The reviewer found Curtis Sittenfeld's 'Show Don’t Tell' to be a satisfying collection of short stories that delve into human nature and provoke thought. They appreciated the author's ability to present complex characters and situations without dictating how the reader should feel, making it a collection worth analyzing and discussing.
The reviewer was highly impressed with Curtis Sittenfeld's 'Show Don’t Tell', finding it to be a deeply satisfying collection of short stories. They highlighted the author's skill in presenting characters who are not immediately likable, yet deeply human, and situations that provoke thought and self-reflection. The reviewer particularly appreciated that Sittenfeld does not spoon-feed the reader but instead presents scenarios and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions. They found the stories to be thought-provoking and worth analyzing further, enjoying the way Sittenfeld examines life through a thoughtful and humorous lens. The reviewer also noted the absence of a clear moral or message, which they found refreshing and engaging. Overall, they highly recommended the collection to readers who enjoy stories that linger in the mind long after reading.
Quick quotes
That’s me. Rubbing my hands together. 😉 Why? (Well, a little bit because they’re cold but mostly) I love a good book of short stories and Curtis Sittenfeld’s Show Don’t Tell is exactly that — good and satisfying. That’s almost the review, nutshell as they would say.
The very best writers are students of human nature, observing the way people behave around them with the intensity of a social anthropologist, which, one could argue, they are.
A moment of déjà vu occurred while reading “The Richest Babysitter in the World,” before I realized that I had read it before in The Atlantic.