Wonderful Girl

Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction

by Aimee LaBrie

This extraordinary first collection of short stories covers the landscape of dysfunctional childhood, urban angst, and human disconnection with a wit and insight that keep you riveted to the page. The characters here have rich and imaginative interior lives, but grave difficulty relating to the outside world. The beginning story, “Ducklings,” introduces the over-weight and over-enthusiastic Marjorie, the last twelve-year-old you would want babysitting your toddler. In “Wanted” we meet Eleanor, a single girl living in Chicago who may or may not be dating a serial killer. “Another Cancer Story” is an unsentimental account of two sisters whose beloved mother just won't seem to die, and “The Last Dead Boyfriend” gives us a recovering addict who keeps encountering her recently deceased boyfriend, an unpleasant man she wished she'd broken up with before he died.

Always funny, often dark, and wholly satisfying, these stories explore the longing for connection among characters who are frequently stricken with anxiety. Each story is rendered in a way that is surreal, vivid, and entirely convincing.

Genres: Short Stories

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2007

Reviews

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of short stories about disaffected, neurotic, though oddly engaging female characters. Some of the stories are heartbreaking. The writing is vivid, witty, and engaging. I read all of the stories in one sitting, which I wouldn't necessarily recommend...they require a little chewing over.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be biased as this was written by a friend, but it's funny, endearing and witty. The characters and their situations are at the same time both incredibly laughable and cry-able.

[Alexis N · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strange collection of very well written short stories. I would be interested in reading full versions of at least 4 of the stories.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, disturbing, thoughtful, heartbreaking.

[behsforensics]

Look at Another Cancer Story
LaBrie, Aimee