What do you think?
Rate this book
The Penguin Book of International Women's Stories
The Penguin Book of International Women's Stories brings together a vast array of writing from women around the world. These stories mirror the changes and expectations of women's lives everywhere and reflect the diversity of their experience.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
6 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 8, 2013
Look at this dire cover. Women who write, so there's a book! And it's shiny and there's a model posing her hand pretty just because we wouldn't want to suggest a pretty woman would want to write and read or interact with a book in any way. Also a butterfly, because women loves butterflies.
To be fair, plenty of books I love have terrible covers (see: practically all fantasy and science-fiction covers), and the title, while pedestrian, certainly is descriptive. But in this case, I'm sorry to say, the contents of The Penguin Book of International Women's Stories are not particularly more imaginative than the title. There's a lot of the kind of samey (boring) middle-brow literary fiction that makes people think they hate short stories whenever they have the misfortune of encountering it in magazines.
Otherwise, the stories don't appear to have been chosen with any particularly purpose in mind. Furthermore, with more than a third of the 33 stories being selected from the US, Canada, and the UK, the selection fails to feel very "international". Penguin couldn't afford to commission some original translations?
I know, I know, I shouldn't complain because clearly this is designed for college syllabi to show they care about including women in the reading list without actually including lots of women in the reading list. (But still, they could've something really radical and make the students enjoy the exercise.) [2 stars]
______________________________
My picks:
- "Nineteen Fifty-Five" by Alice Walker: If the caustic take on the white appropriation of black music is expected from Alice Walker, it's still welcome for her graceful characters and her playful recreation of the rock-and-roll era.
- "Cream Sauce" by Mary Flanagan: Flanagan distinguishes her story from the desperate-housewives pack with her depth of detail, her operatic weaving of the passions and neuroses in a dysfunctional household.
- "The Violin" by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya: In the absurd tradition of Gogol or Chekhov, Petrushevskaya mines the displays of human nature so honed inside a hospital.
HM: "The Fun-Fair" by Hanan Al Shaykh; "Two Words" by Isabel Allende; "Perpetual Spinach" by Shena Mackay; and "Newlywed" by Banana Yoshimoto (with which I was familiar from her collection Lizard).
To be fair, plenty of books I love have terrible covers (see: practically all fantasy and science-fiction covers), and the title, while pedestrian, certainly is descriptive. But in this case, I'm sorry to say, the contents of The Penguin Book of International Women's Stories are not particularly more imaginative than the title. There's a lot of the kind of samey (boring) middle-brow literary fiction that makes people think they hate short stories whenever they have the misfortune of encountering it in magazines.
Otherwise, the stories don't appear to have been chosen with any particularly purpose in mind. Furthermore, with more than a third of the 33 stories being selected from the US, Canada, and the UK, the selection fails to feel very "international". Penguin couldn't afford to commission some original translations?
I know, I know, I shouldn't complain because clearly this is designed for college syllabi to show they care about including women in the reading list without actually including lots of women in the reading list. (But still, they could've something really radical and make the students enjoy the exercise.) [2 stars]
______________________________
My picks:
- "Nineteen Fifty-Five" by Alice Walker: If the caustic take on the white appropriation of black music is expected from Alice Walker, it's still welcome for her graceful characters and her playful recreation of the rock-and-roll era.
- "Cream Sauce" by Mary Flanagan: Flanagan distinguishes her story from the desperate-housewives pack with her depth of detail, her operatic weaving of the passions and neuroses in a dysfunctional household.
- "The Violin" by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya: In the absurd tradition of Gogol or Chekhov, Petrushevskaya mines the displays of human nature so honed inside a hospital.
HM: "The Fun-Fair" by Hanan Al Shaykh; "Two Words" by Isabel Allende; "Perpetual Spinach" by Shena Mackay; and "Newlywed" by Banana Yoshimoto (with which I was familiar from her collection Lizard).
January 25, 2024
I enjoyed like 2 out of 33 stories which kinda seems like a bad quote to me.
It was probably bold of me to assume a book with that title would somehow contain inspiring or life changing narratives, because neither was the case.
It was probably bold of me to assume a book with that title would somehow contain inspiring or life changing narratives, because neither was the case.
March 3, 2015
This was a text book from an English/Women and Gender Studies class. Read most of the stories. Most were decent,while I had trouble really getting into a few. Overall, it was a pretty good collection from women around the globe.
May 30, 2020
Nineteen Fifty-five by Alice Walker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-I liked the writing style.
The Circle by Tatyana Tolstay
⭐️⭐️-I didn’t grasp the details and the repetition of the characters full names annoyed me.
The Jewess by Irene Dische
⭐️⭐️-I didn’t grasp the character development as the end felt rushed.
The Fun-fair by Hanna Al Shaykh
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Interesting family dynamics and cultural events, but there wasn’t enough character development for me.
A Wilderness Station by Alice Munro
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Interesting story but conclusions are left you the reader. Also, reason for the choice in timeline was unclear.
Comrades by Nadine Gordimer
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Not a lot of substance but reads almost like poetry at times.
An Unfinished Record by Zander Jie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-I like the descriptions and writing style.
Too Much Rain, or, the Assault of the Mold Spores by Ellen Gilchrist
⭐️⭐️⭐️-There seemed to be superfluous details that jagged the main plot. Also, the writing style was pedestrian in nature so the transition to details was sudden at times. However, the interpersonal relationships were intriguing.
Woman Hollering Creek by Sandra Cisneros
⭐️⭐️-The writing style was hard to follow but I liked this take on a commonly told story.
Jacob: The Story of a Faith-healing Priest by Bessie Head
⭐️⭐️⭐️-This was an interesting story, and well-written, however, I felt the ending was lack luster and not in line with the message of the rest of the story.
Cream Sauce by Mary Flanagan
⭐️⭐️-The writing style seemed jumbled and a lot of details were missing causing me not to care as much as I should about the main character.
Newlywed by Banana Yoshimoto
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-Some poetic descriptions. An interesting story to think about relationships and the journey of life.
Games at Twilight by Anita Desai
⭐️⭐️⭐️-A relatable topic, but I didn’t feel it enhanced my understanding by the story.
Two Words by Isabel Allende
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Well written, but I feel like I missed something.
Before by Annie Saumont
⭐️⭐️-I thought the plot was interesting, but I didn’t care for the writing style.
A Wife’s Story by Bharati Mukherjee
⭐️⭐️⭐️-The writing style was a little scattered for my taste and I didn’t feel it was a complete story, but it was an interesting plot overall.
Little Lewis Has Had a Lovely Sleep by Elizabeth Jolley
⭐️⭐️⭐️-I felt it was a little long winded.
Distant View of a Minaret by Alice Rifaat
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Interesting perspective but not a lot to dig my teeth into.
Hairball by Margaret Atwood
⭐️⭐️⭐️-An honest writing style but I feel like I missed something.
Blue Water-man by Luisa Valenzuela
⭐️⭐️-I didn’t care for the writing style.
The Reservoir by Janet Frame
⭐️⭐️⭐️-This story captured the innocence of a child but wasn’t anything beyond that.
Fat People by Alison Lurie
⭐️⭐️⭐️-I wish it had been more explained.
Perpetual Spinach by Shena Mackey
⭐️⭐️-I didn’t understand the meaning of the title or the end. I could’ve also used more details in the writing to compensate for unlikable characters.
Broken Transformers by Bi Shumin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-“A child often reveals more when he is hiding something.” A relatable story including the complexities of the human experience, relationships, and child innocence/learning process.
Tuataras by Barbara Anderson
⭐️⭐️-Things happened but I wasn’t given a reason to care.
You’re Ugly, Too by Lorrie Moore
⭐️⭐️-The first half and the second half seemed to have two different writing styles and at times seemed to be an unlikable stream of consciousness. Also, the ending didn’t seem final and there was a lack of character development. However, the title worked.
The Burial by Arminian Somers
⭐️⭐️-I appreciated the word choice but there wasn’t enough details or character development for my liking. I also didn’t understand the significance of the ending.
Heavy Weather by Helen Simpson
⭐️⭐️⭐️-I liked the word choice and it is an interesting take on motherhood.
In the Family by Maria Elena Llano
⭐️⭐️⭐️-An interesting story. Easily could’ve scored higher if it was longer.
A Gift from Somewhere by Ama Ata Aidoo
⭐️⭐️⭐️-An interesting story of faith. There was a clear first and second half where the perspective changed but was still a cohesive story. However the last one or two pages would’ve been a great start to a different short story but placed here seemed to change the tone of the piece.
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Romantically written. However, I felt the plot waned as it was predictable and the final sentences could’ve been stronger.
The Snow Thief by Melanie Rae Thon
⭐️⭐️-The choppy writing style made the story seem to be a bunch of pieces that didn’t really fit together.
The Violin by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Interesting characters, but very little plot.
Overall
⭐️⭐️⭐️-I thought this would be a book written by women, about women, for women. It’s not that, but there are some gems in here regardless.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-I liked the writing style.
The Circle by Tatyana Tolstay
⭐️⭐️-I didn’t grasp the details and the repetition of the characters full names annoyed me.
The Jewess by Irene Dische
⭐️⭐️-I didn’t grasp the character development as the end felt rushed.
The Fun-fair by Hanna Al Shaykh
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Interesting family dynamics and cultural events, but there wasn’t enough character development for me.
A Wilderness Station by Alice Munro
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Interesting story but conclusions are left you the reader. Also, reason for the choice in timeline was unclear.
Comrades by Nadine Gordimer
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Not a lot of substance but reads almost like poetry at times.
An Unfinished Record by Zander Jie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-I like the descriptions and writing style.
Too Much Rain, or, the Assault of the Mold Spores by Ellen Gilchrist
⭐️⭐️⭐️-There seemed to be superfluous details that jagged the main plot. Also, the writing style was pedestrian in nature so the transition to details was sudden at times. However, the interpersonal relationships were intriguing.
Woman Hollering Creek by Sandra Cisneros
⭐️⭐️-The writing style was hard to follow but I liked this take on a commonly told story.
Jacob: The Story of a Faith-healing Priest by Bessie Head
⭐️⭐️⭐️-This was an interesting story, and well-written, however, I felt the ending was lack luster and not in line with the message of the rest of the story.
Cream Sauce by Mary Flanagan
⭐️⭐️-The writing style seemed jumbled and a lot of details were missing causing me not to care as much as I should about the main character.
Newlywed by Banana Yoshimoto
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-Some poetic descriptions. An interesting story to think about relationships and the journey of life.
Games at Twilight by Anita Desai
⭐️⭐️⭐️-A relatable topic, but I didn’t feel it enhanced my understanding by the story.
Two Words by Isabel Allende
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Well written, but I feel like I missed something.
Before by Annie Saumont
⭐️⭐️-I thought the plot was interesting, but I didn’t care for the writing style.
A Wife’s Story by Bharati Mukherjee
⭐️⭐️⭐️-The writing style was a little scattered for my taste and I didn’t feel it was a complete story, but it was an interesting plot overall.
Little Lewis Has Had a Lovely Sleep by Elizabeth Jolley
⭐️⭐️⭐️-I felt it was a little long winded.
Distant View of a Minaret by Alice Rifaat
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Interesting perspective but not a lot to dig my teeth into.
Hairball by Margaret Atwood
⭐️⭐️⭐️-An honest writing style but I feel like I missed something.
Blue Water-man by Luisa Valenzuela
⭐️⭐️-I didn’t care for the writing style.
The Reservoir by Janet Frame
⭐️⭐️⭐️-This story captured the innocence of a child but wasn’t anything beyond that.
Fat People by Alison Lurie
⭐️⭐️⭐️-I wish it had been more explained.
Perpetual Spinach by Shena Mackey
⭐️⭐️-I didn’t understand the meaning of the title or the end. I could’ve also used more details in the writing to compensate for unlikable characters.
Broken Transformers by Bi Shumin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-“A child often reveals more when he is hiding something.” A relatable story including the complexities of the human experience, relationships, and child innocence/learning process.
Tuataras by Barbara Anderson
⭐️⭐️-Things happened but I wasn’t given a reason to care.
You’re Ugly, Too by Lorrie Moore
⭐️⭐️-The first half and the second half seemed to have two different writing styles and at times seemed to be an unlikable stream of consciousness. Also, the ending didn’t seem final and there was a lack of character development. However, the title worked.
The Burial by Arminian Somers
⭐️⭐️-I appreciated the word choice but there wasn’t enough details or character development for my liking. I also didn’t understand the significance of the ending.
Heavy Weather by Helen Simpson
⭐️⭐️⭐️-I liked the word choice and it is an interesting take on motherhood.
In the Family by Maria Elena Llano
⭐️⭐️⭐️-An interesting story. Easily could’ve scored higher if it was longer.
A Gift from Somewhere by Ama Ata Aidoo
⭐️⭐️⭐️-An interesting story of faith. There was a clear first and second half where the perspective changed but was still a cohesive story. However the last one or two pages would’ve been a great start to a different short story but placed here seemed to change the tone of the piece.
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Romantically written. However, I felt the plot waned as it was predictable and the final sentences could’ve been stronger.
The Snow Thief by Melanie Rae Thon
⭐️⭐️-The choppy writing style made the story seem to be a bunch of pieces that didn’t really fit together.
The Violin by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
⭐️⭐️⭐️-Interesting characters, but very little plot.
Overall
⭐️⭐️⭐️-I thought this would be a book written by women, about women, for women. It’s not that, but there are some gems in here regardless.
June 8, 2011
I haven't read an anthology of stories since my college days, so this was a nice little departure from my usual reads.
Overall, I liked and appreciated most of the stories in here, especially since they were from women authors around the world. However, that being said, there were two I just could not get past the first few paragraphs -- the language was just odd. One intro specifically mentioned that the author's style of writing made it hard to translate, and it was true. It was difficult.
But, there were some memorable stories to me, including: "Distant View of a Minaret" and "The Bloody Chamber." However, some of these stories kept my interesting, but then just ended. I wanted more! Which, I guess, means it was a good story. I would have liked just a little more.
Overall, I liked and appreciated most of the stories in here, especially since they were from women authors around the world. However, that being said, there were two I just could not get past the first few paragraphs -- the language was just odd. One intro specifically mentioned that the author's style of writing made it hard to translate, and it was true. It was difficult.
But, there were some memorable stories to me, including: "Distant View of a Minaret" and "The Bloody Chamber." However, some of these stories kept my interesting, but then just ended. I wanted more! Which, I guess, means it was a good story. I would have liked just a little more.
July 16, 2022
shoutout to kirk and gordene for getting divorced, having a garage sale, and giving me this book!
i have been reading this collection on and off for just under a year and it feels a bit bittersweet to be finished. some really great stories in here! but as a whole suffers from some stories being so excellent and some falling short. i appreciated the opportunity to read so much translated fiction from around the world.
favourites: woman hollering creek, cream sauce, and broken transformers
i have been reading this collection on and off for just under a year and it feels a bit bittersweet to be finished. some really great stories in here! but as a whole suffers from some stories being so excellent and some falling short. i appreciated the opportunity to read so much translated fiction from around the world.
favourites: woman hollering creek, cream sauce, and broken transformers
December 25, 2007
A great collection. Used Hanan al-Shaykh's piece for Death and Dying class this past fall and the students loved it. Every story in this book makes your heart and brain twist as the plots unfold.
Looking forward to bequeathing this book to my daughter someday.
Looking forward to bequeathing this book to my daughter someday.
December 8, 2011
An interesting book because it features authors from around the world so you experience different styles of writing and different cultures but unfortunately some of them don't translate well.
August 1, 2012
Brilliant collection of extremely powerful short stories.
December 16, 2014
I used this text in my women's literature class and found the stories very inspiring and thought provoking, especially concerning gender issues.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews