Use Me: Fiction

After I finished reading the book, I just had to sit for awhile and take it in. She's such a fabulous writer that the characters seem like real people - this is such a cliche phrase, but in this case, I kept on thinking, wow, I know these people, or I've seen them before and wondered about them. While their actions are not always of the "highest moral caliber", I don't think the point of the book was to use them as moral compasses, but rather to see how learning - and bad decisions - are a part of life

..a big dork, but its worth it to say that Use Me is lovely. Schappell is more concerned with telling the stories of Mary Beth and Evie than impressing literary critics... and I'm glad. Characters are fleshed out and the title story did such a good job of getting into the main characters head, it made me gasp. I'm desperate to read more by Schappell and have already lent my copy of Use Me out... but not before carefully writing my name and number on the inside cover.

This is a collection of stories about love and loss. This is not your typical woe-is-me-single-woman book; it is a lot more intelligent than that. This book takes you on a journey where you learn about the loss of a parent and the reality of relationships between men and women. My favorite story is "Novice Bitch," very funny and original. This book sort of reminds of The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, except that this one's a lot better. If you're in the mood for a sentimental read, I highly recommend "Use Me."

Use Me is not a book about death, but, on the contrary, a book about the very essence of life. Schappell dares the reader to look at what really happens in relationships between men and women, between friends, in the very fabric of family life itself. Use Me, despite appearances,is a feminist book of the first order. It does not offer characters for women to blindly model themselves after, but instead, challenges women to question how power is asserted with men, family members, and within friendships. Use Me pushes, provokes, and jostles the reader into a relationship with the book -- one filled with emotion, joy and horror -- at the end of the book, it is hard to let that "relationship" go.

Anyone who read and loved Girls' Guide by Melissa Banks absolutely must read this book today! Schappell takes the short stories, recurring characters format and perfects it, making our interaction with her main characters personal and enduring. You will not be able to wait to find out what happens with her father and princess best friend Mary Beth. The best book out in 2000 so far!