How She Knows What She Knows About Yo-Yos: Stories

by Mary Ann Taylor-Hall

Five novelistic short stories by the acclaimed author of Come and Go, Molly Snow .

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such exceptional stories. I hope someone will bring this book back into print so more can read them.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the easiest writing style to be taken into; more of a chore than a pleasure to read.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

How She Knows What She Knows About Yo-Yos is the first I've read of Mary Ann Taylor Hall's short fiction. I have to say that she's pretty good. had believable characters with all of the human idiosyncrasies well thought. Her story settings are nicely conceived, beautifully descriptive & her writing has an easy and enjoyable flow. Just right for short stories, temporary get-aways. I was impressed in her diversity & will likely consider reading her work again.

I'd have given this 5 stars however the last story felt dragged out, ultimately failed to go anywhere & needed an edit. Reminded me of a student who had forgotten to complete an assignment of a pre-determined amount of pages. This read more like a screen play with exaggerated descriptions, placements. settings, was only missing the cult status of Lynch or Fellini wanna-be. It could possibly have worked as a movie short. Experimentation is great, this last one of the five was disappointing. A good edit may have rescued it.

[Terri Kempton · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of these stories are in Taylor-Hall's unique voice, and therefore worth reading. The last story, about a young ex-pat couple in rural England, is exquisite.

[Sarabande Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Place Winner of the 2000 ForeWord Book of the Year Award