A Washington Post Best Book of 2001, Rebecca Miller's powerful debut, Personal Velocity, is the basis for her Sundance Festival award-winning film ...
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reviews
Sep 19, 2009
Jim
rated it: 
This is a collection of short stories, portraits of seven American women aged between nine and forty-one. They come from different social backgrounds and have not always made the most out of what life has thrown at them. Most have father issues. All are at critical junctures in their lives. The question is, do they go on, go back or stay right where they are? A fascinating read and one I highly recommend.
You can read a detailed review of the book (and the film that revolves around thr More...
You can read a detailed review of the book (and the film that revolves around thr More...
Aug 16, 2010
Laura
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This was my last shot at Rebecca Miller. While I understand the title, and a few of the details of the stories were good, I found her characters to be whiney, self-indulgent and I didn't care if they found themselves or not. It's very similar in tone to 'The Secret Lives of Pippa Lee', which I didn't care for at all. The best story in the book is 'Louisa'. Also, a few of the characters are recurring within the collection, which is neat.
May 22, 2011
Melissa
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OMG!!! I haven't used words like brilliant and intense to describe a book in a really long time. Miller has been added to the list of writers that I wish I could emulate. When I started, my writing seemed faux raw, like it wanted to have that gritty edge, but didn't. She actually makes you believe that these characters are real, and that she knows them. Every woman in all walks of life should check this book out.
Dec 04, 2010
Kristen
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Really compelling stories and evocative writing style. Miller deals with some cutting issues and doesn't always provide an answer, but I think that added an emotional depth to her work.
Mar 11, 2011
Claudia
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A series of beautifully written short stories about seven women in different situations and stages of their lives finding themselves.
Nov 26, 2011
Laura
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Accidentally left it on a plane halfway through the last story. I liked it, but not enough to hunt it down and finish it.
Feb 23, 2009
Karlee
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Each chapter is a different woman's life. The stories are all interesting but I realized I don't like short stories :) I want to hear more!!
Oct 17, 2009
Billy
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A quick read. Under-developed sketches of phony characters. Very simplistic, simple-minded, and schematic writing. Not my bag.
Apr 30, 2009
Jo
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engrossing short stories- mainly involve vulnerable but strong women. R.Miller is Arthur Miller's daughter.
Oct 30, 2010
Jessica
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These snippets of women's lives were written perfectly. Rebecca makes the simplest of moments come alive with an edgy uniqueness I've not come across before. I'd probably give it 4 1/2 stars if I were able to. The only reason I don't give it five is because I liked The Private Lives of Pippa Lee that little bit more. But that's probably due to the fact that is was a full length story.
Aug 07, 2008
Clackamas
rated it: 
blech. he only reason it got two stars is because I finished it and found myself thinking of it after... of course I was mostly thinking about the bad taste in my mouth. Why is it that female authors of adult fiction so frequently paint their female characters with so few redeeming qualities? I read to either learn, discover a new world, or be entertained. This book did none of those.
Oct 28, 2008
Michelle
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I wish the concept of "personal velocity" had been explored further in this collection of short stories. I wanted to love this book as much as I loved Rebecca Miller's film, Angela, but something was just missing.
The three stand-out stories from the collection were featured in Miller's film version of her book. The other stories seemed to be mostly filler.
The three stand-out stories from the collection were featured in Miller's film version of her book. The other stories seemed to be mostly filler.
Dec 17, 2009
Mary Beth
rated it:
I enjoyed the varied stories, and the few that were connected together (the main character in one story was a supporting person in the next). It presents different perspectives of women who have gone through or are going through different stages and stresses in life. I'm not sure what I learned, but I liked the writing style and that the messages are not clear-cut.
Aug 16, 2007
Jeanne
rated it:
Not sure if you've read this or heard of it, but it was pretty good. A book of 6 (I think) short stories, some of which are entwined but all of which center around a woman, usually an artist, and how she feels about herself, aging, her work or her life. Interesting portraits of women, each one seems like it could be a autobio of the writer herself.
Jun 20, 2010
Angela
rated it:
The book is a collection of short stories about seven women. It's very easy to read. Some stories are very interesting while others could have been omitted. It has some very nice moments but I was left wanting more. I'd say it's a good read while you wait at the doctor's office or you're in the subway. In the end, it's forgettable.
Apr 20, 2008
Erin
rated it:
A novel with seven short stories each about a different woman. Some stories are much better than others….and at the end, you wish a few of the stories were longer and other stories were not shared at all. Rebecca Miller, daughter of the famous Arthur Miller, is a great writer and this is an easy bring to the beach book.
Nov 05, 2009
Marie
rated it:
A look at the saddest mental states and suffocating scenarios females of varying ages can get stuck in. While the writing is good, I don't feel enthralled enough to want to go back to the stories anytime soon.
Hearing some of these stories again recently (October 2009) made me realize that this book is....well....crap.
Hearing some of these stories again recently (October 2009) made me realize that this book is....well....crap.
Dec 19, 2007
Sommer
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I enjoyed this book of short stories centered around the lives of women. It was profoundly understated and proved to be a great introspection of what can happen to women just living their lives. Some might find it a bit depressing but I found it to be hopeful.
Apr 28, 2008
Lauralee
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Some good short stories, each focused on a different woman. I thought the first stories were the best, and after that I found the author's voice/style a little predictable. This also was made into movie with Parker Posey and other actresses.
May 29, 2007
Jessica
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Personal Velocity is a collection of inter-connected short stories by Henry Miller's daughter, Rebecca. All of the stories focus on the trials and tribulations of modern women. A couple of the stories were good, but most of them just fell flat.
Mar 15, 2008
Kilean
rated it:
There are a couple in here that are as strong as anything I've come across in the last few years -- and three of these were linked together and made into a pretty good movie (the author was also the writer/director of the movie).
Dec 16, 2009
karen
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I liked this book. The characters were fairly interesting and it kept my attention. I thought it was strange how some of the stories seemed connected and some not - or were they really all connected?
Aug 03, 2008
Angela
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I read this book before discovering the author is related to Arthur Miller. A literary weave, reminiscent of the short stories Story magazine used to put out before they went bust.
Nov 16, 2007
Sarah Mae
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Now a major motion picture. This collection of short stories examines the intersecting lives of seven women . Very well written.
Dec 30, 2010
Claire
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Life is too short to read bad short stories. The writer has some interesting thoughts but the stories are pintless.
Mar 14, 2008
Elizabeth
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This collection of stories is great. The stories are about different women from various backgrounds. Quick read.
