Female Trouble: Stories [Paperback]

Antonya Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

Female Trouble features thirteen wise, funny, and startlingly perceptive stories about the vagaries and revelations of womanhood. Named by The New Yorker as one of the twenty best writers of her generation, Antonya Nelson explores the broad notion of family from myriad angles in Female Trouble. Set in the vividly rendered Midwest, these moving stories are dark and honest portraits of people in moral quandaries, gray areas, unclear circumstances -- from the three-timing thirty-year-old man of the title story to the divorced mother of a turbulent teen in "Incognito" to the sexually adventurous daughter of an adulterous mother in "Stitches." With Female Trouble, Nelson has created a cast of memorable characters who reveal us to ourselves with disturbing clarity and conscience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Jane Hamilton When Antonya Nelson passes into the next world she will have a Preferred Customer Card -- along with a very few others who write flawless sentences, and make characters who look at life straight on, without flinching. These wonderful stories are made by a master, and are thrilling.

Michael Chabon I scan the tables of contents of magazines, looking for Antonya Nelson's name, hoping that she has decided to bless us again. She's absolutely one of my favorites among story writers today, and I envy the reader who has yet to discover her marvelous work.

About the Author

Antonya Nelson teaches creative writing at the University of Houston, and is the award-winning author of three novels and four short story collections. Her stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, and The Best American Short Stories. She divides her time among Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743218728
• ISBN-13: 978-0743218726
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars impressive, June 27, 2003

By 

Frank Loose (Lawrenceville, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Female Trouble: Stories (Paperback)

I pulled this book up on Amazon to order it for a friend and I couldn't believe no one had reviewed it. I bought it in hardback when it first came out and was so impressed with the stories that I tracked down Ms. Nelson's earlier collections of stories, Land of Men, and The Expendables. I am glad I did as they each contain some gems. Female Trouble, though, is full of gems. They showcase Ms Nelson's talent for finding the fresh way of looking at the moral questions and difficult relationships that are the fodder for much of fiction. And while this is serious stuff, Ms. Nelson handles it with clarity and sensitivity and even humor. The first story is about a woman who returns to her childhood town with her young daughter and while reading the newspaper comes across something that forces her to confront her own troublesome youth. The device that drives this story is so compelling and creative that I was anxious to see i f Ms Nelson could sustain that level of creativity throughout the entire collection. She did. I believe you will find several characters and stories that stay wtih you long after you've put this one on your "A" shelf. ....

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic, October 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Female Trouble: Stories (Paperback)

Nelson's perception and clarity in writing of complex, difficult issues is an amazing talent. Her prose are smart, witty, and feel deeply connected to each and every character. Nelson's writing is so in touch with language and emotion that the reader is transplanted into the world of the characters. A fantastic collection that cannot be put down until the end is reached.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound women's anthology!, October 29, 2003

By 

CoffeeGurl - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Female Trouble: Stories (Paperback)

Female Trouble is one of the most profound women's anthologies I've ever read. This collection of short stories has dark and profound subject matters. There are stories of infidelity, failed marriages, mother/daughter relationships and women's sexual prowess. Antonya Nelson is a rather talented writer with an obvious penchant for revealing women's emotions. The female protagonists are of various ages and economic backgrounds. There is something for every woman here. I can't recommend this wonderful book enough! Brava, Ms. Nelson, for revealing some rather profound truths with such unflinching honesty.