American Girls about Town

This is a short story collection featuring 17 different American women's fiction authors, the most famous of whom is probably Jennifer Weiner (In Her Shoes, Good in Bed). Like virtually all short story collections I've ever read, I found the stories to be very hit-or-miss. Weiner's contribution, "The Truth About Nigel," about a woman's burgeoning crush on a mysterious co-worker, was one of the best. I also liked "The Bamboo Confessions" by Lauren Weisberger, a sort of self-discovery tale of a woman on a backpacking tour of Vietnam, and I found Judi Hendricks' "Andromeda on the Street of Ducklings" sweetly poignant. I particularly related to "Forty Days" by Jill Smolinski, about a woman reaching the same milestone birthday I've just reached myself, and as a psychologist, I enjoyed reading the main character's amusing perspective's on therapy in Cindy Chupack's "Moving Day." Additional authors featured in this book include Lauren Weisberger, Adriana Trigiani, Melissa Senate, and Laura Wolf. Overall, if you enjoy women's fiction in general and short stories in particular, this book is a worthwhile read.

While there were some stories that didn't particularly excite me some of them were perfect and exactly how short stories should be. Here are my reviews: Cream of the Crop: 3. Leaving a Light On- I loved it. It reminds you that on some golden afternoons, you can still feel like anything can happen and anything can change. Just read it. 6. The Truth About Nigel- Jennifer Weiner's contribution. It's pretty good, she never disappoints. It's about a woman who thinks she finally found a man, who turns out not to be the man she thinks he is at all. 8. The Bamboo Confessions- Lauren Weisberger's contribution [The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing]. It's a good story about a woman who uproots herself. This story reminds of the quotation [this isn't exact] "Sometimes the only way to know yourself is if you go some place where you don't have to be anyone else.' 10. Andromeda on the Street of Ducklings- This story is beautiful to me. It's about loving, losing and dealing with it. Some parts made me want to cry. 14. Just Visiting- Great. It is exactly what we all wish would happen to us, if we left home in search of a new life. 15. Forty Days- We should all try doing what this woman does- for Forty Days she tries all of the things she never tried before and ends up with better results than she could have ever dreamed of. Middle Ground: 1. A Day in the Life of My Great Brit Book Tour- Doesn't do it for me. I don't really agree with the observations of the other characters' about the main character. But it wasn't horrible. 4. Moving Day- Pretty good. I like the beginning and the narration. It's about a woman who finds out that her finacee' isn't as straight as he seems. It's by the woman who used to write for Sex and the City [Cindy Chupack] and you can really see similarities in the writing style. 7. Voodoo Dolls, C-cups and Eminem- Just okay. Not the worst, not the best. But it is more of a sisters story than love story or a finding yourself story. 11. Bad Manners- Bad girls rock. She dates a jerk, dumps him and acts like a bad girl- you go girl! 12. The Two-Month Itch- Fairly entertaining. It's about a woman who never seems to keep a man around longer than two months. While, I prefer to, I know some women out there who suffer from the same syndrome. 13. I Know a Woman- Eh. It doesn't make me laugh or think too much but it did make me a little sad. Since, it evoked some emotion from me, it's placed in the Middle Ground category. And there are moments in it, that are pretty good. Bottom Rung: 2. Five- It really didn't do it for me at all. It's about a woman who is convinced that her 5th husband is the one for her. Kind of sad and the main character is a bit narcisstic and I can tell that at the end of the story, the author wanted to make the main character have an revelation but for some reason I just didn't really believe it. It could have been too predictable but I am unsure of what exactly turned me off of this story. 5. Yoga Babe-

I enjoyed this book because I didn't have to commit to an entire novel, and was surprised by the authors I liked: Melissa Senate, Cindy Chupak and (the big surprise) Lauren Weisenberger (as I wasn't a fan of DWP). Weisenberger had an interesting heroine with a lousy boyfriend, and she travels off to the other end of the world to make him squirm--or does he? I was surprised by Weiner's attempt, and it appeared that she may have been reading a lot of Green, Holden and Maxted with her stab at being British. Stick with what you know so we can enjoy your talent.

Because these are short stories, I am going to go through each story and say if I liked it and why. The good thing about this book is the bad ones end quickly, but there were some I didn't want to end! 1. A Day in the Life of My Great Brit Book Tour--3 stars--ok. There is a pretty good looking cake recipe, although I haven't tried it yet to say if it is good! The story however is just so-so. Nothing notable to remember and kind of glad it was over. 2. Five--3.5 stars--I don't think this was the best story for a short story. Might have been ok as an intro for a longer book, but as a short story not that great. 3. Leaving a Light On--5 stars--This made a great short story, but I am not going to tell you more, b/c the ending as a suprise makes it wonderful! 4. Moving Day--3.75 stars--Pretty good, but not as good as #3 which it followed. 5. Yoga Babe--0 stars--Hated it! Makes all the other stories great. Why do I want to read about some egocedntric yoga chic! Skip it! 6. The Truth About Nigel--4.25 stars--I am slightly biased on this one, since Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite authors and the reason I bought the book. But this one of my favorites in the book. 7. Voodoo Dolls, C-cups and Eminem---5 Stars---I loved this story. Probably my most favorite in the book along with 10. I would recommend the book for this, #3, #6 and #10 alone. 8. The Bamboo Confessions--3.75 stars--Pretty good. It's about finding yourself and realizing who you are away from the people that seem to know you. 9. Amore--4 stars--this was pretty funny, although I wanted more at the end. I hope she found her foreign man! 10. Andromeda on the Street of Ducklings--5 stars--I would give this one ten if I could. Well I guess I can since it's my review and my rating :) This was a perfect short story that was the right length with the right amount of info at the right time. 11. Bad Manners--4 stars--Unfortunately most of us have dated an jerk like this. It was a good story that put it in a funny amusing context. 12. The Two-Month Itch--1 star--Not that great. I didn't enjoy it and it did nothing for me except annoyance. 13. I Know a Woman--3 stars--This was ok...the only reason I even gave it 3 stars, is the very last line is one of the most beautiful I have read. It won't give anything away if you skip immediately to this line and give it a read. 14. Just Visiting--5 Stars--This was great! I absolutely loved it and it made me laugh out loud. She didn't make the best decisions, but anyone can understand why she did it. 15. Forty Days--4.75 stars---didn't give it 5 simply b/c the ones I did give five were sooooo good. But it was a great story and great for the beginnning of a new year. This should be done all the time. 16. The Uncertainty Principle--1.75 stars--This was ok. Not as bad as some of the stories, but not that great. 17. Small Worlds--2 stars--The book ended on a couple of duds in my opinion. This was again dece

At first, I was skeptical. I like to read short stories, but I reserve my chick lit interests for the long versions. There are 17 stories about 17 different women in this collection, and a picture of each aurthor on the back page (in case you don't recognize the names.) Even though I only know about half of them, I think I might have to check out some of their books, because they really know how to tell a story!! Since I enjoyed (most) of the stories, I will just go over the few that I liked the most. Leaving a light on--- This is about a woman who embarks on an affair that is nothing like it seems. The ending surprised me! The Truth about Nigel---A woman stars working with a very good looking English guy, starts to become interested in him, and they start a friendship. But, something happens that only she didn't see coming! The Bamboo Confessions---This was probably my favorite story by the author of "The Devil Wears Prada." A Woman goes to Vietnam for a backpacking trip. She is one who is never alone. She leaves her boyfriend, her family, and her life to do this---Even though this was a trip that she was skeptical about, she found the best time and greatest adventure in this trip! Bad Manners--She is dating someone who may seem like a prince, but he doesn't treat her right. So, when they break up, she is off to find a quick fling, and she finds it with someone the exact opposite of her ex. Forty Days---she has forty days until she turns 40. She is going to do things that she has never done or been afraid to do. I lived vicariously through her story. This book will not disappoint!