What do you think?
Rate this book
Among Sisters: Short Stories by Women Writers
The bond between sisters has always been a compelling theme in the fiction ofwomen writers--and the 20 stories presented here by master anthologizer SusanCahill create the rich tapestry of emotion that forms these ties. Wonderfullyilluminating fiction aimed straight at women's hearts.
- GenresShort Stories
351 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 3, 1989
21 people want to read
About the author
Susan Cahill
22 books52 followersSUSAN CAHILL has published several travel books on France, Italy, and Ireland, including Sacred Paris, Hidden Gardens of Paris and The Streets of Paris. She is the editor of the bestselling Women and Fiction series and author of the novel Earth Angels. She spends a few months in Paris every year. MARION RANOUX, a native Parisienne, is an experienced freelance photographer and translator into French of Czech literature.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 13, 2010
12/10/10: A friend gave me this book (thank you, Judith) and it is a wonderful collection. Sometimes I think thematic anthologies can be hokey, or overthought: stories connected so tenuously or strenuously that the effort of noting their similarities serves only to distort their integrity. But that is not the case here. Maybe it's that so many stories exist about sisters that there is a wide range to choose from, so all the stories are great; maybe it's that the topic of sisters is such a rich vein to mine. Or maybe it's simply the talent of this editor--it seems only fair to give credit for that.
In any case, I read every story (which does not always happen) and loved more than half of them (ditto). Alice Munro's "The Progress of Love" is brilliant; Maeve Brennan's "The Springs of Affection" is wonderfully, terribly sad. I loved Lee Smith's "Cakewalk" and Joy Williams' "Traveling to Pridesup". And Elizabeth Bowen's "A Queer Heart" and Jean Stafford's "In the Zoo" are so poignant--they say so much, in so few words, about how shared experience, even if never discussed, can shape sisters' lives and relationships.
I forget sometimes how different, and how rewarding, short stories can be. I don't read them often, because it always seems like so much work to commit to a story line, only to have it end too quickly--whereupon I have to start all over again. A novel is more sustained (obviously). But it's a very good exercise, not to mention a rewarding one!
In any case, I read every story (which does not always happen) and loved more than half of them (ditto). Alice Munro's "The Progress of Love" is brilliant; Maeve Brennan's "The Springs of Affection" is wonderfully, terribly sad. I loved Lee Smith's "Cakewalk" and Joy Williams' "Traveling to Pridesup". And Elizabeth Bowen's "A Queer Heart" and Jean Stafford's "In the Zoo" are so poignant--they say so much, in so few words, about how shared experience, even if never discussed, can shape sisters' lives and relationships.
I forget sometimes how different, and how rewarding, short stories can be. I don't read them often, because it always seems like so much work to commit to a story line, only to have it end too quickly--whereupon I have to start all over again. A novel is more sustained (obviously). But it's a very good exercise, not to mention a rewarding one!
November 20, 2009
OK, I've had this book for years, but never go around to reading it. But one day, I realized just before I left for work that I needed something to read, so I grabbed it as I was leaving the house. I'm so glad I did! First of all, it's the perfect thing to read in an environment where you are constantly being interrupted, since it's a collection of short stories. Secondly, I was introduced to some new writers, got to read things by writers I've heard of but not read before, and got to spend time with some "old friends."
As is the case with most collections, there were some stories I really enjoyed and others that did not seem all that memorable. The theme of the book is the relationships of sisters, and how they are lifelong. The ones that tended to appeal to me were those that dealt with sisters who are close as far as their relationships go, but far apart distance-wise, and who may or may not have become friends if they were not related. But there were also some very touching and sweet stories about the lengths sisters would go to for each other, as well as one or two about sisters who did just not get along.
I think this may be one of those books you can pick up every once in a while to read one or two of the stories again, and they will seem just a little different each time.
As is the case with most collections, there were some stories I really enjoyed and others that did not seem all that memorable. The theme of the book is the relationships of sisters, and how they are lifelong. The ones that tended to appeal to me were those that dealt with sisters who are close as far as their relationships go, but far apart distance-wise, and who may or may not have become friends if they were not related. But there were also some very touching and sweet stories about the lengths sisters would go to for each other, as well as one or two about sisters who did just not get along.
I think this may be one of those books you can pick up every once in a while to read one or two of the stories again, and they will seem just a little different each time.
February 23, 2016
So far my favorite story was a Misplaced Charity. So true! And the image of two old women escaping from an old folks home is pretty awesome! Maybe someday... 1 or 2 more good stories, & many OK ones. Memorable characters all, even when I didn't enjoy the stories.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews