Customer Reviews

American Cool

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If you're looking for tales that explore eroticism and desire with humor and style, this collection has some of the best stories around--as you might guess from the all-star publications where they first appeared. For readers who think "erotic" means a lack of depth, insight and literary quality, American Cool will give you a new appreciation of the heights the genre can achieve. From the poignant and achingly honest title story of adolescent initiation to the surreal glitter of Las Vegas, Susan DiPlacido drew me into the worlds of her characters with her fearless look at desire of every flavor and her snappy, down-to-earth, but wonderfully evocative prose. Thanks to "Neon Nights," I finally "got" Las Vegas, and "Coyote Blues" is simply one of the sexiest stories I've ever read--and believe me, I read a lot of sexy stories in my line of work. I seriously just wanted to crawl right through the pages into that bed with Wes and stay there forever. In fact, every story wove its own special magic that has lingered on and on. Short fiction doesn't get better than this--American Cool is a gem!

American Cool is a fantastic collection of Susan DiPlacido's best short stories. Many of these stories have appeared in other noted publications, such as the Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica 6, Caramel Flava, and Rebellion: New Voices of Fiction. But to have them all together in one volume is a very special treat. ("I, Candy" won the Spirit Award at the 2005 Moondance Film Festival, and "Bloodlines" was nominated for a 2008 Pushcart Prize award.)

DiPlacido's writing is fast, fun, sexy, and humorous. The stories just fly by as you read them, and before you know it you've started another one. From the bright lights of Vegas in "Neon Nights" and "Shuffle Up (And Deal) to the dusty desert of "Coyote Blues" to the softball fields of "Like a Girl" to the romance of Italy in "Found in Translation," DiPlacido plops you right into the lives of her characters, into their heads, lets you eavesdrop on their lively conversations, their jokes, their wants and disappointments. Whenever I finish a DiPlacido book I feel like I've said goodbye to some close friends.

One last thing--this book has a very fitting cover! I felt cool reading it on the train. Be cool too and get this book.

Life is about taking risks...if you don't take risks you end up lonely and afraid of change, and what fun is that? Well, it is safe. In Susan DiPlacido's latest book, "American Cool," her characters are risk takers and they're making life changes all over the place. This book is hot!

A collection of short stories, "American Cool" is not for the faint of heart who cringe at steamy love scenes or shudder at the prospect of taking a step over the line. This is a hot summer read that you will return to in the cold winter months to warm up with. More than a good read, the tales offer a good bit of edge. Take Marie, the main character in the story I, Candy. She's a guy's best friend, a hard worker, and she's seemingly pretty plain looking. Then she makes some changes...gets her nose done, some inches added up top, and all of a sudden she's getting free drinks at the bar. Is this what she wanted? Not exactly. But what she gets in the end is something she could have had all along. She made some changes, and made some realizations at the same time. In Bloodlines, young Paula becomes involved with some very iffy business. She's always admired her Uncle Dean, right from the first time he laughed at her blatantly disobeying her parents by climbing up a tree. As the years go on, she ends up helping him keep track of his "sports records" and making collections in the middle of the night. She gives him an alibi when the cops show up one evening. She gives up her chance to get out of the life in order to stick around for the family. In the end, she takes family commitment to a place it shouldn't go. She warns her father not to ask questions he doesn't want the answers to.
Coyote Blues has Rita all hot and bothered. She can't make up her mind about what she wants in her life. She's torn between the allure and gamble of Vegas and the tortuous affections of her man. She can't exactly have both, and she can't live without either of them. Witnessing her come to terms with her needs is a steamy read!

Combining tales of minor league baseball, mob family traditions, taking poker to a new level, Las Vegas, and a girls' first time with a very uncool guy named Miguel, "American Cool" is a fine example of a short story collection. The writing is tight and fresh; the tales hot, raunchy, and entertaining, if not disturbing. It's over the top and just the way I like a fast read. I always look forward to more of Susan DiPlacido's work, so as always, I am anxious to read more. This book is for adults, and while I hate to claim being one, I highly recommend it!

If love is truly a many-spendored thing, Susan DiPlacido is having a good time hitting all the stops. This is adult romance for a modern world by the author of Trattoria, 24/7 and Mutual Holdings. Short stories that get into private feelings and aren't afraid to tell it straight. I can't help it, I'm a fan.