In this brilliantly told short story collection, critically acclaimed author David Updike skillfully portrays the multi-faceted nature of love ... read full description
reviews
Sep 21, 2009
Rianna
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Apr 13, 2011
Malorie
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I received this book for free from the book giveaways on goodreads. Far be it from me to turn my nose up at a free book, but I must say that I would be willing to send this one back if they will take it. :P Updike's stories are an emotionally detached look at relationships exclusively from the perspective of an arrogant and emotionally detached male. For me, there was not really anything relatable for me to hang on to while trying to trudge through this collection. What further annoyed me wa
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Aug 23, 2009
David
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These stories have a certain plainly-spoken elegance that I enjoy. The masterful stroke in this collection is the thread of emotional tenderness that runs through all the stories. This emotional connection to other people interrelates the stories just as it interrelates the characters to each other and the rest of humanity. It's beautifully handled. Tender and powerful. Never melodramatic or overdone. The stories are all different, but they all share this same marvelous emotional tendernes
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Oct 10, 2009
Tia
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I loved "Shining So Nicely in the Sun". I would give it 5 stars. I had great sympathy for Thomas. I could relate to his story. I miss my grandma so much and I too would have picked the quilt from her bed. A lovely story that touched my heart.
My second favorite story was "Love Songs from America". I would give it 4 stars. A touching father, son story about how different worlds collide. Very well written.
The rest of the stories were just so-so. That is why I g More...
My second favorite story was "Love Songs from America". I would give it 4 stars. A touching father, son story about how different worlds collide. Very well written.
The rest of the stories were just so-so. That is why I g More...
Sep 24, 2009
Jason
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The stories in Old Girlfriends are well-written and intriguing, but there's something almost clinical (if not emotional stilted) about the way in which Updike tells them. It's as if he's commenting on a series of intimate situations, but because he's on the sidelines and doesn't have access to what's truly going on, he just lists items and events, leaving it up to the reader to fill in the feelings. Of course, it's entirely possible this is the intention (to tell stories with familiar themes a
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Nov 28, 2009
Melissa
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The apple doesn't fall far from the tree when it comes to John Updike's son's collection of short stories. Most all of them center around infidelity of the heart or the mind. If you're a fan of short stories, you'll enjoy it.
Aug 29, 2009
Jenn
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I really enjoyed this. The stories had something in common in terms of mood/topic but it wasn't monotonous at all.
In general the stories didn't have a heavy moral or overly dramatic twist - they just captured a feeling or moment in time, and I could identify with many of them.
In general the stories didn't have a heavy moral or overly dramatic twist - they just captured a feeling or moment in time, and I could identify with many of them.
Nov 06, 2009
Darrin
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Wonderful, quiet stories, all with a kind of simmering tension underneath. You won't feel compelled to compare him to his father, because David Updike really has his own unique voice.
Aug 12, 2009
Beth
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I found Updike's characters to be rather uninteresting. I just couldn't connect emotionally to any of them, which made for a boring read for me.
Aug 27, 2009
Gina
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This was a delightful little collection of stories!
I was amazed and awed at how much emotion, and story was squeezed into the tiny little tales of love in this book. Each story was unique and complex.
Well worth picking up this book and allowing yourself a decadent journey through its pages.
I was amazed and awed at how much emotion, and story was squeezed into the tiny little tales of love in this book. Each story was unique and complex.
Well worth picking up this book and allowing yourself a decadent journey through its pages.
Mar 05, 2010
ej
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He's got more than a bit of the old man's lyrical flair. If anything is missing, I would say it is imagination. All these stories read like literal autobiography.
Dec 31, 2009
Keith
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Another free book through Goodreads! :)
Great collection of stories about various relationships (not all the specific category of the title). Updike has a wonderful flair for characterization with an economy of words; you're engaged with, invested in the characters very quickly, without his resorting to stereotypes.
Great collection of stories about various relationships (not all the specific category of the title). Updike has a wonderful flair for characterization with an economy of words; you're engaged with, invested in the characters very quickly, without his resorting to stereotypes.
Jan 03, 2010
Jessica
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This book of short stories is very good. Updike is a very skilled writer, and he tells these wonderful stories about the different kinds of love. I love short story collections about love! It's a fun read.
Jan 02, 2010
Leigh
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Despite multiple attempts I couldn't get into this one, and was not successful in finishing it. It never grabbed me, and as a result seemed to be a lot more work than enjoyment.
Sep 01, 2009
Jamie
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I tend to get distracted by collections of short stories, but these have such cohesiveness that a few times, I had to back track, just to make sure some of the characters weren't overlapping stories. Updike has a gift for the poetic and romantic. I often dwelled in his lovingly crafted descriptions of the "girlfriends."
Jan 13, 2012
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