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How to Breathe Underwater: Stories
 
 
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How to Breathe Underwater: Stories (Paperback)

by Julie Orringer (Author) "It was Thanksgiving Day and hot, because this was New Orleans; they were driving uptown to have dinner with strangers ..." (more)
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (7 April 2005)
  • ISBN-10: 014101508X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141015088
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 96,556 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

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’

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Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
It was Thanksgiving Day and hot, because this was New Orleans; they were driving uptown to have dinner with strangers. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, beautiful stories, 2 Dec 2005
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.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Childhood Traumas, 27 Dec 2007
By kehs (Hertfordshire, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
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.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful collection of short stories, 7 Oct 2005
By A Customer
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant and unsettling
I was amazed by the unsettling power of Orringer's prose. These stories are gripping, the descriptions cats-eye clear. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Selina

4.0 out of 5 stars Much more than a collection of embarrassing moments....
Whatever you want to call it: teenage rebellion, sibling rivalry, first love, growing pains.... it is a popular source for American literature (films, songs, etc.). Read more
Published 23 months ago by stevieby

5.0 out of 5 stars So glad it found me!
I probably wouldn't have bought this had I known it was a short story collection but I'm SO glad I did. Read more
Published on 6 April 2007 by maria1971

5.0 out of 5 stars A real find
I intially chose this book because the cover appealed to me. This novel was dark in places and leaves you wanting to read more to understand the outline of the short stories... Read more
Published on 4 April 2006

4.0 out of 5 stars beautifully written book
I didn't realise it was a short story collection until I got to what was the end of the first story. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
These short stories were a really enjoyable read. All the stories focus on childhood and growing up, with issues like illness, friendship and grief. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2005 by R. K. Harvey

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting and moving
This is such a well written book and one of the best I've read for a while. There are elements in each story that reach out and remind you how funny, sweet, embarrassing and also... Read more
Published on 20 Jul 2005 by Penny M

5.0 out of 5 stars a thing of rare beauty
What an utterly sweet and completely involving book this is. The kind of book that makes you feel 7 or 10 or 14 years old again. Read more
Published on 1 Jul 2005 by Bs Brady

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