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The Story: Love, Loss & The Lives of Women: 100 Great Short Stories
Featuring two centuries of women's short fiction, ranging from established Queens of the short story like Alice Munro and Angela Carter, to contemporary rising stars like Miranda July and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, this is the biggest and most beautiful collection in print today.
Handpicked by one of the nation's favourite novelists, Victoria Hislop - herself a great writer of, and champion for, short stories - and divided thematically into collections on love, loss and the lives of women, there's a story for every mood, mindset and moment in life.
CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE: Margaret Atwood, Angela Carter, Emma Donoghue, Daphne Du Maurier, Stella Duffy, Susan Hill, Doris Lessing, Penelope Lively, Katherine Mansfield, Hilary Mantel, Lorrie Moore, Alice Munro, Ali Smith, Muriel Spark, Alice Walker, Jeanette Winterson, Virginia Woolf.
Handpicked by one of the nation's favourite novelists, Victoria Hislop - herself a great writer of, and champion for, short stories - and divided thematically into collections on love, loss and the lives of women, there's a story for every mood, mindset and moment in life.
CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE: Margaret Atwood, Angela Carter, Emma Donoghue, Daphne Du Maurier, Stella Duffy, Susan Hill, Doris Lessing, Penelope Lively, Katherine Mansfield, Hilary Mantel, Lorrie Moore, Alice Munro, Ali Smith, Muriel Spark, Alice Walker, Jeanette Winterson, Virginia Woolf.
1045 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2013
132 people are currently reading
1192 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Hislop
64 books2,101 followersVictoria Hislop read English at Oxford, and worked in publishing, PR and as a journalist before becoming a novelist. She is married with two children.
Her first novel, The Island, held the number one slot in the Sunday Times paperback charts for eight consecutive weeks and has sold over two million copies worldwide. Victoria was the Newcomer of the Year at the Galaxy British Book Awards 2007 and won the Richard & Judy Summer Read competition.
Her second novel, The Return, was also a Sunday Times number one bestseller, and her books have been translated into more than twenty languages. A short story collection, One Cretan Evening, was published in September and both a third novel, The Thread is published in English in October and in Greek in November 2011.
Her first novel, The Island, held the number one slot in the Sunday Times paperback charts for eight consecutive weeks and has sold over two million copies worldwide. Victoria was the Newcomer of the Year at the Galaxy British Book Awards 2007 and won the Richard & Judy Summer Read competition.
Her second novel, The Return, was also a Sunday Times number one bestseller, and her books have been translated into more than twenty languages. A short story collection, One Cretan Evening, was published in September and both a third novel, The Thread is published in English in October and in Greek in November 2011.
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January 13, 2020
Short Story collections that are a collective of several authors seem to be entirely different animals to collections from only one writer. PKD and HP Lovecraft have amazed me with their short stories: some I've really disliked but on the whole they've all given me something. Possibly it is the genre in which they're written-sci-fi or fantasy horror-that allows me to forgive their weaknesses.
Contemporary fiction, that kind of genreless fiction that no-one can really define, is a genre I've never been particularly fond of, but can't quite put my finger on why. I think this collection exemplifies the kind of boring, monotone, obvious writing that makes me shy away from anything written in the last 90 years that isn't firmly planted in a genre.
This collection features some big names, all women, all about some kind of loss. That's the theme, and it's a wide-ranging theme that is supposedly chosen to bring forth some kind of emotion. I felt zero emotion reading any of the stories, though that may say more about me than the stories. The abiding memory of this collection is that it was boring, which is my main arguement for disliking contemporary genreless fiction in general. I feel it is the same reason why I don't watch soap operas: I don't care about the everyday, mundane lives of normal people. They're generally dull anyway, or are made to exist next to a fictional explosion in order to create more drama. The whole point of fiction is that it is not real.
I shall thank the collection for formally introducing me to a couple of authors I had been meaning to read for a while-Hilary Mantel and Susan Hill-but alas, the rest were lacklustre. I have nothing against female-only collections as long as there are men-only to compliment them, but when there are several stories within the collection by the same mediocre writer, you must wonder why other more talented contemporary writers couldn't have been found.
Below are mini reviews of all the stories to remind me of the contents;
'The Canary' by Katherine Mansfield, 4 Stars: Quite a heart-wrenching story that I can't seem to bring myself to call "an enjoyable little story" even though that is what it was. Written magnificently with undertones of something darker that you'd expect from Katherine Mansfield. A really good start to the collection and actually a nice introduction to that particular author as well.
'A Walk in the Woods' by Elizabeth Bowen, 2 Stars: Written really well and evocative of the period it is set in, but indelibly dull, equipt with that short story way of trying to say things without saying them that quite infuriates me.
'Sentiment' by Dorothy Parker, 2 Stars: A first Dorothy Parker read for me and still undecided. Written well with a definite edge to it, but this short story seemed a little... Trite.
'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, 3 Stars: What an odd little story. Feels like it is supposed to be a dig at country ways, at traditions maybe, at the odd little ways of people, but a strange story no doubt. Written well and the suspense was created quite magnificently, but like all short stories the ending was unexplained and unnecessary, which is the main reason short stories infuriate me so.
'The Life You Save May Be Your Own' by Flannery O'connor, 1 Star: There comes a point in a short story collection when you despise one of them so fervently you feel you shouldn't pick up the collection again. This was that such one.
Written well, but nothing else. Rather pointless in my personal opinion, too American for me and dull, bland, awful.
'The Blush' by Elizabeth Taylor, 3 Stars: Reminiscent of Mollie Panter-Downes' War Time Short Stories, that middle class wonder and view of life. Written nicely with the ridiculous interwoven neatly. A possibly 4-stars but I hesitated in giving it, I think because it wasn't quite as good as Mollie.
'The Sound of the River' by Jean Rhys, 2 Stars: Like the rest, written really well just not particularly captivating. My first piece of Rhys. Perhaps the subject matter of the collection was not the best choice.
'A Visit' by Anna Kavan, 2 Stars: I feel bad for saying it, but this was quite bland. The story itself-like most of these stories-was inconsequential and it is more the poetry of the words that seem important. And, of course, that ever present metaphor that short stories seem to be solely built upon. Sadly, there was no poetry, only a bland kind of moping.
'Obsessional' by Anna Kavan, 1 Star: As well written as it might be, I don't particularly care to read the inner monologues of women detestably infatuated with men. I would read Romance novels if that were the case.
'The First Year of My Life' by Muriel Spark, 1 Star: An enjoyable idea, just not particularly well-done. As per, trying to say things it doesn't say and, honestly, the humour was forced beyond being any good.
'Indignities' by Ellen Gilchrist, 1 Star: Written well, again, but just so boring.
'The Pill-Box' by Penelope Lively, 5 Stars: Wonderfully written, superbly paced, enough mystery to last and no metaphors in sight. I was compelled from the beginning I think by the writing, perhaps by the subject matter. Almost philosophical in tone, yet that kind of writing that makes you think but doesn't force you to. Perhaps also just set in my kind of place and in my mind of time, as well.
'Miles City, Montana' by Alice Munro, 1 Star: Forgot to review this directly after reading it and, wouldn't you know, I can't remember a single thing about it. Hence the rating.
'Fragility' by Carol Shields, 2 Stars: It does seem a little cruel to give only 2 stars to a story about the loss of a child, but then it is fiction and it was unutterably boring.
'The Merry Widow' by Margaret Drabble, 3 Stars: Written really nicely and kept me very interested for quite some time, though I expected a much better punch line considering how long the story was. It began in earnest but ended in quite dreary company.
'The I of It' by A. M. Homes, 1 Star: Seemed to be obvious and mysterious all at the same time. Nothing particularly wrong with this story, just felt like a pointless one.
'The First Time' by Marina Warner, 1 Star: Collections of Short Stories are a good way to hide away little pointless ones like this one. As before, it is written well but I just didn't enjoy it nor felt like it gave me anything.
'Inside Information' by Nicola Barker, 5 Stars: I honestly found this short story to be nothing short of sublime. It had the right amount of wit and humour, of perception and dignity, and lashings of superb magical realism. Written well and actually quite very short, but a really good read.
'Desideratus' by Penelope Fitzgerald, 2 Stars: Not particularly bad, just tried to evoke the spirit of 19th Century stories but didn't quite make it. Full of the metaphoric, as well. Dull.
'Agnes of Iowa' by Lorrie Moore, 1 Star: I had a break reading this half way through for Christmas and couldn't really remember it when I got back to it. Says everything about it, I suppose. Just one of those contemporary stories, y'know.
'Curved is the Line of Beauty' by Hilary Mantel, 2 Stars: The first piece of writing by Hilary Mantel I have ever read, and I'm definitely looking forward to more, though of course of the longer variety. I can taste the wonder of her prose here, but sadly my dislike of contemporary short stories stops me from enjoying it any further.
'Father, Father' by Susan Hill, 3 Stars: Another first from an author whom I hope to read more of in the near future (and longer things from), and another enjoyable read (inasmuch as you can enjoy a tale of loss, bereavement and focused change like this). However, it is becoming clear-as I rediscover my old idea-that short stories are redundant. I think the main problem is closure, though this needs to be explored in the longer, main review of this collection.
'Renaissance' by Colette Paul, 4 Stars: Reviewing stories confuses me beyond anything else, because really this story is no different to any of the others and when I think of it a little more, it is in its simplicity boring. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and I don't know why. So there.
'After A Life' by Yiyun Li, 2 Stars: A good read, written well and had nice pace, but at its heart boring.
'Sorry?' by Helen Simpson, 1 Star: The idea is a very intriguing one, but not necessarily unique. All of these stories are written well, but sadly this one is boring. With a hint of the mysterious metaphoooooorrrr.
'Up At a Villa' by Helen Simpson, 1 Star: A humorous, very short short story that is trying to say a million things all at once. Fair enough, but boring.
'Plunder' by Edna O'Brien, 1 Star: Yeah. But boring.
'Aunt Telephone' by Edith Pearlman, 1 Star: Like the others. Written well but boring.
'Varitas' by Emma Donaghue, 1 Star: Whilst the plot intrigued me at first, the culmination and writing style did not deliver. Also, boring.
'Gravel' by Alice Munro, 2 Stars: Finding it difficult to rate these, but I did find myself enjoying the ending to this one a little more than the others, hence the extra star. It had a decent attempt at some kind of closure, which I appreciate.
'The Eye' by Alice Munro, 1 Star: No.
'Before He Left the Family' by Carrie Tiffany, 1 Star: No.
'Diving Belles' by Lucy Wood, 2 Stars: Toyed between 2 and 3 stars for this, because I enjoyed the imagination and the writing was nice for a first published piece, but the metaphor and mystery that it ends with made me go for the former.
Contemporary fiction, that kind of genreless fiction that no-one can really define, is a genre I've never been particularly fond of, but can't quite put my finger on why. I think this collection exemplifies the kind of boring, monotone, obvious writing that makes me shy away from anything written in the last 90 years that isn't firmly planted in a genre.
This collection features some big names, all women, all about some kind of loss. That's the theme, and it's a wide-ranging theme that is supposedly chosen to bring forth some kind of emotion. I felt zero emotion reading any of the stories, though that may say more about me than the stories. The abiding memory of this collection is that it was boring, which is my main arguement for disliking contemporary genreless fiction in general. I feel it is the same reason why I don't watch soap operas: I don't care about the everyday, mundane lives of normal people. They're generally dull anyway, or are made to exist next to a fictional explosion in order to create more drama. The whole point of fiction is that it is not real.
I shall thank the collection for formally introducing me to a couple of authors I had been meaning to read for a while-Hilary Mantel and Susan Hill-but alas, the rest were lacklustre. I have nothing against female-only collections as long as there are men-only to compliment them, but when there are several stories within the collection by the same mediocre writer, you must wonder why other more talented contemporary writers couldn't have been found.
Below are mini reviews of all the stories to remind me of the contents;
'The Canary' by Katherine Mansfield, 4 Stars: Quite a heart-wrenching story that I can't seem to bring myself to call "an enjoyable little story" even though that is what it was. Written magnificently with undertones of something darker that you'd expect from Katherine Mansfield. A really good start to the collection and actually a nice introduction to that particular author as well.
'A Walk in the Woods' by Elizabeth Bowen, 2 Stars: Written really well and evocative of the period it is set in, but indelibly dull, equipt with that short story way of trying to say things without saying them that quite infuriates me.
'Sentiment' by Dorothy Parker, 2 Stars: A first Dorothy Parker read for me and still undecided. Written well with a definite edge to it, but this short story seemed a little... Trite.
'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, 3 Stars: What an odd little story. Feels like it is supposed to be a dig at country ways, at traditions maybe, at the odd little ways of people, but a strange story no doubt. Written well and the suspense was created quite magnificently, but like all short stories the ending was unexplained and unnecessary, which is the main reason short stories infuriate me so.
'The Life You Save May Be Your Own' by Flannery O'connor, 1 Star: There comes a point in a short story collection when you despise one of them so fervently you feel you shouldn't pick up the collection again. This was that such one.
Written well, but nothing else. Rather pointless in my personal opinion, too American for me and dull, bland, awful.
'The Blush' by Elizabeth Taylor, 3 Stars: Reminiscent of Mollie Panter-Downes' War Time Short Stories, that middle class wonder and view of life. Written nicely with the ridiculous interwoven neatly. A possibly 4-stars but I hesitated in giving it, I think because it wasn't quite as good as Mollie.
'The Sound of the River' by Jean Rhys, 2 Stars: Like the rest, written really well just not particularly captivating. My first piece of Rhys. Perhaps the subject matter of the collection was not the best choice.
'A Visit' by Anna Kavan, 2 Stars: I feel bad for saying it, but this was quite bland. The story itself-like most of these stories-was inconsequential and it is more the poetry of the words that seem important. And, of course, that ever present metaphor that short stories seem to be solely built upon. Sadly, there was no poetry, only a bland kind of moping.
'Obsessional' by Anna Kavan, 1 Star: As well written as it might be, I don't particularly care to read the inner monologues of women detestably infatuated with men. I would read Romance novels if that were the case.
'The First Year of My Life' by Muriel Spark, 1 Star: An enjoyable idea, just not particularly well-done. As per, trying to say things it doesn't say and, honestly, the humour was forced beyond being any good.
'Indignities' by Ellen Gilchrist, 1 Star: Written well, again, but just so boring.
'The Pill-Box' by Penelope Lively, 5 Stars: Wonderfully written, superbly paced, enough mystery to last and no metaphors in sight. I was compelled from the beginning I think by the writing, perhaps by the subject matter. Almost philosophical in tone, yet that kind of writing that makes you think but doesn't force you to. Perhaps also just set in my kind of place and in my mind of time, as well.
'Miles City, Montana' by Alice Munro, 1 Star: Forgot to review this directly after reading it and, wouldn't you know, I can't remember a single thing about it. Hence the rating.
'Fragility' by Carol Shields, 2 Stars: It does seem a little cruel to give only 2 stars to a story about the loss of a child, but then it is fiction and it was unutterably boring.
'The Merry Widow' by Margaret Drabble, 3 Stars: Written really nicely and kept me very interested for quite some time, though I expected a much better punch line considering how long the story was. It began in earnest but ended in quite dreary company.
'The I of It' by A. M. Homes, 1 Star: Seemed to be obvious and mysterious all at the same time. Nothing particularly wrong with this story, just felt like a pointless one.
'The First Time' by Marina Warner, 1 Star: Collections of Short Stories are a good way to hide away little pointless ones like this one. As before, it is written well but I just didn't enjoy it nor felt like it gave me anything.
'Inside Information' by Nicola Barker, 5 Stars: I honestly found this short story to be nothing short of sublime. It had the right amount of wit and humour, of perception and dignity, and lashings of superb magical realism. Written well and actually quite very short, but a really good read.
'Desideratus' by Penelope Fitzgerald, 2 Stars: Not particularly bad, just tried to evoke the spirit of 19th Century stories but didn't quite make it. Full of the metaphoric, as well. Dull.
'Agnes of Iowa' by Lorrie Moore, 1 Star: I had a break reading this half way through for Christmas and couldn't really remember it when I got back to it. Says everything about it, I suppose. Just one of those contemporary stories, y'know.
'Curved is the Line of Beauty' by Hilary Mantel, 2 Stars: The first piece of writing by Hilary Mantel I have ever read, and I'm definitely looking forward to more, though of course of the longer variety. I can taste the wonder of her prose here, but sadly my dislike of contemporary short stories stops me from enjoying it any further.
'Father, Father' by Susan Hill, 3 Stars: Another first from an author whom I hope to read more of in the near future (and longer things from), and another enjoyable read (inasmuch as you can enjoy a tale of loss, bereavement and focused change like this). However, it is becoming clear-as I rediscover my old idea-that short stories are redundant. I think the main problem is closure, though this needs to be explored in the longer, main review of this collection.
'Renaissance' by Colette Paul, 4 Stars: Reviewing stories confuses me beyond anything else, because really this story is no different to any of the others and when I think of it a little more, it is in its simplicity boring. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and I don't know why. So there.
'After A Life' by Yiyun Li, 2 Stars: A good read, written well and had nice pace, but at its heart boring.
'Sorry?' by Helen Simpson, 1 Star: The idea is a very intriguing one, but not necessarily unique. All of these stories are written well, but sadly this one is boring. With a hint of the mysterious metaphoooooorrrr.
'Up At a Villa' by Helen Simpson, 1 Star: A humorous, very short short story that is trying to say a million things all at once. Fair enough, but boring.
'Plunder' by Edna O'Brien, 1 Star: Yeah. But boring.
'Aunt Telephone' by Edith Pearlman, 1 Star: Like the others. Written well but boring.
'Varitas' by Emma Donaghue, 1 Star: Whilst the plot intrigued me at first, the culmination and writing style did not deliver. Also, boring.
'Gravel' by Alice Munro, 2 Stars: Finding it difficult to rate these, but I did find myself enjoying the ending to this one a little more than the others, hence the extra star. It had a decent attempt at some kind of closure, which I appreciate.
'The Eye' by Alice Munro, 1 Star: No.
'Before He Left the Family' by Carrie Tiffany, 1 Star: No.
'Diving Belles' by Lucy Wood, 2 Stars: Toyed between 2 and 3 stars for this, because I enjoyed the imagination and the writing was nice for a first published piece, but the metaphor and mystery that it ends with made me go for the former.
May 16, 2019
This is an entertaining, diverse and well put together collection of short stories written by female authors, such as Margaret Atwood, Angela Carter, Nadine Gordimer , Alison Lurie, Doris Lessing, Jeanette Winterson, Rachel Seiffert and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to name just a few. Of course with such an extensive selection of stories (34 in total), some stand out more than others but that's a minor point because along the way I discovered new authors I would now like to read more of!
February 22, 2017
I have always been an avid reader of women's writing. It started when I was a teenager but I became even more interested in female authors when I studied Literature in university and went on do my Masters in Comparative Literature, focusing on African-American women's writing (and Magical Realism) for my thesis. Since its inception in 2014, #readwomen (started by Joanna Walsh) has both celebrated the achievements of established female writers and drawn attention to writers who should be more well-known in the world of literature. It has also been used as a means of discussing women's writing.
At the moment, I am focusing on reviewing books by female writers (as always) but am also trawling back through my previous reads and reviewing other books that may be of interest to someone. Of course, I am not strictly reading only women's writing, but it will be my primary focus. (If you love women's writing too then please be sure to give me a follow or comment on my reviews - I'd love to hear your opinions!).
The Story: Love, Loss and the Lives of Women is a great place for anyone to start. Victoria Hislop's collection of 100 of her favourite short stories by other women reads like a bible of women's writing. Everyone is in here: Doris Lessing, Flannery O'Connor, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Margaret Atwood, Angela Carter, Virginia Woolf, Jennifer Egan, A.M. Homes, Alice Munro, Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Walker...the list goes on!
It would be virtually impossible to review every story in this book, so I'm not even going to try (but my favourites came from Alice Walker, Angela Carter, A.M. Homes, Elizabeth Taylor, Flannery O'Connor and Virgina Woolf, to name but a few!) Overall, I found this to be a beautifully put-together collection, highlighting some of the very best writing of the past 200 years. It includes wonderful stories with topics that include love, loss, memory, death, politics, identity, race and sex.
This is a book that you can easily dip in and out of, either taking one theme in its entirety (love, for example) or just reading a story by an author when you encounter her for the first or five hundredth time. I constantly find myself coming back to it. It is a deep treasure chest of writing by women and a stunning tribute to the art of the short story. I love it (and it looks very pretty on my bookshelf - always a plus!).
At the moment, I am focusing on reviewing books by female writers (as always) but am also trawling back through my previous reads and reviewing other books that may be of interest to someone. Of course, I am not strictly reading only women's writing, but it will be my primary focus. (If you love women's writing too then please be sure to give me a follow or comment on my reviews - I'd love to hear your opinions!).
The Story: Love, Loss and the Lives of Women is a great place for anyone to start. Victoria Hislop's collection of 100 of her favourite short stories by other women reads like a bible of women's writing. Everyone is in here: Doris Lessing, Flannery O'Connor, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Margaret Atwood, Angela Carter, Virginia Woolf, Jennifer Egan, A.M. Homes, Alice Munro, Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Walker...the list goes on!
It would be virtually impossible to review every story in this book, so I'm not even going to try (but my favourites came from Alice Walker, Angela Carter, A.M. Homes, Elizabeth Taylor, Flannery O'Connor and Virgina Woolf, to name but a few!) Overall, I found this to be a beautifully put-together collection, highlighting some of the very best writing of the past 200 years. It includes wonderful stories with topics that include love, loss, memory, death, politics, identity, race and sex.
This is a book that you can easily dip in and out of, either taking one theme in its entirety (love, for example) or just reading a story by an author when you encounter her for the first or five hundredth time. I constantly find myself coming back to it. It is a deep treasure chest of writing by women and a stunning tribute to the art of the short story. I love it (and it looks very pretty on my bookshelf - always a plus!).
January 25, 2018
1. A Married Man's Story - Katherine Mansfield 3⭐️
2. A Telephone Call - Dorothy Parker 4⭐️
3. A Man and Two Women - Doris Lessing 4⭐️
4. How I Finally Lost My Heart - Doris Lessing 4⭐️
5. Faithful Lovers - Margaret Drabble 4⭐️
6. Master - Angela Carter 5⭐️
7. The Man From Mars - Margret Atwood 5⭐️
8. The Bloody Chamber - Angela Carter 5⭐️
9. 1944 - Ellen Gilchrist 2⭐️
10. The Lover - Alice Walker 3⭐️
11. Rue de Lille - Mavis Gallant 3 ⭐️
12. Words - Carol Shields 3⭐️
13. Revenge -Anne Enright 4⭐️
14. The Choirmaster - Elspeth Davie 2⭐️
15. Ilse's House - Alison Lurie 4⭐️
16. In The Shadow - Alison Lurie 4⭐️
17. The Watch Trick - Jennifer Egan 5 ⭐️
18. Atlantic Crossing - Jeanette Winterson 4⭐️
19. My Son the Hero - Clare Boylan 5⭐️
20. The Artist - Maggie Gee 4⭐️
21. Kenny -Colette Paul 3⭐️
22. Reach - Rachel Seiffert 4⭐️
23. Field Study - Rachel Seiffert 3⭐️
24. Love in the Marketplace - Yiyun Li 3⭐️
25. Mother Tongue - Nadine Gordimer 2⭐️
26. The Shared Patio - Miranda July 4⭐️
27. The Thing Around Your Neck - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 5⭐️
28. The Redemption of Galen Pike - Carys Davies 5⭐️
29. The Heart of Denis Noble 3⭐️
30. The Lost Seed - Emma Donoghue 2⭐️
31. The Turtle 4⭐️
32.
33. The Gift 4⭐️
34. Millie and Bird 3⭐️
2. A Telephone Call - Dorothy Parker 4⭐️
3. A Man and Two Women - Doris Lessing 4⭐️
4. How I Finally Lost My Heart - Doris Lessing 4⭐️
5. Faithful Lovers - Margaret Drabble 4⭐️
6. Master - Angela Carter 5⭐️
7. The Man From Mars - Margret Atwood 5⭐️
8. The Bloody Chamber - Angela Carter 5⭐️
9. 1944 - Ellen Gilchrist 2⭐️
10. The Lover - Alice Walker 3⭐️
11. Rue de Lille - Mavis Gallant 3 ⭐️
12. Words - Carol Shields 3⭐️
13. Revenge -Anne Enright 4⭐️
14. The Choirmaster - Elspeth Davie 2⭐️
15. Ilse's House - Alison Lurie 4⭐️
16. In The Shadow - Alison Lurie 4⭐️
17. The Watch Trick - Jennifer Egan 5 ⭐️
18. Atlantic Crossing - Jeanette Winterson 4⭐️
19. My Son the Hero - Clare Boylan 5⭐️
20. The Artist - Maggie Gee 4⭐️
21. Kenny -Colette Paul 3⭐️
22. Reach - Rachel Seiffert 4⭐️
23. Field Study - Rachel Seiffert 3⭐️
24. Love in the Marketplace - Yiyun Li 3⭐️
25. Mother Tongue - Nadine Gordimer 2⭐️
26. The Shared Patio - Miranda July 4⭐️
27. The Thing Around Your Neck - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 5⭐️
28. The Redemption of Galen Pike - Carys Davies 5⭐️
29. The Heart of Denis Noble 3⭐️
30. The Lost Seed - Emma Donoghue 2⭐️
31. The Turtle 4⭐️
32.
33. The Gift 4⭐️
34. Millie and Bird 3⭐️
August 30, 2022
Wonderful collection of old and contemporary writers at the top of their game
March 29, 2018
This is a marvellous selection of short stories selected by the novelist and short story writer Victoria Hislop. The selection on the theme of loss includes such masters of the gender as Alice Munro and Elizabeth Bowen, as well as newer works by Lucy Wood and Helen Simpson and old favourites such as Penelope Lively, Muriel Spark, Susan Hill and Penelope Fitzgerald. A genuine joy to read
June 9, 2019
I enjoyed some of them a lot more than others so I'm defaulting to 3 stars. It's a good book to have on a Kindle
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December 29, 2019I didn’t rate this because it’s a collection of many stories, some I liked, some I did not! But worth reading if you’re a fan of short stories as there are some gems in there.
June 30, 2022
Finished in so far as I've read 22 stories and I'm unlikely to read any more. I enjoyed more than I didn't enjoy (16 👍 6👎) with some stories connecting well, but when they were bad they were bloody awful; one being the first story in the book - I'd skip it. Margaret Atwood & Virginia Woolf put in strong showings but the best story I read was 'the canary'.
August 11, 2018
The collection, just like its title ‘Life’, is only half interesting. Alice Munro’s “Mischief” was among the best of the dozen stories that I liked.
January 29, 2014
A century-spanning collection of evocative short stories by women. Alternately moving and amusing, and never less than illuminating, but the focus on writers from Britain and North America render it valuable rather than than essential. Given its size, it's the kind of book the Kindle was invented for.
February 19, 2017
Hardly a decent story in there!
November 26, 2018
Ok, and a book I tended to pick up and read a story at a time. I am not over keen on short stories normally but the books makes for easy reading so useful when time is limited for whatever reason.
February 12, 2025
Some are excellent; some are awful. Most of them are fine though and an enjoyable way to pass 20 - 30 minutes reading one or two each day.
April 28, 2019
As with any collection with so many different authors contributing to it, there were some stories I really liked, and others that I had to force myself to get through. There are stories in here which, in isolation, deserve five stars. The more I read Angela Carter the more I like her, and while I've read The Bloody Chamber before, Master was new to me and exciting. Words, by Carold Shields was brilliant. The others I particularly enjoyed: Ilse's House & In the Shadow by Alison Lurie (I shall have to read more by her), The First Year of my Life by Murial Spark, Fragility by Carol Shields, Aunt Telephone by Edith Pearlman, and several others scattered throughout the book. There were others which, though not quite as captivating were still interesting reads. I just struggled to enjoy the collection as a whole, because between the great stories there were some I could have done without reading. There is a certain tone that a lot of the kind of stories that know they'll be read as 'Literature' adopt, and I find it extremely depressing. I can only tolerate that deliberately weighty tone for so long. Of the stories in the books, most of the ones I've highlighted as favourites were the ones that took themselves the least seriously and, consequently, were more engaging, more poetic and just generally easier to spend time on. The ones I've enjoyed that did display this kind of literaryness were forgiven because the thinking behind them made the depressing prose worth it. This doesn't mean I don'd like dark or depressing stories (I have lived many a miserable piece of work), I just can't take much of the sort of cold dissecting tone some Literature adopts (the kind of thing favourable reviews might call 'well-observed', and often feels clinical and cynical to me). I can't give the collection a higher rating because I felt there was too much in here of the kind of writing that is consciously trying to be Good Literature, and not trying hard enough just to be a good story.
May 9, 2020
There's a lovely solidity to this collection. The stories are all vibrantly alive. They exude a reality that seems to be a little more substantial than most of the days I seem to ride my way through. Or is it just me? Hmm - perhaps it's just my life that pales in comparison to these chunks of living, breathing love.
But then again, perhaps it's just that these tales are passages snipped from lives just as ordinary as mine. I mean, it's not as if every day can (or even should) contain a peak experience. A life lived at the pace of a juggernaut over every single moment can be just as wearying as a life lived at a crawl.
Not that my life is always in the slow lane, you understand. It's just not lived at the same, consistent pace of excitement as portrayed in these stories.
Anyway, I trust you understand.
This volume says on the cover that it is about Love, but it's not all mushy-mushy, swooning-in-the-arms-of-the-one-you-cherish stuff. All aspects of love are represented in this collection. We are treated not just to romantic love, but the love of children, life, birds, mothers, piano-players and, well, pretty much anything you can think of really. And it's good because that's what life is like. It's full of all kinds of opportunities to love.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if we can learn to love that which is banging on the floor of the room above the ceiling of the place where we live then we'll pretty much be okay.
So, yeah - read this book if you like your literature stew to be richly redolent with all the vegetables, herbs and spices of a life lived well. And by the same token - avoid it if you're happy with boiled bones.
But then again, perhaps it's just that these tales are passages snipped from lives just as ordinary as mine. I mean, it's not as if every day can (or even should) contain a peak experience. A life lived at the pace of a juggernaut over every single moment can be just as wearying as a life lived at a crawl.
Not that my life is always in the slow lane, you understand. It's just not lived at the same, consistent pace of excitement as portrayed in these stories.
Anyway, I trust you understand.
This volume says on the cover that it is about Love, but it's not all mushy-mushy, swooning-in-the-arms-of-the-one-you-cherish stuff. All aspects of love are represented in this collection. We are treated not just to romantic love, but the love of children, life, birds, mothers, piano-players and, well, pretty much anything you can think of really. And it's good because that's what life is like. It's full of all kinds of opportunities to love.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if we can learn to love that which is banging on the floor of the room above the ceiling of the place where we live then we'll pretty much be okay.
So, yeah - read this book if you like your literature stew to be richly redolent with all the vegetables, herbs and spices of a life lived well. And by the same token - avoid it if you're happy with boiled bones.
October 19, 2018
For lovers of short stories written by women, there could hardly be a better collection than this. It's a panoply of famous names including such greats as Doris Lessing, Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, Margaret Drabble, Alison Lurie and many more. Not every story will appeal to every reader but that's to be expected in a collection of 100 diverse voices and styles. Those that stood out for me were both stories by Doris Lessing, Margaret Atwood's "The Man from Mars" and Alison Lurie's "In the Shadow". An ideal book to read if you're an aspiring short story writer and want to see how the very best do it.
December 12, 2018
It's hard to review a collection such as this, as there are so many short stories that I am bound to like some and not be interested in others. I will say that some stories did not seem to be connected to the anthology's themes (i.e. the love, loss or lives of women), and I also found the type of womanhood explored fairly limited (an example comes to mind is that this is a very heterosexual anthology!). It's definitely given me some authors to explore further and there were certainly some very powerful stories contained within.
October 18, 2020
This is actually just the first of 3 books (Life, Loss and Love, compilations). Some are authors Were unfamiliar, a few I knew but not their short stories. These would make great discussions as there were some tales that puzzled me, a few that were way above my intellect but a few were superb and they are the gems that encourage our minds to want to extend our reading. I will definitely be reading the Loss and Live is editions but my next read as to be Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens!
March 13, 2021
With such a vast array of female authors, there is no doubt that there will be something in this short story collection to enjoy. There was a great variety in length and subjects which meant that although there were some stories I was less interested in, there were others which grabbed my attention much more.
The insights into the complexities of life that could be found in each of the stories were engaging and well written. The characters all felt so real and well written within just a few short pages, and some of the twists were really affecting.
The insights into the complexities of life that could be found in each of the stories were engaging and well written. The characters all felt so real and well written within just a few short pages, and some of the twists were really affecting.
February 1, 2018
Fantastic book. Some great short stories by some wonderful authors. Real change of pace and change of stories from one to the next. Only downside was the really sad story at the end. I really enjoyed this book and took it on holiday. Did not get bored and loved it! If it was a drink it'd be a decadent hot chocolate made with real chocolate and cinnamon. A book to really dive into and enjoy, ideally in a big snuggly sofa
March 23, 2022
As much of a pick and mix as all collections - but it was a bit too repetitive on the front of middle class, middle aged affairs, and disabled children written as burdens rather than characters in themselves. However, the stories that broke the mould are excellent (particularly the ones about the baby rebelling against it's mother, the ghost in the department store, and the horrific worm creature) and there are still some high quality pieces even in the more "samey" mould.
August 27, 2017
This is a book of short stories by female authors all on the subject of some type of loss. As this is the case it makes for a difficult read as all the stories, no matter how wonderfully written, are downbeat. I'd say it's worth reading, but don't read too many stories at one time as if you do it will definitely make you sad and less likely to properly appreciate some of the jewels within.
March 16, 2018
Some I loved, some I only enjoyed, some I couldn’t be bothered to read. My main criticism is that not all stories were about women, which makes me wonder why they were placed in a collection under this title. It was great to have so many short stories together though—meant I could stay with one book for ages without getting tired.
June 11, 2018
It’s definitely better than the last collection but still not great.... it’s still pretentious and just odd this nook has more love than the other did it’s bizarre. Also the only decent authors are murial spark and Hilary mantel and probably liu yun? I think ? But seriously the authors.... well never heated of them till now and quite frankly I am perfectly happy with forgetting them
August 19, 2018
Like the first collection - Life - I found this much of a much ness. I think there were a handful of short stories I found outstanding but otherwise it was telling what was left out rather than put in. It is such a wide title and the range on offer is vast so hats off for the variety VH managed to fit in. But I have to say I was disappointed but what a job!!!!
Toast
Toast
July 9, 2023
I expected more from this book. I only read a few stories, but none of them caught my attention and they bored me already after the first page. The stories on love were mostly about failed love, contempt for each other, aloof and unavailable partners.. overall quite lovely and depressing. I’m sure some of the stories might be great, but I gave up on it before I found a great one.
July 1, 2017
A book of short stories by well-known female authors from the early 20th century to the present. I had read a few of them before but most were new. There was something to like in all of them and some of them I completely loved. A wonderful selection to dip into or to read from beginning to end.
May 27, 2018
Short stories that are all written by women and represent some of the finest modern writers in the English language. From Virginia Wolf to Alice Munro, there's at least one story that really hits close to home.
March 29, 2020
This is an excellent range of short stories and all are worth a read. There are some I preferred over others, of course, but I have also found one or two new authors to look into from this. Recommended.
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