Reviews

Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld

marisakmc's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.75

LOVED these short stories. Gave a 4.75 only because there were a few I didn’t love,  but overall so reflective, funny, emotional.

jerzgrl626's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

lilly71490's review

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

jasmine_books342's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

domigaet's review

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challenging sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

talag's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Two types of short stories: 1) feels incomplete, story is abruptly cut short 2) feels finished but at the same time leaves you wanting to read more.

The 1st one always leaves me irritated while the 2nd, interested. I’d say this book has a 30-70 split, which is why the rating seems fair. 
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caraem3's review

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

hate to admit how disappointed I am by Show and Tell. Sittenfeld’s other books have always been in vastly different worlds yet were connective in the most relatable ways, but this overshot its reach. I had no interest in the characters in most of the stories, the vignettes seem preachy, and the tone feels flat and cold. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

meghan_readsbooks's review

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Thank you random house for the review copy of Show Don't Tell. I have adored Curtis Sittenfeld and her messy but ultimately lovable main characters since I read Prep in the early 2000s.  I remain a Lee Fiora fan and I can't tell you how excited I was to discover one of these short stories returned me to that character and that world.  That alone made this a standout collection!  Sittenfeld is expert at the little turns in plot, the curves you can't predict because life is unpredictable, and she takes those curves, makes them work, and does so in short story form, telling a complete story in small space.  
But overall what is the win is the writing once again, the way Sittenfeld has me embracing my flaws, celebrating my own messiness and realizing that is just who I am, and that there is a little joy perhaps, a little rebellion, in being 100% exactly the messy woman that I am and the woman I am meant to be.

cheyenneisreading's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jenspagesandponderings's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.0