The Girl in the Flammable Skirt : Stories

Rating:
Summary: take it or leave it
Review: I thought this book was pretty uninteresting. Yes, okay, the stories are strange, but in a boring way. In a bad way. And after a while, each story kind of becomes the same. I also thought Bender's style was also a little bland. I can't think of a reason I'd ever recommend this book. I mean, it wasn't the worst thing I've ever read. It was okay. There just wasn't anything particularly special or good or worthwhile about it. The only good story in it is "The Bowl", and that just seemed like a rip-off of Lorrie Moore.

Rating:
Summary: aBSoLuTLy aMaZiNG!
Review: i WaS CoMPLeTeLY BLoWN aWaY By THeSe FaNTaSTiC SToRieS! i ReaD THe eNTiRe BooK WiTHiN TWo DaYS aND WaS SaD WHeN iT eNDeD..! THeSe SToRieS ReMiNDeD Me oF ReBeCCa BRoWN'S "TeRRiBLe GiRLS". BuT i MuST aDMiT aiMee HaS a BeauTiFuLLy DaRK iMaGiNaTioN THaT MaKeS Me YeaRN FoR MoRe oF HeR WoRDS.

Rating:
Summary: Strange, yet pleasant, surprise
Review: Scrolling the wires of the newspaper where I work, I often come across unusual books that I would never think to pick up in a bookstore. This is one of those. However, this book is not for the normal, nor is it for the person who needs to see something through to its completion. Yearning for something completely different? These short stories are engaging, witty snippets of the character's lives and indeed it seems as though we are allowed a glimpse into their reality but are not given the full explanation for all we encounter and this is what I loved about the book. Aimee Bender has a remarkable ability to "tell it like it is" and by that I mean she writes the strange thoughts we all have but would never admit. She is descriptive and has a knack for stating the unobvious. I thought I'd try these short stories before I went to her novel and it was worth the trip. She leaves you wondering "what the heck just happened here" and yet you are satisfied with what you've been given. Keep an open mind and dive in.

Rating:
Summary: An inspiration to young writers
Review: This book is phenomenal. An inspiration and must read for any aspiring writers of short fiction. This collection of stories is one of the best...in the vein of Bukowski, only the use of an even broader imagination is seen here at times. A+++ and much applause for this achievement.