Product Description

In her dazzling first book Julie Orringer dives into the private world of childhood and immerses us in its fears and longings: the jealous friendships and the bitter sibling battles; the parents that row and the boys that won’t dance with you. Then, in a voice that is equally tender and compassionate, she reminds us of those rare, exhilarating moments of victory. 'Unbelievably good: the humiliations and cruelties and passions of childhood, sparkling fresh prose, a writer with a big heart and an acute sense of the small things that loom large in our lives' Monica Ali, Guardian

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48313 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Nick Hornby
‘Outstanding’

Daily Telegraph
'An amazing debut. Conjures the same exhilaration I felt on reading Melissa Bank’s The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing’

About the Author
Julie Orringer was born in 1973 and grew up in New Orleans and Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and Cornell University. Her stories have appeared in several publications including The Paris Review, The Yale Review and Best New American Voices. Julie Orringer lives in San Francisco where she is currently at work on a novel. How to Breathe Underwater is her first book.

Customer Reviews

Well-written, beautiful stories
I came across this book while browsing in a local bookshop, and later picked it up on 3 for 2, more or less on impulse. I have to say, I'm really glad I did; it's a wonderfully written collection of short stories by a first-time author.

I don't normally read short stories, but each of the ones in this collection is a gem; while there are certain similarities between them (among others: a female narrator/main character, often set against a Jewish background, featuring someone who is somewhat of an outsider), they're far from 'samey'. Each is a distinctive portrait of fundamental human emotions or conditions: grief, loss, jealousy, childhood, adolescence...

I couldn't believe this was written by a first-time published author; the stories are so descriptive, without being heavy-handed. You really feel like you're watching the story unfold naturally; the characters and situations are so lifelike and real, it almost seems like she's reporting rather than making things up.

Lovely stuff.

Childhood Traumas
An extraordinary collection of short stories filled with tragedies and traumas that the book's young characters endure, such as tales of a drowning, a premature baby and a cancer sufferer. They make for quite a disturbing read but are very well written and will definitely stay with the reader. This book is packed with emotion and even though the subject matter isn't light-hearted it is superbly written.

a wonderful collection of short stories
Each of the nine stories in this collection is captivating. Orringer has managed to write the most evocative stories with a true voice. The depth of feelings - grief, despair, spite, bitterness and vulnerability (amongst others) and her ability to develop her characters and make them three dimensional so quickly, are what makes these stories so powerful. She has the lightest touch and a great eye for detail. You can't help but get involved with the characters in each story, which for me is unusual in short stories, which often leave me feeling short changed. This book is a gem and I would highly recommend it.