Selected Readings from the Portable Dorothy Parker

by Dorothy Parker, Marion Meade (Editor), Lorna Raver (Narrator)

🎧Listening Length = 13 hrs and 23 mins

When it comes to expressing the pleasure and pain of being just a touch too smart to be happy, Dorothy Parker is still the champion, after all these years. Along with Robert Benchley, Alexander Woollcott, and the rest of the Algonquin Round Table, she dominated American popular literature in the 1920s and 1930s. This collection of more than thirty short stories and poems is essential for any Parker fan and an excellent way for new readers to make the acquaintance of one of the twentieth century's most quotable authors, whose memorable lines "She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B," "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force," and "Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses."

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Poetry, Classics, Audiobook, Humor, Americana

200 pages, Audio CD

First published June 1, 1976

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Dorothy Parker was an American writer, poet and critic best known for her caustic wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles. From a conflicted and unhappy childhood, Parker rose to acclaim, both for her literary output in such venues as The New Yorker and as a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table. Following the breakup of the circle, Parker traveled to Hollywood to pursue screenwriting. Her successes there, including two Academy Award nominations, were curtailed as her involvement in left-wing politics led to a place on the Hollywood blacklist.
Dismissive of her own talents, she deplored her reputation as a "wisecracker." Nevertheless, her literary output and reputation for her sharp wit have endured.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Dorothy Parker. I admire Dorothy Parker. I've memorized Dorothy Parker. But this CD of readings from her work was a disappointment. Perhaps it would have been better with multiple voices as the reader's voice got VERY monotonous. And she sounded old, which works in some stories and not in others. Maybe someday someone will record Parker's stories and poems the way they should be. And I will be able to listen to them the way they should be listened to: with a martini in one hand and a handsome (younger) man holding my other hand. Hah!

[#DÏ4B7Ø Chinnamasta-Bhairav · Rating 1 out of 5]

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To SEE a WORLD in a Grain of Sand,
And a HEAVEN in a Wild Flower,
Hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand
And ETERNITY in an Hour"
~ William Blake ~

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“Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows.” Nisargadatta Maharaj

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Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is form.
Form is not different than Emptiness;
Emptiness is not different than form
~ Heart Sutra ~

Like the ocean and its waves,
inseparable yet distinct

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" I and The Father are one,
I am The Truth,
The Life and The Path.”

Like a river flowing from its source,
connected and continuous

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Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine
Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me,
and rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word
enrich the affections of all mankind

A mighty oak tree standing firm against the storm,
As sunlight scatters the shadows of night
A river nourishing the land it flows through

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[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorothy Parker is a mess and a bad ass. So far, read the Big Blonde. As a literary work, it has pizazz. As a tale, it is depressive. I like the inherent conflict. Also, the poetry which seem more like poems. Many of which could be sung while jump roping. I am entertaining the idea of teaching young girls (do any of them still jump rope) to recite this one while jumping. Observation - If I don't drive around the park, I'm pretty sure to make my mark; If I'm in bed each night by ten, I may get back my looks again; If I abstain from fun and such, I'll probably amount to much; But I shall stay the way I am, Because I do not give a damn.

Part Two: Been browsing through the short stories and poems. She was quite a wit, our Dot. Her stories are ironic. Her characters suffer from the human condition and are in serious denial. Her poetry is self-depricating, occasionally whimsical, and above all undeniably funny in that "isn't it such a shame" kind of way. She is a classic in the timeless fashion of many others writers of her time like Fitzgerald and Hemingway.

Final Summation: Definitely portable. Take it on vacation, set it near the toilet, read stories and poems when you need to giggle. You still cannot overlook the tragedy of Parker's alcoholic blur of a life, it seeps through every open page. The irony is also thick as everyone of her characters proves to be exactly what they profess to despise. Definitely autobiographical. Still, I love Dorothy Parker (beyond the self-loathing) and could only hope I have the chutzpah she had in her pinky finger.

[Paloma Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first discovered Dorothy Parker after listening to a few of her stories read on the podcast "Selected Shorts". After listening to this book I can proudly say that she has become one of my favorite short story authors of all time. Her stories are incredibly crisp, poignant, and timeless. Listening to them gave me a whole new appreciation for the short story genre. Who needs to write a novel when you can charm your reader in just a few pages?

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy oh boy this audio book was fun (except for the poetry). The short stories were entertaining and reflected the times in which they were written. Such a talented woman, Mrs. Parker. Didn't care for the poetry so just skipped over it. Not a fan of poetry in general - not disparaging Mrs. Parker's talent in that regard.

We could use her powers of observation today - she and Jon Stewart would make a good pair.

DD@Phila

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

After listening to this cd, it's easy to see why Dorothy Parker is considered one of the wittiest writers in American literature. However I also discovered that behind Parker's famous reputation is a biting commentary on social issues such racism, the ignorance the upper class, and the lack of empathy for others. On the surface her stories are humorous, but looking deeper, there is despair, neglect, and utter sadness. Dorothy Parker deserves more attention and credit than most give her.

[Amber Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always heard about Dorothy Parker's wit. I've seen some of her more noteworthy quotes and been amused, so I figured her writing would be enjoyable.

However, that was not the case for me. I found her writing flat-out boring. Crankiness isn't always cleverness, and we shouldn't conflate the two.

Edit: I'm seeing a few other readers being put off by the narrator of the book. Maybe that was part of my boredom?

[Care · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed reading and then immediately listening to the poetry on audio. Then I listened to a few of the short stories again; awesome. Dorothy REALLY does write snarky sarcastic scarily-sharp commentary on vapid socialites - yowza!

[Jquick99 · Rating 1 out of 5]

He said. She said. He said. She said. He said. She said. He said. She said.

Ugh. I can follow a conversation, I don’t need to constantly be told who’s talking. I guess in book form one can easily bypass this, but in audio...it’s annoying.

[Bcoghill Coghill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read four short stories but I guess I am not a short stories person.

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

While Marion Meade's biography of Dorothy Parker was thoroughly interesting, Parker's short stories seem stilted and dated.

[James Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading (or in this case, listening to) The Portable Dorothy Parker, and it wasn’t quite what I expected—in the best way. I had always associated Parker with biting one-liners and clever poems about love gone sour, but what I found here was something deeper, darker, and far more layered.

Yes, the famous poems are all present and sharp as ever. “Résumé,” for example, somehow manages to be grim, funny, and unsettling all at once. Her verse captures emotional exhaustion with a lilt, and even when the poems are slight, they’re undeniably memorable. But it was the short stories that really caught me off guard.

Big Blonde is the standout for me—a quietly devastating portrait of a woman drowning in societal expectations and her own sense of inertia. Parker never moralizes, never preaches. She just holds up a mirror, and it’s often uncomfortable to look into. Stories like Arrangement in Black and White and The Custard Heart dig into class, race, and hypocrisy with a lightness of touch that makes their commentary all the more cutting.

There’s a sense throughout these works that Parker knew the performance required of women all too well: the polite smiles, the romantic deference, the internal war between what’s expected and what’s felt. And while some of the stories are very much of their time—The Telephone Call or Here We Are, for example—the emotions underneath still resonate.

What I appreciated most was Parker’s refusal to give readers easy conclusions. Her characters aren’t redeemed or condemned—they just are. Messy, anxious, performative, and human.

The Penguin Deluxe Edition (with additional writings curated by her biographer Marion Meade) offers even more depth through later stories and correspondence, but even the original 1944 core of this collection is impressive in its range and tone. I was particularly moved by how the collection begins and ends with pieces related to wartime, especially War Song, which lingers quietly in the mind long after it ends.

While not every piece felt essential, the overall experience was unexpectedly rich. Parker’s work has bite, but it also has soul. This wasn’t just clever writing—it was revealing, and often raw beneath the polish.

I’ll definitely be seeking out more of her lesser-known work—and perhaps that 1968 Esquire article Dorothy Parker, Not What You Expected, which feels like an apt title for the experience of reading her for the first time.

[Lorna McGlynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

She was a woman ahead of her time for sure, but I found many of her stories just didn't have the impact they could have. My guess is she was edited/censored a lot. She was a trailblazer nonetheless. Worth a read if just from a historical perspective on what life was like for women at the start of the 20th century (IE, we've come a long way, baby!).

[Melissa Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I have a daughter someday, I am getting her a copy of this compilation.

[Kyndra Lemke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these stories were stressful. Had a Flannery O’Conner feel just not as violent. Some of them were fun and light. Worth the read.

"Why, he scarcely knows my name, let alone what it stands for. It stands for despair, bewilderment, futility, degradation, and premeditated murder." - Mr. Durant

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Portable Dorothy Parker is a great collection of her work. The book is made up of various short stories and poems as well as a few articles. The overall tone was snarky and poignant. I really loved The Big Blonde - I think that was the most touching story in the bunch, interesting that it is based off her own experience. Miss Parker is able to look at the women of her time and show them in a sarcastic way that they probably didn't see themselves. The poetry is admittedly of a style our time hasn't really been taught to appreciate. Also the poems were mostly about how death would be, so not something everyone can relate to but an interesting window into that way of thinking. As this is a short story and poem collection, you can just keep listening through anything you don't love and something new will come up soon. It's worth the read for sure. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a tough one to review. I am not a fan of poetry. So to review a book that is realistically half poetry is a little unfair. The short stories are a mixed bag for me. The story titled “The Little Hours” is one of the best short stories I’ve ever read. However, most others seem like discontented, sardonic, bitter drivel. The men come across as abusive, the women shallow and unnecessarily needy and emotional.

Dorothy Parker had talent, for sure. I’m just not sure it’s for me. I’m glad I read this.

Pingel Sisters Challenge #20: Book from the Rory Gilmore Challenge 223.

[Angelene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd never heard of Dorothy Parker until recently when I heard her referenced in a book and an unrelated TV show. It made me curious so I picked up this audio recording to see if I liked her work. For the most part, the answer is yes, but perhaps she's best taken in smaller doses. I enjoy her style of short story--mostly one-sided dialogue that somehow fully expresses the meaning without long exposition. Her poetry is sarcastically funny and somewhat catchy because of its rhymes. I'll probably revisit Parker's works again in written form.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Her short stories are funny, well-written, but also thought-provoking. Parker is a woman with a lot of sass and sarcasm, but also a difficult life. She tried to kill herself three times.

I thought I'd get tired of her stories, and she did have one type of a monologue that was actually a conversation that started to wear, but everything else was wonderful. All the plots were new, the characters deep and interesting,and her way of expressing herself made even the most doubtful subjects fun. Like Wodehouse with depth.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with person that said the reader's voice gets monotonous. I'll go one further and say that after a while it gets downright irritating. They really should have gotten different people to voice the characters. What's more since Parker's strength is in her turns of phrase and arrangement of words, I don't think the audio book does her stories justice. You really have to watch the words unfold for yourself. It's the difference between eating a meal and having someone describe it to you.

[Barbara]

This one's going to take me a long time. I'm finding the narrator's voice on the CD incredibly annoying I think I will have to go to my unabridged book to really enjoy Parker's cleverness.

I've given up on listening to this. I'll read it in my retirement or after I'm done with some of the CLCSC stuff.

[Katherine Doll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorothy Parker, what a gal! I'm sure she won't mind being called 'a gal'.

Such witty and charming stories. A direct view into the parlors and kitchens of 1920's & 30's Manhattan. We follow mundane discussions and arguments within a marriage, and internal monologues about 'why won't he call?', bitchy thoughts between women having tea together.

Loved it!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved some of these, but ground to a halt in the poetry section. Maybe I'll give it another go, but I had to return it to the library and have not felt moved in the year since to re-borrow it.

The one centered around race relations was particularly trenchant. And while the details were outdated, the attitudes are still pretty much with us in a slightly updated form.

[Karen Huang · Rating 2 out of 5]

the standard of living

[Emilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't read all the stories but the ones I did were amazing and so deliciously sardonic. I am now a fan of Dorothy Parker and her little sketches of our human glitches.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition with the jacket design by Seth.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have enjoyed this more in print rather than audio. Still, it is D.P.

[Lauree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the short stories. Some of the poetry was delightful, too. But I had more trouble paying attention to most of the poetry. It's just not my cup of tea.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audio version was a bit much. Don't hold it against Dorothy Parker, though.

[Nicholle · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did it take me this long to discover Dorothy Parker? She's brilliant. These pieces could have been written yesterday - still so applicable and true.