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A Blind Corner
From the award-winning author of Mrs. and The Fundamentals of Play comes a brilliant and biting short story collection about pride, privilege, and our nagging need to belong.
In an era of “hot takes” and easy generalizations, this collection reclaims the absurdities and paradoxes of life as it is actually lived from the American fantasy of “niceness”. In Macy’s world, human desires and fatal blind spots slam headlong into convenient, social-media-driven narratives that would sort us into neat boxes of insider or outsider; good or bad; with us or against us.
Time and again, whether at home or in the age-old role of Americans abroad, Macy’s women see their good intentions turn awry. A woman who tries to do a good deed for an underprivileged child sees it go horribly wrong. A wife, attempting to be a good host to a friend’s strange ex-boyfriend, finds herself in a compromised situation. And, in the title story, a newlywed fancies herself a Euro-sophisticate until an accident reminds her just how truly foreign she really is.
In tales where shocking and sometimes brutal events disabuse characters of their most cherished beliefs, Macy forgoes easy moralization in favor of uncomfortable truths that reveal the complexity of what it means to be human.
In an era of “hot takes” and easy generalizations, this collection reclaims the absurdities and paradoxes of life as it is actually lived from the American fantasy of “niceness”. In Macy’s world, human desires and fatal blind spots slam headlong into convenient, social-media-driven narratives that would sort us into neat boxes of insider or outsider; good or bad; with us or against us.
Time and again, whether at home or in the age-old role of Americans abroad, Macy’s women see their good intentions turn awry. A woman who tries to do a good deed for an underprivileged child sees it go horribly wrong. A wife, attempting to be a good host to a friend’s strange ex-boyfriend, finds herself in a compromised situation. And, in the title story, a newlywed fancies herself a Euro-sophisticate until an accident reminds her just how truly foreign she really is.
In tales where shocking and sometimes brutal events disabuse characters of their most cherished beliefs, Macy forgoes easy moralization in favor of uncomfortable truths that reveal the complexity of what it means to be human.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 21, 2022
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June 23, 2022
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭- 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
The characters populating these stories are outsiders, even if they are a teenage girl gifted with intelligence on the cusp of a bright future or a mother who travels to Acapulco with her small children sans her elite friend, who cancels plans a week before their trip. Everyone is attempting to become something separate from themselves. In Nude House, Susanna, bright and biddable all her life, takes up with trouble when she starts fooling around with Andy, the town screwup. Maybe she just wanted a story to carry her through her days, but his problems are beyond his control. Blind Corner, tourists Alison and Tim Spalding are under Tuscany’s spell, imagining a life where their future children can thrive, in Italy. It isn’t long before Alison’s moral character is in direct conflict with the locals’ ways and then she has a little accident. Foreign places never seem to live up to the ideal, do they? Residents Only, a woman feels overwhelmed on a trip to Acapulco without her self-assured friend, Vero. She makes impulsive choices when leaving the safety of the condo she is staying at. Maybe it’s because she is at the end of her rope? She spends much of their vacation feeling inept, and naturally there are class issues between she and the maid.
The Taker, a woman wants to prove herself to be a good host, welcoming her friend’s ex-boyfriend Marcus, a stranger to she and her husband, for an eleven day stay. For once, she wants to be the accommodating sort, completely out of character to her true, private nature. Her husband and Marcus hit it off, like true bros, and suddenly she feels like the third wheel. How long will his welcome last? We Don’t Believe in That Crap: Two little girls, the “fresh start family” in their retired, older, military father’s second marriage get a taste of the way some people live with their mother’s visit to Ma Moore. Ma, the keeper of all sorts of strays, humans and animals, connected to their kind mother, Linda. When Linda asks Ma’s daughter, Tammy Moore, to babysit, the night goes awry. The Little Rats: Hannah isn’t sure why she accepted a meeting with the junior development officer of her old private school (she was on scholarship), Country Day. It takes her back to the “Hallmark Experience”, the trip to France, which her parents had secured (at the last minute) money for, and her fears of being matched with a ‘bottom of the barrel’ French girl. How much have times changed it the current politically current climate? It becomes a reminder of where she came from, despite her accomplishments.
The stories in this collection are clever, nothing explosive needs to happen. It is about class, entitlement, but not everyone is about being ‘one of us’. Characters are often well aware of how they appear to others, even if at times they are clueless to their snobbery. Women struggling with self-doubt, making rash decisions, so basically a lot like real life for many of us. It’s a genuine experience, sitting with their thoughts and weighing their actions. Yes, a good read.
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Little, Brown and Company
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭- 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
The characters populating these stories are outsiders, even if they are a teenage girl gifted with intelligence on the cusp of a bright future or a mother who travels to Acapulco with her small children sans her elite friend, who cancels plans a week before their trip. Everyone is attempting to become something separate from themselves. In Nude House, Susanna, bright and biddable all her life, takes up with trouble when she starts fooling around with Andy, the town screwup. Maybe she just wanted a story to carry her through her days, but his problems are beyond his control. Blind Corner, tourists Alison and Tim Spalding are under Tuscany’s spell, imagining a life where their future children can thrive, in Italy. It isn’t long before Alison’s moral character is in direct conflict with the locals’ ways and then she has a little accident. Foreign places never seem to live up to the ideal, do they? Residents Only, a woman feels overwhelmed on a trip to Acapulco without her self-assured friend, Vero. She makes impulsive choices when leaving the safety of the condo she is staying at. Maybe it’s because she is at the end of her rope? She spends much of their vacation feeling inept, and naturally there are class issues between she and the maid.
The Taker, a woman wants to prove herself to be a good host, welcoming her friend’s ex-boyfriend Marcus, a stranger to she and her husband, for an eleven day stay. For once, she wants to be the accommodating sort, completely out of character to her true, private nature. Her husband and Marcus hit it off, like true bros, and suddenly she feels like the third wheel. How long will his welcome last? We Don’t Believe in That Crap: Two little girls, the “fresh start family” in their retired, older, military father’s second marriage get a taste of the way some people live with their mother’s visit to Ma Moore. Ma, the keeper of all sorts of strays, humans and animals, connected to their kind mother, Linda. When Linda asks Ma’s daughter, Tammy Moore, to babysit, the night goes awry. The Little Rats: Hannah isn’t sure why she accepted a meeting with the junior development officer of her old private school (she was on scholarship), Country Day. It takes her back to the “Hallmark Experience”, the trip to France, which her parents had secured (at the last minute) money for, and her fears of being matched with a ‘bottom of the barrel’ French girl. How much have times changed it the current politically current climate? It becomes a reminder of where she came from, despite her accomplishments.
The stories in this collection are clever, nothing explosive needs to happen. It is about class, entitlement, but not everyone is about being ‘one of us’. Characters are often well aware of how they appear to others, even if at times they are clueless to their snobbery. Women struggling with self-doubt, making rash decisions, so basically a lot like real life for many of us. It’s a genuine experience, sitting with their thoughts and weighing their actions. Yes, a good read.
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Little, Brown and Company
August 7, 2022
I always like a good collections of short stories. These were okay. Quick to read. The main character is each story is a woman and they all have similar characteristic. I could not shake the smug, condescending nature of the women, but I think the intention is to have the reader see through the facade at the insecurities beneath the surface. These stories fit into that certain category of books I call “New York Women”. The woman all lead lives filled with first world problems, some times these women know it, some times these women are unaware and as a reader I never fully connect with the story.
July 19, 2022
The first story, "One of Us," is one of my favorites, ever. It goes in my someday-anthology of short stories set at dinner parties. Even though I saw the "twist" coming, it was still delicious.
"A Blind Corner" (set at an agriturismo in Italy) and "The Taker" (about a houseguest from hell in Manhattan) both focus on a woman so tightly wound that the sentences almost crack and shatter.
Class anxieties pervade every story, and seem most obvious to me in "We Don't Believe in That Crap" (about an unforgettable babysitting episode, though I think the best line is in the setup, when the kids are shopping with their mom at the PX on base (they are the second family of a man who retired as a major) and the mom gives them a little instruction about what kind of people they are: "We don't buy our meat here.")).
"Nude Hose" (about a teenage fling with an abusive guy) and "The Little Rats" (about kids at an elite high school going on an exchange program to Paris in the 1980s) also poke around at class hierarchies, as well as teenage girls confronting teenage boys' controlling behavior.
"Residents Only" centers a (white?) American mother of two on vacation in an Acapulco condo. Like most of the stories in the collection, the narrator speaks from a time years after the action in the story. Here her older self observes:
"The truth was, when my children were small, I was driven half insane by the mental and emotional demands they made. When I look back at that time, I realize that I was always trying to escape. There were other poor, impulsive decisions I made--shortcuts I took when I was at the end of my rope. Sometimes I am surprised I made it through."
"A Blind Corner" (set at an agriturismo in Italy) and "The Taker" (about a houseguest from hell in Manhattan) both focus on a woman so tightly wound that the sentences almost crack and shatter.
Class anxieties pervade every story, and seem most obvious to me in "We Don't Believe in That Crap" (about an unforgettable babysitting episode, though I think the best line is in the setup, when the kids are shopping with their mom at the PX on base (they are the second family of a man who retired as a major) and the mom gives them a little instruction about what kind of people they are: "We don't buy our meat here.")).
"Nude Hose" (about a teenage fling with an abusive guy) and "The Little Rats" (about kids at an elite high school going on an exchange program to Paris in the 1980s) also poke around at class hierarchies, as well as teenage girls confronting teenage boys' controlling behavior.
"Residents Only" centers a (white?) American mother of two on vacation in an Acapulco condo. Like most of the stories in the collection, the narrator speaks from a time years after the action in the story. Here her older self observes:
"The truth was, when my children were small, I was driven half insane by the mental and emotional demands they made. When I look back at that time, I realize that I was always trying to escape. There were other poor, impulsive decisions I made--shortcuts I took when I was at the end of my rope. Sometimes I am surprised I made it through."
June 27, 2022
Caitlin Macy's new collection of stories might well have an alternate title: A Reasonable Woman Who Just Wants to Be Liked Deals with Troublesome People. These range from racist neighbors to slobby houseguests to unruly children as well as an assortment of recalcitrant men. Macy has a keen eye for cringe-inducing social undertakings, including a high school trip to France, an unwanted (and doomed) vacation to a snobby Mexican vacation complex and a high-pressure neighborhood soiree. There is a keen wit at work here and not a few subversive sexual encounters, most of which are meant to placate irritated or downright objectionable partners. I finished this collection in one sitting and found myself quite literally laughing out loud at some of the more droll (but hugely recognizable) moments. Ms. Macy writes with absolute precision and can guide the reader right to the precipice of a character's impeding neurotic breakdown, through the revulsion of unwanted oral coupling, to the disappointment in a drunk husband who has ruined yet another party....but also to the thrill of teenage romance. In the end, humor, love and decency shine through. Five stars.
July 22, 2022
Review: The Blind Corner
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐲
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟐𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟐
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 (𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞) 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐦'𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡, 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞.
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Each story is beautifully written, with biting wit and sage wisdom. The stories are as unique as the women portrayed in them, yet there is a common thread of angst and inner turmoil which is born from a place of desperation - to fit in/belong/claim a seat at the table in the desired social circle. While incredibly fascinating from a psychological standpoint, it was painful, at times, to read of their discomfiture. Nevertheless, it is a beautifully written book of short stories which I’m glad I had the opportunity to read.
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Thank you NetGalley, Caitlin Macy, and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest and wholly independent opinion reflected in this review.
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐲
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟐𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟐
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 (𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞) 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐦'𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡, 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞.
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Each story is beautifully written, with biting wit and sage wisdom. The stories are as unique as the women portrayed in them, yet there is a common thread of angst and inner turmoil which is born from a place of desperation - to fit in/belong/claim a seat at the table in the desired social circle. While incredibly fascinating from a psychological standpoint, it was painful, at times, to read of their discomfiture. Nevertheless, it is a beautifully written book of short stories which I’m glad I had the opportunity to read.
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Thank you NetGalley, Caitlin Macy, and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest and wholly independent opinion reflected in this review.
December 6, 2022
This book is a short story collection about pride, privilege, and our need to belong. These stories are the perfect examples of how things can go horribly wrong, even if we have the best of intentions. Many of the stories are about a situation where someone has good intentions, but because of preconceived notions, biases, or social influences, they end up causing problems they didn't expect.
The length of each short story was just long enough to keep me hooked. In this collection, we get to experience people in different countries, from different backgrounds, and in interesting situations. In one of the stories, Nude Hose, I loved the line where Suzanna thinks back on college and how she thought it would be perfect but realized she made some big mistakes that confused her. She said, "It was an attempt at finding herself so misguided, it could still make her wince twenty years later." I loved this because it was so relatable. We all have those moments where we look back and think, "What happened?" or "What was I thinking?"
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
The length of each short story was just long enough to keep me hooked. In this collection, we get to experience people in different countries, from different backgrounds, and in interesting situations. In one of the stories, Nude Hose, I loved the line where Suzanna thinks back on college and how she thought it would be perfect but realized she made some big mistakes that confused her. She said, "It was an attempt at finding herself so misguided, it could still make her wince twenty years later." I loved this because it was so relatable. We all have those moments where we look back and think, "What happened?" or "What was I thinking?"
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
October 23, 2022
Admittedly this collection of short stories is not one that I normally would have read on my own. With the prompt to read for a local book club - I gave it a go. Caitlin Macy is an observer - that much is very clear. This said, many of the characters seem so one-dimensional (and cliché) that I have to wonder what exactly Caitlin's interactions with people are. There is a gratitude I feel for the ease with which these stories read because it means I was able to move through the pages quickly.
The essay that saves this book in some regard is "We Don't Believe in That Crap". It reveals the complexity of the characters' lives and creates a tension that exposes a keen glimpse as events unfold - events the reader might see coming. Still, there is a passivity to the observational writing style that Caitlin Macy uses that I just find less than interesting.
This book felt like watching the world through a shower curtain - assumed to be clear, yet, ultimately slightly off from the real.
The essay that saves this book in some regard is "We Don't Believe in That Crap". It reveals the complexity of the characters' lives and creates a tension that exposes a keen glimpse as events unfold - events the reader might see coming. Still, there is a passivity to the observational writing style that Caitlin Macy uses that I just find less than interesting.
This book felt like watching the world through a shower curtain - assumed to be clear, yet, ultimately slightly off from the real.
June 2, 2022
Thank you Caitlin Macy, the publisher, and Goodreads for the free ARC of A Blind Corner.
I would give this somewhere in between a 3 and 4! It was a very interesting read. Each story felt like the perfect length but at the same time, not. I would just be getting interested in the characters and their story when it would end. The length of each short story was perfect to keep me hooked, but the endings of the stories felt somewhat incomplete and always left me wanting more. That felt like the point - the abrupt endings forced me to reflect on the stories more than I would have otherwise.
This is my first book by Caitlin Macy, but I found her to be a captivating story teller and writer. I would recommend this book and I wouldn't be opposed to re-reading it someday!
I would give this somewhere in between a 3 and 4! It was a very interesting read. Each story felt like the perfect length but at the same time, not. I would just be getting interested in the characters and their story when it would end. The length of each short story was perfect to keep me hooked, but the endings of the stories felt somewhat incomplete and always left me wanting more. That felt like the point - the abrupt endings forced me to reflect on the stories more than I would have otherwise.
This is my first book by Caitlin Macy, but I found her to be a captivating story teller and writer. I would recommend this book and I wouldn't be opposed to re-reading it someday!
June 27, 2022
This is an amazing year for short stories (see also: The Angel of Rome, Seeking Fortune Elsewhere, and Out There). My favorite was One of Us, which had a strong Shirley Jackson vibe. Nude Hose had the best ending, which I've already thought about multiple times since reading it. The Taker was not believable but it was still hilarious and reminded me of Courtney Eldridge's narrator in Thieves and The Young Professionals. I couldn't finish A Blind Corner or We Don't Believe in That Crap due to some possible animal harm that was being foreshadowed, but don't let that stop you from reading this collection!
November 24, 2025
This book is extremely well written. If you want to read a nice review, stop reading now.
The women in this book are shallow, boring, and spineless. They all seem to hate their husbands while simultaneously letting everyone else in their lives walk all over them. Also, half the stories have so many characters that it’s impossible to tell the difference between them. The entire book is mind-numbingly boring. Can’t believe I managed to finish it, but I was too far into it to drop it. No wonder I bought it at the dollar store.
The women in this book are shallow, boring, and spineless. They all seem to hate their husbands while simultaneously letting everyone else in their lives walk all over them. Also, half the stories have so many characters that it’s impossible to tell the difference between them. The entire book is mind-numbingly boring. Can’t believe I managed to finish it, but I was too far into it to drop it. No wonder I bought it at the dollar store.
August 20, 2022
Loved it! Perfect summer book for quick breaks or a binge-read! Caitlin Macy has a remarkable way of illustrating an entire person or situation with one casual phrase or detail. This talent makes short stories an especially effective medium for her work. Her character portraits of women who fall just slightly outside their desired circle leave the reader with the unease of the outsider but the satisfaction of recognizing and understanding the nuances of the strict rules women must follow.
February 25, 2022
I was surprised that I didn't like this book more. The connections felt hollow. I couldn't really feel invested in any of the characters. Their issues felt impersonal even when the intentions were there and supposedly turned around for poignancy.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
July 9, 2022
Caitlin Macy has a real talent for funny, brutal observations about characters who seem to always be striving for something they can't quite reach. Her sentences are crisp, and the stories pack a punch. Does not disappoint!
January 7, 2023
This is a book containing 7 short stories where the main character in each story is a woman. I usually like short story collections but this one fell flat for me. I think I was looking for more positivity and it wasn't there in any of the stories. It is a quick read.
March 30, 2023
*** Goodreads Giveaway *** the short stories were easy reads but sometimes hard to follow with a ton of main characters in such a short time frame. It was hard to relate or “fall in love” with the characters due to details missing.
May 25, 2022
This one did not keep my interest at all. It just never hooked me and I honestly did not finish it. I’m sure some people will love it but it was not for me.
Want to read
June 27, 2022Really great prose in these!
July 10, 2022
Caitlin Macy’s biting, insightful and darkly hilarious stories are totally delicious. Loved this newest brilliance from one of my favorite authors.
September 5, 2022
I read four of the seven short stories. I almost threw the book across the room after the fourth one it was so bad. The less women characters are weak and uninteresting.
September 16, 2022
Some of the stories were rather entertaining. The recurring theme is about white privilege… and this collection is probably better suited for a white Gen X / boomer audience.
February 28, 2023
I did not like it
August 25, 2023
It’s obvious this gal can write but all the detours from whatever the main stories were
about drove me crazy.
about drove me crazy.
August 29, 2023
A collection of short stories about women who seem to be very unsure of themselves and are people pleasers. Not very enjoyable read for me. Would like to give it two and a half stars
November 8, 2022
This is an eccentric collection. This was our book club book of the month and we had an amazing discussion. Thanks, CM
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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