book data
3115 ratings, 3.18 average rating, 487 reviews
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published
March 5th 2007
by Simon & Schuster Ltd
binding
Paperback, 320 pages
isbn
0743295765
(isbn13: 9780743295765)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 4323)
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avg 3.18
Read in January, 2007
Although I flew through the book (very easy reading), the short storylines all seemed to have the same gist. I really did enjoy listening to "Good in Bed" by Jennifer Weiner, but the style of these short stories is extremely reminiscent of that book and each other. The relationships of the main characters did not differ enough to really keep me captivated through to the end of the book.
My scale (since the speed of my reading is directly proportional to how well I like the book): ...more
My scale (since the speed of my reading is directly proportional to how well I like the book): ...more
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Read in August, 2007
I usually love Jennifer Weiner books but this wasn't my favorite. It's a collection of short stories which almost all revolve around a young woman and her journey. Some of hte stories were good I really like "The Guy not Taken" and "Oranges from Florida" and the one where the girls "kidnap" the senior citizen. Weiner's writing is on target like usual catchy, funny and inviting. I think if you've never read one of her books this isn't the one to start with try &qu...more
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Read in January, 2006
I have read several of Weiner's novels and I was looking forward to reading this short story collection. Most of the stories in this collection were written before Weiner's novels were published. Overall, the collection was a let down. The stories bordered on being depressing and featured women who were unhappy with their bodies and/or their lives. Most of the stories left me feeling unsatisfied.
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Read in February, 2008
I like Jennifer Weiner's books, but this one is my least favorite. The book contains several short stories. They're not bad, but I just felt they're not quite finished. Some of then endings were kinda just left hanging.
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Read in January, 2008
Great collection of short stories. The first three stories are about the same character, but they are all engaging and well written.
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I couldn't finish it. If you like short stories, than you will love this book. I don't and I didn't.
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Read in November, 2008
recommended to Rachel by:
Mommy!recommends it for: anyone who's into chick lit
Ok. I had trouble with this book. It's not the sort of book I normally read. In fact, it's the sort of book that I feel a little embarrassed to be seen with on the subway, like getting caught watching Sex and the City. SO GIRLY, UGH.
I read it anyway. And I did read the whole thing. In fact, the writing itself, objectively, was extremely good. She does have a literary talent, in spite of the Chick Lit thing she's got going on.
Her take on women, though, was not something I could han...more
I read it anyway. And I did read the whole thing. In fact, the writing itself, objectively, was extremely good. She does have a literary talent, in spite of the Chick Lit thing she's got going on.
Her take on women, though, was not something I could han...more
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Read in February, 2007
The Guy Not Taken is not chick lit, and is an interesting departure from the witty romantic comedies I've come to expect from Jennifer Weiner. None of the stories is really funny, and as a whole the collection is kind of depressing. The theme of each story seems to be that one of the characters is going through life feeling like something is missing and they're desperately trying to figure out how to get it back: sometimes it's an old flame, sometimes it's self-confidence, and--in many cases, it...more
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Read in May, 2008
Eh. It wasn't terrible. What it boils down to is this: I'm not a fan of short story collections, and I'm particularly not a fan of those written by authors I'm familiar with who bring a certain expectation with their name.
With Weiner, I expect at least a modicum of lightness and humor -- I was saddened to see that she, like most short story writers, tried a little too hard to fill the brief pages with meaning and substance. The result is the feeling that it's all a little forced, each story ...more
With Weiner, I expect at least a modicum of lightness and humor -- I was saddened to see that she, like most short story writers, tried a little too hard to fill the brief pages with meaning and substance. The result is the feeling that it's all a little forced, each story ...more
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Read in June, 2006
recommends it for:
women, mothers, divorcees (and children thereof)
I enjoy Jennifer Weiner's writing normally, but I was disappointed with this collection of short stories. Many of them have the same set-up: we meet a single career girl, flash back to the guy who hurt her (and the supportive family/friends who warned her not to get involved), then flash back to the current situation with the new guy who might be the one. I enjoyed seeing Cannie and her dog Nifkin reappear in one of the stories.
My favorite story was the one from which the book gets its tit...more
My favorite story was the one from which the book gets its tit...more
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Read in June, 2008
The book states it's a series of short stories... but the book really isn't a series of short stories. The book itself is really a short story but rather a story that's told in episodic chapters but all the stories are chronologically accurate and follow the same story line. I always assumed short stories would be unrelated.
Anyway, so far the book is... ok I like the main character but her sister Nicki over shadows her and is really a complete narcissical bi!#h !!!! Everything abou the litt...more
Anyway, so far the book is... ok I like the main character but her sister Nicki over shadows her and is really a complete narcissical bi!#h !!!! Everything abou the litt...more
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Read in December, 2007
I started to read this because I thought that it would be chick lit. I was in the mood to read a fun book with little substance. The book title/cover, along with Weiner's other books, just screamed chick lit. This collection of short stories most definitely is not chick lit. This is a really strong collection of stories on a broad range of topics.
The standouts in the collection...
Swim- About a college graduate who is having trouble putting her English degree to good use. Deals with misco...more
The standouts in the collection...
Swim- About a college graduate who is having trouble putting her English degree to good use. Deals with misco...more
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Read in June, 2008
I enjoyed this little collection of short stories, mostly because I generally like Jennifer Weiner's writing style, as well as her typical subject matter of the urban, but geeky smart-girl who just wants to be happy while learning to accept/embrace her relationships with slightly disfunctional family members. Her style is very realistic and easy-flowing chick lit. I also liked the short story format, which allowed me to keep coming back to this book for a little diversionary enjoyment. It is w...more
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Read in September, 2007
I actually waited quite awhile before purchasing this book. I loved the first book by this author, Good In Bed, but her last few novels were just yuck. This book is a collection a short stories, and I think they ranged from really, really good (Buyer's Market, The Mother's Hour) to just ok (Just Desserts, Travels with Nicki). My favorite story was by far The Mother's Hour - you could relate to the main character and her conflicting feelings.
I wasn't a huge fan of the title story, but I thoug...more
I wasn't a huge fan of the title story, but I thoug...more
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Read in November, 2008
I am not usually a fan of short stories but the rich characters that Weiner writes about made it easy for me to engage in the tale. I also enjoyed the author's notes at the end giving me a few more details about the inspiration of the story. I felt like I was one of the women that she wrote about. The thoughts of motherhood, marriage, and choices were spot on and right where I am in my life currently. I chuckled at so many of her the details like the expensive highighted hair of women in the...more
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If you've read any of Jennifer Weiner's books, skip this one -- it will seem like a bad case of deja vu. The themes are far too redundant, even within each story. Every character has almost the same problems, the same solutions, and the characters simply manifest into different names. That said, I relatively enjoyed each story and don't regret reading the book -- it was a quick read and due to the breaks in the stories, it is excellent for a commute.
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Read in August, 2008
2.5 I picked up this book optimistically - I liked Weiner's first three novels, and while I'm not typically a fan of the modern short story, I thought it might be fun. However, the stories in the collection, while technically well-written, are generally unhappy and depressing, each focusing on at least two of several themes that surface repeatedly throughout the book: infidelity/abandonment/divorce, absentee fathers, the restorative effects of swimming, and self-loathing/low self-esteem. A few...more
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Read in November, 2008
Well, usually I don't read the summary on the flaps so I can avoid learning parts of the plot that are better saved for suprpises during reading. This time was no exception. I also managed to not see the part on the cover that says "Stories." So I guess I just got off on the wrong foot with the book because it wasn't until halfway through the second short story that I realized that it wasn't a novel. Once I took into account my own idiocy, the book was good, and does make you see thin...more
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Read in November, 2008
I think I've decided I'm officially over chick lit. I'm sick of reading about pathetic characters and thinly veiled stories of the author's inability to deal with her parents divorce. Get over it already! I guess you might read this if you want something that requires no thinking. It was pretty boring though.
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Read in May, 2008
Jennifer Weiner brings back a few of the characters from her previous novels in this collection of short stories. Her style is smart but down to earth. My favorite story of the batch was "The Mother's Hour".
This collection moves us a few years down the road from her previous novels -- now many of her characters are transitioning from single career women trying to find the right guy to the next phase of life as moms of young children trying to balance their kids' needs, their hu...more
This collection moves us a few years down the road from her previous novels -- now many of her characters are transitioning from single career women trying to find the right guy to the next phase of life as moms of young children trying to balance their kids' needs, their hu...more
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