My rating:

add to my books

Girl Trouble

by Holly Goddard Jones

4.03 · rating details · 189 ratings · 44 reviews

In "Girl Trouble," acclaimed writer Holly Goddard Jones examines small-town Southerners aching to be good, even as they live in doubt about what goodness is.

A high school basketball coach learns that his star player is pregnant--with his child. A lonely woman refIects on her failed marriage and the single act of violence, years buried, that brought about its d

...more

Paperback, 324 pages

Published September 1st 2009 by Harper Perennial (first published August 18th 2009)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 465)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Dec 28, 2011

Lobotomy42 rated it

Shelves: in, 2011, literary, fiction, rape, kentucky

Girl Trouble‘s central focus on sexual suffering in a limited environment frees it from many of the dilemmas of contemporary short fiction collections. The women-centered stories share a frustration with all-permeating male sexuality which recalls similar pieces by Lorrie Moore and Miranda July, but with neither author’s penchant for wordplay and humor. The pieces do not drag with existential angst or vagueness. Although many types of suffering are present, they are alike in their precision. Cha...more

· see review

Nov 24, 2009

ModCloth rated it

After graduating last May, I found myself beset by a predicament equal parts terrifying and thrilling. For the first time in a very long time, I was in charge of my own reading list. While I was at first hopelessly lost without the structure of a syllabus, it wasn’t long before I realized I could read anything I wanted! And while I love most of the literature I’ve read for class deeply and reverently, I’ve always felt as though I had to rush to finish books – that I could never appreciate them ...moreAfter graduating last May, I found myself beset by a predicament equal parts terrifying and thrilling. For the first time in a very long time, I was in charge of my own reading list. While I was at first hopelessly lost without the structure of a syllabus, it wasn’t long before I realized I could read anything I wanted! And while I love most of the literature I’ve read for class deeply and reverently, I’ve always felt as though I had to rush to finish books – that I could never appreciate them as completely and intensely as they deserved. Now, the knowledge that I could let a book last as long and luxuriously as I wanted felt deliciously freeing.

“Girl Trouble,” a collection of short stories by Holly Goddard Jones, has most recently absorbed my complete attention. Set in the small town of Roma, Kentucky, these eight stories in Jones’ debut collection (just released in September) are populated with complex, utterly human characters. In each story, Jones miraculously manages to treat the parents, children, and lovers forced to make difficult decisions with honesty, intelligence, and empathy. Two of the most powerful and haunting stories in the collection chronicle the rape and murder of a young woman – one is told from the point of view of the girl’s mother, while the other is told from the murderer’s point of view. Through these parallel, contradictory accounts, Jones manages to reveal the consciences of these intelligently-wrought characters through nuances and subtleties that blur the line between morality and immorality. Somehow, through loss and loneliness, Jones uses her resonant, rarely-paralleled prose to sustain a pervasive, redeeming hope.

Holly Goddard Jones was born and raised in western Kentucky and currently teaches in the MFA program in creative writing at UNC-Greensboro. Her work first appeared in the “New Stories from the South” in both 2007 and 2008, the “Best American Mystery Stories 2008,” and various literary journals. You can visit her website and blog here.

Even if you are currently up to your eyeballs in other required texts, make sure you put this book on your reading wish list. Happy Reading, ModLovers!(less)

like 1 like

· see review

Mar 13, 2010

Victoria Wheeler rated it

Recommended to Victoria by: John Kinkaide

I began reading this book as a recommendation from a professor at my school, who read the work after Jones guest-taught at my college for a semester. I was completely blown away, and read the book from start to finish over three days, in spite of it being possibly the most stressful time in my college career.

The book is about a fictional small town in central to western Kentucky, called Roma. I myself am from a very small town in western Kentucky and found myself utterly gripped by ...moreI began reading this book as a recommendation from a professor at my school, who read the work after Jones guest-taught at my college for a semester. I was completely blown away, and read the book from start to finish over three days, in spite of it being possibly the most stressful time in my college career.

The book is about a fictional small town in central to western Kentucky, called Roma. I myself am from a very small town in western Kentucky and found myself utterly gripped by just how accurately Jones writes about life here. So many times I felt myself wanting to scream, "I know!" at the book, just on the pure basis of it being so much like my own childhood. It's also a very good setting for the book, which in very subtle ways is about the interconnectedness of people that is often too sharply in focus in small-town life. I am curious, however, to see how these various elements read to someone who is not familiar with small-town Kentucky life, and whether they resonate or are simply foreign.

That said, the book is ultimately a book about betrayal, typically betrayals in the relationships we tend to place the most value on, those between men and women. The sensitivity with which Jones writes, however, makes the betrayal subtle, just as natural and accidental as most betrayals are. In fact, I was halfway through the book before I realized that was one of the key unifying themes. Jones even manages to somehow put into her text a betrayal I, and surely others have often felt: the deep-seated guilt of a betrayal in thought alone. The type of guilt derived from thought is perhaps one of the hardest ones to express. Jones clearly feels a deep understanding and sensitivity toward all of the characters in her stories, and all of the betrayals, in spite of the blame, become tragedies and loss for everyone. The victims and the perpetrators are left equally broken and all that can be lamented is the sadness of being human. This is not at all a happy book, but it is very deep and true. I am very pleased I read it, at times felt as if Jones was literally writing my own thoughts. I hope to read it again in the future.(less)

· see review

May 02, 2011

Brian rated it

I wavered with this collection, and while I had high hopes before beginning, I have to say the book probably let me down just a little over the course of the eight stories within. Jones is an absolutely fine writer, and her ability with the written language is commendable. Reading these stories, I was often taken back by her phrasing and her ability to span complex emotions in the course of just a few sentences. That's high level stuff, and I think she deserves a lot of credit for that. Unfor...more

· see review

May 19, 2010

Elliott rated it

Moving and insightful. These are good stories. I want to read more by Holly Goddard Jones.

like 1 like

· see review

Apr 29, 2011

Casey rated it

Girl Trouble, Holly Goddard Jones's debut collection (2009), is the third or fourth debut collection that I've read in row, though it isn't by any design. I suppose part of it is intentional; I have made a conscious effort to read new-ish collections by new-ish writers, so it's not a complete accident that I've read so many debut collections recently. Perhaps it's not completely fair to the respective writers, though, because inevitably I hold each collection up against the others. I guess th...moreGirl Trouble, Holly Goddard Jones's debut collection (2009), is the third or fourth debut collection that I've read in row, though it isn't by any design. I suppose part of it is intentional; I have made a conscious effort to read new-ish collections by new-ish writers, so it's not a complete accident that I've read so many debut collections recently. Perhaps it's not completely fair to the respective writers, though, because inevitably I hold each collection up against the others. I guess that's the whole point of reading and critiquing/reviewing literature; however, in some cases it doesn't seem completely fair. Girl Trouble is one of those cases. After reading a collection like Alan Heathcock's Volt, it'll be hard for other collections to match up.

To begin with, Jones's writing is really suburb. Six of the eight stories are in the third person, but Jones's style and voice, even in her third person narrators, is strong and singular. They have nearly as much character as what you usually expect from a first person voice. There are also some really great images spread throughout. One that sticks with me is in "An Upright Man." A teenage boy in the summer before heading off to college goes out with a "cute" "sweet" girl basically to pass the time, and after sleeping with her, he breaks up with her in a cowardly way. The girl, who has remained fairly composed, gets out of his car and goes up the sidewalk to her house, only she trips and falls up the front steps. The boy, who realizes what awful insensitive thing he's done, watches her fall but doesn't do anything to help. Instead, quickly back out of the driveway and speeds away. For whatever reason, this image stood out to me probably more so than any other (maybe someone could read into that, I don't know).

Jones's stories are long--the shortest is 26 pages. Also, the conflict in the majority of her stories is internal. In that way her stories remind me of those of Andre Dubus, another writer of long stories. Of course, this probably more a matter of personal taste and an indicator of what I want/expect from a short story--some external conflict/tension/drama to go along with the internal--than a major criticism of Jones.

Jones is a Kentucky writer, but her stories don't have the kind of regional feel of say, Chris Offutt, but Jones admits she not as interested in setting and place--at least not in that way (there's a good interview with Jones at the back of copy of Girl Trouble), so it's not really fair to criticize her on that account.

Next to the actual writing itself, Jones's strongest work is in her characters. She creates complete, real people on the page (with the exception of only a few characters, most notably Theo and Josie in "Life Expectancy"). We have complete access to their deepest thoughts and fears. This came through the most for me in "Parts." The first person narrator is the mother of a rape/murder victim, and in the course of the story her marriage breaks up, and we as readers are confronted with some of her most disturbing thoughts. This also comes through in "Proof of God," a companion piece of sorts to "Parts," only this story is from the perspective of one of the "accused" rapists (it's a complex situation, and I don't want to give anything away). Personally, I found this story to be the stronger of the two, if only because it was more challenging/difficult to empathize with the man than it was the mother.

Ultimately, I enjoyed Jones's characterizations, if at times, her plots were a little stale. Charles Baxter, channeling Flannery O'Connor, says that all stories should be "surprising yet inevitable." In Jones's collection, I found myself wanting more of the "surprising" part of the equation, particularly in "Life Expectancy" and "An Upright Man."

Despite some of the issues I had with Girl Trouble, it was a worth reading, and I look forward to what Jones does next.

For more, see my blog: http://thestoryisthecure.blogspot.com/(less)

· see review

Apr 11, 2010

Alexa Adams rated it

Holly Goddard Jones is one of the nicest, most intelligent people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She was my Fiction professor for two semesters at Murray State University and I learned more from her than most of my other professors combined. I had no idea just how impressive her own writing was before I read her collection of short fiction. These stories are poignant, engaging, and truly heart-wrenching. I recommend this collection to anyone who wants a more fully-rounded understanding...more

· see review

Jan 23, 2012

Michelle rated it

Shelves: 2012, short-stories

I love a good collection of short stories. The way the author can convey an entire world in small number of pages astounds me. I enjoyed this collection though it didn’t blow me away. The stories are solid, as is the writing, and in several of them I quite connected with the characters. The blue collar Kentucky setting is also vivid and tangible. Why I didn’t like these more I can’t really pinpoint. There was one story that did go on way, way, way too long. In addition, I do tend to like my shor...more

· see review

Oct 29, 2009

Cathy Serpico rated it

Eight jaw-droppingly perfect stories of small and large choices in the lives of Kentuckyians. I love how Holly's characters - however flawed or scarred by life - are so heartbreakingly relatable and feel like real people. These dark and often violent tales stayed with me long after I finished them, especially 'Parts', 'Theory of Realty', and 'Proof of God.'

Basically, this book skyrocketed to the top of my favorites of all time and I recommend it to everyone I know.

· see review

Jan 30, 2011

Alana rated it

Devastating and amazing. HG Jones is incredibly gifted with insight into human nature and human behavior. It's hard to sit and read an entire collection of short stories, but (perhaps because the stories are linked by locale and in a couple cases by mutual characters) this read like a novel for me, and I was eager to get back to reading it each time I had to set it down. Really looking forward to whatever she writes next!

· see review

Dec 08, 2009

Rebecca rated it

This was a collection of short stories that just blew me away. The author, Holly Goddard Jones is one that I have never read before but what impressed me the most was how well she told difficult stories from the victim's perspective as well as from the perp's perspective. It was a quick read (I finished it during a slow Saturday shift) and I was not bored for one minute.

· see review

Dec 06, 2011

kelly rated it

Shelves: 2011

Very rarely does it occur when I love every single selection in a short story collection, and this is one such occasion. I literally loved every moment of this book. Jones has a way of writing in plain, everyday English that draws you in and doesn't let you go. I am from Nashville (one of the cities mentioned frequently in the book) and I spent many summers with relatives in Western Kentucky. There were so many times during this book when I found myself jumping and saying "yes!" becaus...more

· see review

Sep 06, 2010

David rated it

I am more than half way through this book. These stories are a strong a brew, and each must be taken slowly and one at a time. But they are good. In a matter of pages you come to understand these characters thoroughly; in a matter of a few hours reading you come to feel as if you have known their entire lives. Must read.

· see review

Sep 15, 2010

Patrick Faller rated it

Jones's empathy for her characters comes through in each of these nine extended narratives. Jones rounds out her small-town setting without losing sight of her obligation as a storyteller--to responsibly and faithfully explore the motivations and consequences of the choices her characters make. She's as capable of rendering a mother's grief after the rape and murder of her only daughter and the subsequent dissolution of her marriage as she is of rendering the life of the young man responsible fo...more

· see review

Jul 14, 2010

Scott Sanders rated it

Wow, what a powerful writer. Holly Goddard Jones is one of those writers where I found myself saying, "Why haven't I read her before?" I'll certainly be reading more of her, that's for sure. Raw, tough stories that kept me fully engrossed.

· see review

Sep 15, 2009

Kellie Morris rated it

This was a great collection of short stories set in a fictional small town of Kentucky. The detail was vivid and the characters kept me enthralled until the very end. I like how she tied some of the characters and places into the other stories.

· see review

Jan 05, 2011

Clarissa rated it

Holly Goddard Jones understands Appalachia; she also understands how men fail women, and how women fail themselves, again and again and again. The stories in this collection are quiet and uncomplicated, but no less riveting for it.

· see review

Jul 23, 2011

Cher rated it

Shelves: short-stories

A wonderful collection of not-so-short stories about real people going about the real work of living in small town Kentucky (where I've only visited on business and pleasure) but the relationships and struggles and small triumphs translate to small town life in the south, the midwest, or the northeast, regardless people will be people.

· see review

Jan 19, 2010

Christiane rated it

I somehow didn't realize this was a book of short stories and brought it home. I'm not sure why, but i've never been a fan of short stories.
That being said, they were pretty good as far as short stories go, but again, i'm not really a fan.

· see review

Dec 06, 2010

Emily rated it

This is a collection of short stories covering topics like loss of a child, rape, infidelity, etc. I thought it was pretty good. I enjoyed most of the stories and there were a few that I wished were actually longer so I could find out what happened to the characters!

· see review

Mar 24, 2011

Matt Brenner rated it

These stories were great. Not always pleasant reading, but the writing was good and I enjoyed it. Finished this almost in one day, while waiting for and then riding on a plane.

· see review

Mar 11, 2010

Cherie rated it

Shelves: fiction

B- Some of these stories were wonderful, others mediocre, others I couldn't finish. While she's an excellent writer at times, I wish the stories weren't always so tragic.

· see review

Oct 14, 2009

Nina rated it

Very well written but I found it very dark and depressing. Would have enjoyed it more if more of the stories tied together at the end.

· see review

May 16, 2011

cagey rated it

I usually have difficulty reading short stories, but this one I zoomed right through. It was very compelling, well-constructed.

· see review

Oct 08, 2010

Lisa Lesyshen rated it

Shelves: fiction, books-i-love

I was very impressed with every single short story in this collection. they definitely were all dark but I loved reading them all.

· see review

Jun 10, 2010

Kossiwa rated it

This is one of the story collections where the author allows you to vividly see the characters dealing with their problems.

· see review

Feb 22, 2010

Ethan rated it

I sometimes stop reading books because I don't like them. I rarely put down books for any other reason. Girl Trouble was one of those rare exceptions...I don't know that it was the place I was in when I started reading it, or if Holly Goddard Jones is just that good of a writer, but I actually had to stop reading the book halfway through because it was really getting me down. I'm definitely planning on finishing it when I'm feeling a bit less vulnerable to the bone-crushing depression she writes...more

· see review

Jul 08, 2010

Audrey rated it

http://audneal.typepad.com/my_weblog/201...

· see review

Oct 03, 2009

Ellen rated it

I usually don't read collections of short stores, but I'm enjoying this one. Well-written and good character development.

· see review

Oct 06, 2010

Mike McQuillian rated it

Shelves: fiction, short-fiction

Sad stories about the residents of Roma, Kentucky. Lots of secrets, and lots of dealing with them poorly.

· see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 15 16 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

Short Stories

19 users

See top shelves...

Readers Also Enjoyed

About Holly Goddard Jones

Holly Goddard Jones is the author of GIRL TROUBLE: STORIES (Harper Perennial). Her fiction has appeared in NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH, BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES, and various literary journals. She is an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the winner of a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award. "

More about Holly Goddard Jones...

Books by Holly Goddard Jones

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Pin It

Trivia About Girl Trouble

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Groups That Shelved Girl Trouble

Fans of Southern Literature

262 members

last activity Feb 07, 2012 02:24pm

shelf: read

Short Story lovers

235 members

last activity Feb 03, 2012 10:12pm

shelf: read

title link	preview: Girl Trouble
avg rating	preview: Girl Trouble Goodreads rating: 4.03 (189 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6488059-girl-trouble?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255915899m/6488059.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6488059-girl-trouble?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Girl Trouble by Holly Goddard Jones[/url]

Girl Trouble

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website