How to Breathe Underwater
Ratings5
Average rating4.4
15
Ratings5
Average rating4.4
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. 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
Reviews with the most likes.
i borrowed this from the library and encountered it at a book sale for cheap around the same time. passed on it at the sale because i had borrowed but not read it yet, which i immediately regretted once i finished the book. i think this was the book that really kickstarted my love for quiet, contemporary short story collections with female-driven narratives.
Many of the short stories in this collection reminded me of aspects of my childhood. The author has a great eye for detail; she takes ordinary people and situations and creates a thoughtful story. Some of the characters are rude, mean, unkind, even evil but all are realistic and human. I enjoyed reading it.
