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Dorothy Parker: Selected Stories
A collection of short stories focuses on early twentieth-century American social customs.
2 pages, Audio Cassette
First published September 1, 1995
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449 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Parker
328 books2,047 followersLibrarian 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
September 21, 2018
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The Waltz
Another awesome find, where Parker appears to be in my (younger) head. This reminds me so much of dances in my teens, held at a local hall.
Never seen anyone realise the inner voice and what young women present to the world - because we want(ed) to be thought "nice."
Genius writing.
The Waltz
Another awesome find, where Parker appears to be in my (younger) head. This reminds me so much of dances in my teens, held at a local hall.
Never seen anyone realise the inner voice and what young women present to the world - because we want(ed) to be thought "nice."
Genius writing.
January 15, 2019
Parker: Selected Stories, read by Elaine Stritch, is one of the best audio books I have heard. Stritch does an absolutely masterful job of interpreting Parker’s cast of characters.
I have the goal each year of including among my reading one or two authors or classics that I have never read – and am regretful of not having done so. That I had never read Dorothy Parker is downright embarrassing, and this audio book was a revelation. Author and reader are a perfect pair: Stritch’s slightly gravelly voice is matched to a collection of Parker’s melancholy New York types from the 1920s-1940s.
I had only known Dorothy Parker through some of her famous witty and caustic quotes, and I had expected something more light hearted. These are dark stories. Young women yearn for love, brittle society women have vapid desires for elegance, men cannot move from office to domesticity. Most memorably, the heart-breaking “Big Blonde” loses everything because of alcohol. Yet there is a wistfulness and sympathy for each lost soul amid the darkness. Parker must have cared for her characters, especially the women, who are mostly at the mercy of husbands, lovers, and bosses.
There’s an interesting side note. Parker left her estate to Martin Luther King, Jr., whose civil rights work Parker admired. At King’s death, the estate was bequeathed to the NAACP. So that’s where the royalties go now. I read a bit about her life and her passions, and I think she’d be pleased.
I have the goal each year of including among my reading one or two authors or classics that I have never read – and am regretful of not having done so. That I had never read Dorothy Parker is downright embarrassing, and this audio book was a revelation. Author and reader are a perfect pair: Stritch’s slightly gravelly voice is matched to a collection of Parker’s melancholy New York types from the 1920s-1940s.
I had only known Dorothy Parker through some of her famous witty and caustic quotes, and I had expected something more light hearted. These are dark stories. Young women yearn for love, brittle society women have vapid desires for elegance, men cannot move from office to domesticity. Most memorably, the heart-breaking “Big Blonde” loses everything because of alcohol. Yet there is a wistfulness and sympathy for each lost soul amid the darkness. Parker must have cared for her characters, especially the women, who are mostly at the mercy of husbands, lovers, and bosses.
There’s an interesting side note. Parker left her estate to Martin Luther King, Jr., whose civil rights work Parker admired. At King’s death, the estate was bequeathed to the NAACP. So that’s where the royalties go now. I read a bit about her life and her passions, and I think she’d be pleased.
April 15, 2019
Delightful. I enjoyed every second and I’m sad it’s over. This is as much an endorsement of Elaine Stritch’s brilliant narration as it is of Dorothy Parker’s stories!
November 18, 2024
I can't imagine there's a better way to experience some of Dorothy Parker's excellent societal commentary than hearing it read by Elaine Stritch.
Her gravelly, theatrical voice really brings these characters to life.
These seven stories are mostly funny, sometimes very dark, and all skewer New York society life to a certain extent. The final, very short piece told in the first person about Dorothy's thoughts as she snaps a garter at a society party, is worth the price of admission.
Her gravelly, theatrical voice really brings these characters to life.
These seven stories are mostly funny, sometimes very dark, and all skewer New York society life to a certain extent. The final, very short piece told in the first person about Dorothy's thoughts as she snaps a garter at a society party, is worth the price of admission.
December 19, 2018
Biting Satire in PARKER: SELECTED STORIES
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
The work of the late Dorothy Parker read by the late Elaine Stritch is a match made, possibly literally, in heaven.
As I love to read and listen to books, and studied English Lit in college, I had long heard of Dorothy Parker. And as a fan of Broadway, of course I know about Elaine Stritch. But, I had never, in my memory read something by Parker. Her prose is perfect in detail and descriptive qualities, but it is economical but not too spare. For example, “She was never noticeably drunk, and seldom nearly sober,” describes a middle-aged ex-party girl in “Big Blonde.” And, in “The Shirt” about one society woman’s philanthropic endeavor in sewing shirts for casualties “Mrs. Martindales’s breasts were admirable, delicate yet firm, pointing one to the right, one to the left: angry at each other as the Russians have it.” I did not really understand if this was a satire of women;s organizations at he start of WWII, or a sarcastic poke at her activities at sewing these shirts, or perhaps a rare case of Parker treating a character kindly. “From the Diary of a Lady” is the most perfect dissection of the life of a Manhattan Socialite, describing her with as much finesse, but less device as would Jane Austen.
Sometimes the story is cryptic, requiring that one had lived in that time or society; I found this with “Too Bad,” a story about society couples trying to understand one of their set separating, while going about their own empty marriages. In part it’s hard to imagine anyone being this concerned about anyone divorcing and seems a bit silly out of its historical context. The time period of these are mostly 1930-1947ish. Time and place, meaning Manhattan, are both important to the book.
Some of the stories are dark, with the history of the writers who were part of Parker’s set, I don’t know why I was surprised by this. I was expecting more of an American, female P.G. Wodehouse (funny since she filled in for him at Vanity Fair). such as the one where a business man has an affair with an unattractive secretary we, and unfortunately not the secretary, get to see him as a misogynist.
My favorite story was “The Garter.” It’s written in the first person and, I believe, is really Parker writing about herself. A girl at a party has a broken garter and is terribly embarrassed so, instead of moving, her thoughts devolves what she’ll have to do – sit in the chair she is occupying at a party until the end of time. It’s treated as if the very worst has happened. She believes she can only sit there holding her stocking up by hand. It’s obviously a dart being thrown at the change in clothes but without the allowance for wardrobe malfunctions. She sums up her wisdom with “Never trust a round garter or a wall street man.”
Stritch’s voice had the rasp of cigarettes — lots of cigarettes — but with her innate abilities as an actress who often played sarcastic characters she really gets it all, the characters, the rhythm, the punctuation. She really gets Parker’s, as well as the characters’, voices. I really can’t say how much I loved hearing Elaine Stritch read these stories. This is one instance where the persona reading the stories is as important as the stories themselves.
At a little over three hours, this is a good choice for someone who wants a short audiobook. It could be an easy to digest introduction to early to mid 20th century American Literature.
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
The work of the late Dorothy Parker read by the late Elaine Stritch is a match made, possibly literally, in heaven.
As I love to read and listen to books, and studied English Lit in college, I had long heard of Dorothy Parker. And as a fan of Broadway, of course I know about Elaine Stritch. But, I had never, in my memory read something by Parker. Her prose is perfect in detail and descriptive qualities, but it is economical but not too spare. For example, “She was never noticeably drunk, and seldom nearly sober,” describes a middle-aged ex-party girl in “Big Blonde.” And, in “The Shirt” about one society woman’s philanthropic endeavor in sewing shirts for casualties “Mrs. Martindales’s breasts were admirable, delicate yet firm, pointing one to the right, one to the left: angry at each other as the Russians have it.” I did not really understand if this was a satire of women;s organizations at he start of WWII, or a sarcastic poke at her activities at sewing these shirts, or perhaps a rare case of Parker treating a character kindly. “From the Diary of a Lady” is the most perfect dissection of the life of a Manhattan Socialite, describing her with as much finesse, but less device as would Jane Austen.
Sometimes the story is cryptic, requiring that one had lived in that time or society; I found this with “Too Bad,” a story about society couples trying to understand one of their set separating, while going about their own empty marriages. In part it’s hard to imagine anyone being this concerned about anyone divorcing and seems a bit silly out of its historical context. The time period of these are mostly 1930-1947ish. Time and place, meaning Manhattan, are both important to the book.
Some of the stories are dark, with the history of the writers who were part of Parker’s set, I don’t know why I was surprised by this. I was expecting more of an American, female P.G. Wodehouse (funny since she filled in for him at Vanity Fair). such as the one where a business man has an affair with an unattractive secretary we, and unfortunately not the secretary, get to see him as a misogynist.
My favorite story was “The Garter.” It’s written in the first person and, I believe, is really Parker writing about herself. A girl at a party has a broken garter and is terribly embarrassed so, instead of moving, her thoughts devolves what she’ll have to do – sit in the chair she is occupying at a party until the end of time. It’s treated as if the very worst has happened. She believes she can only sit there holding her stocking up by hand. It’s obviously a dart being thrown at the change in clothes but without the allowance for wardrobe malfunctions. She sums up her wisdom with “Never trust a round garter or a wall street man.”
Stritch’s voice had the rasp of cigarettes — lots of cigarettes — but with her innate abilities as an actress who often played sarcastic characters she really gets it all, the characters, the rhythm, the punctuation. She really gets Parker’s, as well as the characters’, voices. I really can’t say how much I loved hearing Elaine Stritch read these stories. This is one instance where the persona reading the stories is as important as the stories themselves.
At a little over three hours, this is a good choice for someone who wants a short audiobook. It could be an easy to digest introduction to early to mid 20th century American Literature.
January 11, 2020
I listened to these six selected Parker stories read by Elaine Stritch, as recommended by David Sedaris -- and he was right! Stritch is amazing at reading Parker's stories. Her hoarse smoker's voice, intonations, and emphasis on certain words as she reads, add to Dorothy Parker's dry wit and wonderful writing. If you like Dorothy Parker at all, you should listen to this version!
November 12, 2018
Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was a bit disappointed by this collection of Dorothy Parker stories. There was wit there and some moments of insight, but sometimes they were a bit too obvious and often very depressing.
May 23, 2009
Every woman should read this sassy novel.
February 3, 2021
Wonderful reading of some of Ms. Parker's short stories, by the incomparable Elaine Stritch, whose voice is uniquely suited to the pieces.
December 20, 2018
To be honest, I did not finish this book. The narrator was wonderful but the stories were boring as hell. Obvi had the audio, sorry I sound like a millennial, so far from it. Just lazy for this one. Thanks.
Want to read
November 17, 2018These stories:
"Big Blond"
"Too Bad"
"The Song of the Shirt"
"Mr. Durant"
"From the Diary of a New York Lady"
"The Standard of Living"
"The Garter"
"Big Blond"
"Too Bad"
"The Song of the Shirt"
"Mr. Durant"
"From the Diary of a New York Lady"
"The Standard of Living"
"The Garter"
January 30, 2019
"Never trust a round garter or a Wall Street man. That's what life has taught me."
3.5. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this - especially since it's narrated by Elaine F***ing Stritch! Parker's wit, characterization, & reflections on gender & class that resonated with readers as early as the 1920s, were wonderful to experience.
Several of the stories' endings caught me by surprise & left me wondering what exactly Parker was going for. I appreciate her realism & rejection of the Hollywood ending, but I sometimes wanted more all the same. Overall, though, I had a good time & would gladly read more of her work!
3.5. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this - especially since it's narrated by Elaine F***ing Stritch! Parker's wit, characterization, & reflections on gender & class that resonated with readers as early as the 1920s, were wonderful to experience.
Several of the stories' endings caught me by surprise & left me wondering what exactly Parker was going for. I appreciate her realism & rejection of the Hollywood ending, but I sometimes wanted more all the same. Overall, though, I had a good time & would gladly read more of her work!
May 10, 2020
I'm really upset that I didn't review this right after I read it because I knew exactly what I wanted to say. Alas, my final semester of senior year took precedence. I definitely loved this audiobook, the narrator was perfect and the stories were funny and poignant. I think I liked the last one the best? I remember definitely wanting to mention it in my review. Argh! Definitely give these short stories a listen!
Edit: I just looked up what the last one was and I remember why I wanted to talk about it! It was so, so funny! Wodehouse-esque
Edit: I just looked up what the last one was and I remember why I wanted to talk about it! It was so, so funny! Wodehouse-esque
December 11, 2018
Audiobook #241
January 20, 2019
This was a remarkable listen. Elaine Stritch, Broadway legend, reads these stories and unbelievably they are still relevant. They were written for the New Yorker mostly, in the twenties! So, some of the language is old fashioned, but the messages are not! I will be reading more Dorothy Parker!
July 9, 2019
Narrated by Elaine Stritch—doesn’t get much better than that.
September 30, 2019
Available only on audio and read by Elaine Stritch, Parker is a collection of short stories written by the famous wit Dorothy Parker. They range over the twenties and thirties and deal with a failed marriage that dies of boredom, shop girls playing the "what would you buy with a million dollars" game, New York suburbanites, etc. The funniest of all is the last, called The Garter and featuring Miss Parker herself as a party guest who has broken her garter and does a hilarious monologue on what will now happen to her as a result. I am not a big fan of Elaine Stritch yet I enjoyed this clever send-up of life in New York.
January 23, 2021
Every story was 5 star. Especially loved Diary Of A New York Lady, The Garter, and Mr. Durant.
December 20, 2018
These stories are timeless, witty social commentary. The names, places, language, and pastimes of the characters made me feel like I was in glamorous 1920s New York City. But most of the characters' actions and relationships are still relevant today. On top of that you get the joy of Dorothy Parker's catchy, clever phrasing such as, "Constant use had not worn ragged the fabric of their friendship."
February 1, 2025
Listening to this audiobook made me crave a gin rickey and a good cry while hiding behind the mammoth ostrich feathers of my best hat, slumped in a corner table of a grubby speakeasy. It's a mood.
David Sedaris recommended this as "one of the greatest audiobooks ever." It's read by the late, legendary Broadway star Elaine Stritch. Sedaris noted it was only available on cassette, having never been released on CD or digital. That interview came out in June of 2018.
A recommendation from Sedaris being the stuff of stardust and magic, by August 2018 this work was available on Audible. As audio recommendations go, it doesn't get much better than that. So I bought it. Now and then I listened while folding laundry or running errands, dipping in intermittently.
Elaine Stritch reads this like only she could, and her narration is a treat. (Not familiar with her? Check out the documentary Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me on Hulu.) The insightful stories look at relationships and people with a clear and cutting eye as they serve up grim glimpses of love (or lack of it), marriage and loneliness.
I listened to a few stories but finally gave in, unfinished. It fell in this strange category for me of something that is good in many ways, but I just didn't want to continue. Have you ever liked something but didn't want to finish? Or changed the station when a song you like is on the radio because you're just not in the mood for it? That's how I felt. I think the old-fashioned tales of unhappy characters only kept me interested so far.
Many people would love this, and others probably wouldn't finish the first chapter. Which category are you? Only one way to find out ...
David Sedaris recommended this as "one of the greatest audiobooks ever." It's read by the late, legendary Broadway star Elaine Stritch. Sedaris noted it was only available on cassette, having never been released on CD or digital. That interview came out in June of 2018.
A recommendation from Sedaris being the stuff of stardust and magic, by August 2018 this work was available on Audible. As audio recommendations go, it doesn't get much better than that. So I bought it. Now and then I listened while folding laundry or running errands, dipping in intermittently.
Elaine Stritch reads this like only she could, and her narration is a treat. (Not familiar with her? Check out the documentary Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me on Hulu.) The insightful stories look at relationships and people with a clear and cutting eye as they serve up grim glimpses of love (or lack of it), marriage and loneliness.
I listened to a few stories but finally gave in, unfinished. It fell in this strange category for me of something that is good in many ways, but I just didn't want to continue. Have you ever liked something but didn't want to finish? Or changed the station when a song you like is on the radio because you're just not in the mood for it? That's how I felt. I think the old-fashioned tales of unhappy characters only kept me interested so far.
Many people would love this, and others probably wouldn't finish the first chapter. Which category are you? Only one way to find out ...
May 3, 2019
Dorothy Parker is an amazing writer. These stories of American life during her time feel like horror novellas. She makes the mundane day to day existence of most people, herself included, terrifying.
The reading done by the incomparable Elaine Stritch adds to the atmosphere of the tales as well as giving it the proper tone for the time period.
The reading done by the incomparable Elaine Stritch adds to the atmosphere of the tales as well as giving it the proper tone for the time period.
December 11, 2020
I can picture students reading these stories and saying, "What? Nothing happens!" They are right, but I would love to be in a classroom and teach them about what doesn't happen. I loved these stories. My favorite was "Song of the Shirt." My least favorite, which takes up more than a third of the collected pages is "Big Blonde."
September 30, 2025
A Telephone Call & New York to Detroit: similar but both are great! I think they work on a crazy lyrical level
The Sexes: she writes anxious attachment so perfectly
Little Curtis: rich people showboating their poor baby:( but now i see what people mean about her sharp writing
Glory in the Daytime: an interesting take on Diva Worship i really enjoyed. Lily Wynton is an early prototype of the Norma Desmond model (in the best but saddest way)
Read by Elaine Stritch:
Big Blonde: her understanding of gender dynamics was impeccable. overall, i can relate to ms Hazel.
Too Bad: unfortunately Ernest only makes me think of Death Becomes Her, but the bookend conversations about the couple are perfect.
The Song of the Shirt: Adds variety to this collection in a way that was needed. I loved the quiet politics of doing "good work"
Mr Durant: the poor doggo😭
From the Diary of a New York Lady: dont know if im using this right but her anaphora/phrase repetition is legendary
The Standard of Living: my second favorite following "A Telephone Call" the lottery game disrupted by the actual cost of something fancy is clever. The fascination of having wealth with little understanding of what wealth actually entails.
The Garter: Loved the meta moment
The Sexes: she writes anxious attachment so perfectly
Little Curtis: rich people showboating their poor baby:( but now i see what people mean about her sharp writing
Glory in the Daytime: an interesting take on Diva Worship i really enjoyed. Lily Wynton is an early prototype of the Norma Desmond model (in the best but saddest way)
Read by Elaine Stritch:
Big Blonde: her understanding of gender dynamics was impeccable. overall, i can relate to ms Hazel.
Too Bad: unfortunately Ernest only makes me think of Death Becomes Her, but the bookend conversations about the couple are perfect.
The Song of the Shirt: Adds variety to this collection in a way that was needed. I loved the quiet politics of doing "good work"
Mr Durant: the poor doggo😭
From the Diary of a New York Lady: dont know if im using this right but her anaphora/phrase repetition is legendary
The Standard of Living: my second favorite following "A Telephone Call" the lottery game disrupted by the actual cost of something fancy is clever. The fascination of having wealth with little understanding of what wealth actually entails.
The Garter: Loved the meta moment
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2023
Parker: Selected Stories -- the stories are excellent, and the audiobook, as read by Elaine Stritch, is even better. She did a powerful and commanding job voicing each and every character. Her raspy, hoarse voice brought the mood of the pieces into play, and I was transported into their world. I found the pairing of author and narrator to be perfection. Nobody else could have matched better.
Parker's stories are filled with sarcastic, caustic humor. They are dark, sad stories, where it is difficult to like the characters -- and yet you will feel compassion and empathy for all of them. You will watch as alcoholism destroyed s lives, as marriages disintegrate, as women are used and discarded by lovers and bosses. You will find yourself angry, sad, and hurt.
These stories will linger for a long time.
I have only one complaint: I wish they had recorded many, many more.
Thank you @PRHAudio for my gifted copy of the audiobook! The review reflects my honest opinion.
Parker's stories are filled with sarcastic, caustic humor. They are dark, sad stories, where it is difficult to like the characters -- and yet you will feel compassion and empathy for all of them. You will watch as alcoholism destroyed s lives, as marriages disintegrate, as women are used and discarded by lovers and bosses. You will find yourself angry, sad, and hurt.
These stories will linger for a long time.
I have only one complaint: I wish they had recorded many, many more.
Thank you @PRHAudio for my gifted copy of the audiobook! The review reflects my honest opinion.
September 14, 2024
What brings this short story collection by Dorothy Parker to life is her ability to make the characters real. They are mainly women, witty and vulnerable, who struggle with deep inner longings and the expectations of society. The stories and colloquial language are a reflection of 1920s New York, when women were asserting their independence, and challenging the traditional gender roles that kept them subservient to men.
In her stories, Parker shows us ordinary scenes of ordinary life that pinpoint ailments in the human spirit. All the stories are interesting, but the most notable and poignant one is the first, "Big Blonde", which felt heartbreaking and achingly familiar. Hazel's unspoken emptiness and quiet suffering could not be filled by men or alcohol, nor could she cheer up her depression to please others. She longed for genuine connection but felt isolated from others and even herself. This story's ending left me unsettled, and kept me thinking the rest of the day about the lingering effects of unaddressed pain.
In her stories, Parker shows us ordinary scenes of ordinary life that pinpoint ailments in the human spirit. All the stories are interesting, but the most notable and poignant one is the first, "Big Blonde", which felt heartbreaking and achingly familiar. Hazel's unspoken emptiness and quiet suffering could not be filled by men or alcohol, nor could she cheer up her depression to please others. She longed for genuine connection but felt isolated from others and even herself. This story's ending left me unsettled, and kept me thinking the rest of the day about the lingering effects of unaddressed pain.
December 11, 2018
An uneven collection. Some stories are simply dated while others resonate even today. I enjoyed this mainly because Elaine Stritch narrated them. She is perfect for these tales of women who have lost their way or become creatures of habit unable to break the mold of their humdrum existence. The first story in the collection is the longest and one of the most compelling. Big Blonde is the story of Hazel Morris lost in an alcoholic haze, taking up with the wrong men, and swept along by a life she did not like. Parker’s descriptions are magnificent and are the reason to read them.
Another wonderful story is Mr Durant about an executive and his dalliance with a woman from the office steno pool.
These stories are often sad but nothing is missed by Parker’s incisive wit and Stritch’s fantastic raspy voice.
Another wonderful story is Mr Durant about an executive and his dalliance with a woman from the office steno pool.
These stories are often sad but nothing is missed by Parker’s incisive wit and Stritch’s fantastic raspy voice.
March 13, 2021
I listened to this audiobook read by the late theater actress Elaine Stritch, consisting of seven Parker stories. The total length is three hours, equal to probably about 100 pages. The longest story is "Big Blonde", which I consider to be a novella, or almost- it's about as long as the other six stories combined. Big Blonde won the O. Henry short fiction award in 1929. Stritch's performance of these stories is very entertaining; sounds like she is on stage. My only quibble is that I think the last story, "The Garter" which was in first person, needed a younger woman's voice.
Shorter fiction is no longer as popular as it was in the first three quarters of the twentieth century; hopefully it will have something of a resurgence eventually. In the meantime, we have lots of classic short works by great writers like this, and a few excellent new ones.
Shorter fiction is no longer as popular as it was in the first three quarters of the twentieth century; hopefully it will have something of a resurgence eventually. In the meantime, we have lots of classic short works by great writers like this, and a few excellent new ones.
January 13, 2019
I specifically listened to this book of selected stories because of a review of the audiobook I read in the NY Times. The narrator is the famous Elaine Stritch who has the right voice and expression to tell these wonderful tales of NY society in the 1920's. Of course, they are dated in that women stay at home, wait for their men and worry about their hats and gloves, not about things of "importance". But, if you think that you do not "get" Dorothy Parker who tells each tale with her tongue in her cheek and a wink in her eye. My favorite story by far is the last one, an autobiographical one called The Garter. If you don't know what one is, google it before the story. But, enjoy this collection of priceless and timeless tales about the human condition!
December 10, 2018
I really wanted to love this book, but I ended up only liking it, and then, not very much.
I wanted to love it because I first discovered Dorothy Parker when I was in the 8th grade and somehow her acerbic sense of humor, sharp tongue, and bitter cynicism struck me as hilarious. I also wanted to love it because David Sedaris, whom I admire for the same reasons, said that it was the world's the best audiobook as performed by Elaine Stritch (whom I also admire for the same reasons). But alas, I guess the bleakness of her point of view just doesn't appeal to my 62 year old self the same way it did to my 13 year old self. Sigh.
I wanted to love it because I first discovered Dorothy Parker when I was in the 8th grade and somehow her acerbic sense of humor, sharp tongue, and bitter cynicism struck me as hilarious. I also wanted to love it because David Sedaris, whom I admire for the same reasons, said that it was the world's the best audiobook as performed by Elaine Stritch (whom I also admire for the same reasons). But alas, I guess the bleakness of her point of view just doesn't appeal to my 62 year old self the same way it did to my 13 year old self. Sigh.
January 6, 2019
Dorothy Parker, satirist, critic and writer illustrates her incredible talent in these heart wrenching select stories from early 20th century decades. Language is specific to those time periods, so hold off on being offended. However much the language reflects the time period, her stories are timely. From a happy, carefree young woman becoming an alcoholic to a perceived happy marriage gone south, Dorothy Parker holds no punches as she takes you into these every day people's lives. Her sardonic tone resonates in all the stories, yet manages to show how deeply human every character is by exposing their gaping souls.
A read many might appreciate. Enjoy; not so much.
A read many might appreciate. Enjoy; not so much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews