down for fear of upcoming undesirable content, but you are still curious to see how t
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Nov 28, 2009
Laren
rated it:
My choice of books to read is primarily plot-driven, and writing quality is a secondary concern. This is a book of short stories from the author who brought us "The Monsters of Templeton", a book I really enjoyed because it did both well. I didn't even know the plots of the stories ahead of time, so the fact that I even picked it up in the first place should tell you something. Once again, I got intersting plots, and really good writing. Really good writing. Did I mention I like h
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Sep 06, 2009
Andy
rated it:
a collection of short stories by Lauren Grof. The title story started off improbably I thought but midway through I was hooked, it was about three reporters and a photographer escaping Paris shortly after the Nazi victory--and the deal that had to be made to secure their freedom.I actually liked two other stories even better, both were told in retrospect and I ended up feeling like I knew the narrator--and thought about the stories long after I read them
Jun 25, 2010
Leah
rated it:
Browsing the shelves of my little branch of the New York Public library, I was so excited to find another book by Lauren Groff. The 9 short stories come across as an assemblage of human emotions, with an added spice of something macabre.
I enjoyed the Monsters of Templeton and I enjoyed this.
Recommended:
Pairing the short stories with beer. You'll want to pause and reflect. So kick off your shoes and go outside, this is that book.
I enjoyed the Monsters of Templeton and I enjoyed this.
Recommended:
Pairing the short stories with beer. You'll want to pause and reflect. So kick off your shoes and go outside, this is that book.
Mar 09, 2009
Bill
rated it:
Last year, I picked up Groff's The Monsters of Templeton after reading a blurb about it in the BOMC mailing. It was one of the most satisfying things I read last year, filled with lovable and eccentric characters, some madness, some magic, and a lot of heart. This collection, while somewhat darker overall, was also a very satisfying read. Each story focuses on a woman, sometimes in an extraordinary circumstance, sometimes in an extraordinary lifetime. Sometimes they find themselves, sometimes th
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