Daddy
Author: Emma Cline
Published by: Vintage
Pages: 266
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★
Published by: Vintage
Pages: 266
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★
A man travels to his son’s school to deal with the fallout of a violent attack and to make sure his son will not lose his college place.
A young woman trying to make it in LA working in a clothes shop while taking acting classes, turns to a riskier way of making money.
These razor-sharp stories upend the simplest of relationships, crackling with the seductive darkness also present in Cline’s phenomenal bestseller, The Girls.
A man travels to his son’s school to deal with the fallout of a violent attack and to make sure his son will not lose his college place.
A young woman trying to make it in LA working in a clothes shop while taking acting classes, turns to a riskier way of making money.
These razor-sharp stories upend the simplest of relationships, crackling with the seductive darkness also present in Cline’s phenomenal bestseller, The Girls.
My thoughts:
Daddy is the first short story collection from the author of bestselling novel, The Girls, and here Emma Cline once again shows her talent for insightful observation and intimate storytelling.
Cline’s collection of these ten short stories is a clever, insightful study of power in human relationships. Cline is especially nuanced in her exploration of male power, and the range of ways it influences the lives of both men and women
Much like in Cline’s novel, the sense of place, atmosphere, and internal dialogue are expertly handled. The stories burst with personality and dramatic tension.
I think it is most accurate to describe the stories in this book almost as little snapshots into the lives of the characters. In a way, we do not get their full stories and sometimes not even a full sense of who they are.
Many of the stories are not blatant with their content and leave room for the reader to speculate about their happenings and connections. I enjoyed the ambiguity of how each story ended, allowing for readers to make their own interpretations.
Cline portrays moments in her characters' lives that reveal the dark parts of themselves that they would prefer to keep hidden. Part of what makes this collection so strangely intriguing is that in each story there is some sort of perversity right underneath the surface. These stories tiptoe around secrets and unknowable truths, their real meanings elusive and slippery.
Throughout the book, Cline’s storytelling contains an undercurrent of unease which makes for a strangely uncomfortable reading experience.
Despite this, the writing is captivating. The whole book crackles with latent violence and the darkness often deep-rooted in everyday relationships.
Daddy is enjoyable, thoughtful, and subtle. I flew through this and found it a very compelling read. The Girls for me was more successful and immersive overall, but Daddy certainly holds its own as a strong and engaging collection of short stories. Absolutely worth a read.
Overall reaction:
Daddy is the first short story collection from the author of bestselling novel, The Girls, and here Emma Cline once again shows her talent for insightful observation and intimate storytelling.
Cline’s collection of these ten short stories is a clever, insightful study of power in human relationships. Cline is especially nuanced in her exploration of male power, and the range of ways it influences the lives of both men and women
Much like in Cline’s novel, the sense of place, atmosphere, and internal dialogue are expertly handled. The stories burst with personality and dramatic tension.
I think it is most accurate to describe the stories in this book almost as little snapshots into the lives of the characters. In a way, we do not get their full stories and sometimes not even a full sense of who they are.
Many of the stories are not blatant with their content and leave room for the reader to speculate about their happenings and connections. I enjoyed the ambiguity of how each story ended, allowing for readers to make their own interpretations.
Cline portrays moments in her characters' lives that reveal the dark parts of themselves that they would prefer to keep hidden. Part of what makes this collection so strangely intriguing is that in each story there is some sort of perversity right underneath the surface. These stories tiptoe around secrets and unknowable truths, their real meanings elusive and slippery.
Throughout the book, Cline’s storytelling contains an undercurrent of unease which makes for a strangely uncomfortable reading experience.
Despite this, the writing is captivating. The whole book crackles with latent violence and the darkness often deep-rooted in everyday relationships.
Daddy is enjoyable, thoughtful, and subtle. I flew through this and found it a very compelling read. The Girls for me was more successful and immersive overall, but Daddy certainly holds its own as a strong and engaging collection of short stories. Absolutely worth a read.
Overall reaction:
