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Jenny and the Jaws of Life: Short Stories
 
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Jenny and the Jaws of Life: Short Stories (Paperback)

~ (Author), David Sedaris (Foreword)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Winner of the National Book Award: A Novel of Fame, Honor, and Really Bad Weather by Jincy Willett

Jenny and the Jaws of Life: Short Stories + Winner of the National Book Award: A Novel of Fame, Honor, and Really Bad Weather

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First published in 1987, this debut collection of morbidly funny stories has been given a well-deserved second life. Willett is a marvelous philosopher and humanist, even when writing about subjects that beg for a knee-jerk reaction. In "Resume," a run-of-the-mill man gives God a quick rundown of his life. He cheated on his wife once, but notes that he "cried once on someone else's account" while watching a televised unfolding of American POWs returning to Washington and asks God to consider granting immortality in return for nothing, just as "a fresh approach." "Under the Bed" is narrated by a woman who was beaten and raped in her own home. She says the rapist "measurably improved the quality of my life," because she no longer lives in fear of the unknown. In "Mr. Lazenbee," a sixth grader manipulates her school's new campaign to teach children about "touches that feel good" and "touches that feel funny" by pointing fingers at an easy neighborhood target. Willett is alive to the absurd in American culture and the tragicomic struggle for dignity that we often lose. "My mother is dying. My husband's mistress has myasthenia gravis. My younger daughter just gave all of her trust money to the Church of the Famous Maker.... I can't sleep, and I'm not so much depressed as humiliated, both by slapstick catastrophe and by the minute tragedy of my wasted talents," laments Willett's funniest subject, an advice columnist who has an existential crisis in epistolary form. Though some of Willett's observations are predictable, the best of these stories still seem ahead of their time.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal

A character sounds the anthem for this well-wrought collection when she observes that "real life just happens, whereas stories make sense." Trapped in the chaos of life, Willett's peoplea wisecracking advice columnist headed toward crack-up, children who manipulate or murder their elders, rapists and their victimsstill try to make sense of its "pointless mess." Nostalgic reminiscence and imagination link the stories "My Father at the Wheel" and "Father of Invention." In the endearing "Melinda Falling," a bored attorney is taken with the awkwardness of a dumpy secretary. From the despair and resignation of "Jenny" to the hope of rescue and reconciliation of the "The Jaws of Life," Willett skirts life's heartless ironies lightly and with wit. She's clearly a writer to watch. Mary Soete, San Diego P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (September 14, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312306180
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312306182
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #495,456 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

More About the Author

Jincy Willett
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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews
5 star:
 (11)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe too true to life, February 18, 2004
What I got out of it was a cynical look at life and death, and how people react to them. My favorite, "Resume," is a man talking to God as his wife dies, but bargaining for his own life as per his weasley persona. Another is written completely in the format of an advice column, showcasing the empty lives of its readers. The most well rounded story is "The Jaws Of Life" about a guy trying to recapture lost youth through adultery.

This collection, errantly marketed as hilarious, blows away any short story book I read in college. It throws you curves, doesn't end the way you expect. It ends the way the character may end in real life. By changing or not changing, by having something unexpected and unexplainable occur, such as a car accident or cancer. You get the feeling that these are real people instead of archetypes following thier character arc.

Every writer should aspire to this level. Can't wait to read her new book.

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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars a superb writer, August 13, 2001
By A Customer
I tracked down this book after I saw an interview with author David Sedaris where he recommended it. It was well worth the long struggle to find it. If you like writers like Sedaris and A. M. Homes, you will thoroughly enjoy this amazing book of wonderfully crafted short stories.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars This book is not for everyone, April 9, 2005
By D. Tjoa (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
1. I agree with the other reviews for this book that the "funny" label slapped all over this book is misleading. It's dark tragicomedy.

2. There are definitely some pieces I enjoyed like Best of Betty and Resume. And I enjoyed the way this author describes things. But as far as the content of most of the stories, it felt like a bunch of really well-written but intensely disconnected sketches. There were many times I got to the end of a story and asked, what in the hell was that? What was the point? I don't get it (and yes, I **get** things -- no reviewer should insult other readers who don't like a certain kind of book). Apparently this book speaks to some people but if you like your philosophical fiction in comprehensible format, this book is not for you. I enjoy artistry but not obfuscation. It reminds me of a friend who says really deep things and is so in his own world, and I can tell he's saying something really deep but he's speaking so nebulously that I just don't get it. And I get frustrated and tell him to be clearer and repeat back what I think I'm hearing him say until he confirms that's what he meant. That's what this book is like. Father of Invention...what was that about? It feels like someone trying too hard...like performance art on paper.

3. I will add the disclaimer that I prefer more "storytelling" narrations like the Red Tent by Anita Diamant; She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb; Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs; Life of Pi by Yann Martel; God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. Vonnegut. John Irving. So maybe this book just isn't for me. Just warning people that it may not be for you either if you prefer traditional stories to sketches.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars same league as Alice Munro
If you are a short story aficionado, buy this book and read it over and over. For pure craftsmanship and style it is a veritable bible. Read more
Published 7 months ago by T.G. Lyons

3.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag...
These stories were really hit or miss for me. I found some of the stories hard to get through, and others I absolutely loved (The Best of Betty, Under the Bed, Mr. Lazenbee). Read more
Published 20 months ago by Eve

5.0 out of 5 stars Sedaris loves it, but this is not like his work at all
My favorite short story writers are Alice Munro, Lorrie Moore, Amy Bloom and Flannery O'Connor, if that helps you place my taste on the spectrum of what's out there. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Just_Karen

5.0 out of 5 stars Human
Having an endorsement by the hilarious David Sedaris at the top of this book may have been misleading, because this book is not full of the same kind of absurd outrageousness that... Read more
Published on February 19, 2007 by Douglas King

1.0 out of 5 stars I don't get it either
I agree completely with D.Tjoa's review. I bought it because of Amazon's 'If you like David Sedaris,...', but this is not humor writing. Read more
Published on May 29, 2005 by Amy Williams

5.0 out of 5 stars Confidential to Kooky
This book is a life changing, if not life threatening [die laughing, anyone?] experience. I know, I know, heard it before, but this time I'm not lying. Read more
Published on March 16, 2005 by Dixie Ipsit

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Collection
I was never a big fan of short story collections until I picked up Jenny and the Jaws of Life. It's quickly become one of my favorite books of all time (right up there with A... Read more
Published on December 2, 2004 by Skyler

4.0 out of 5 stars Make of it What You Will
I'm not going to quote Latin at you or tell you who else I read who's as good as Jincy Willetts but I will say the "Jenny and the Jaws of Life" is probably one of those... Read more
Published on October 23, 2003 by M. Asali

4.0 out of 5 stars funny
I loved this book. People who dont get it, dont get it because they dont get most things. It is a truly funny book, we all know these characters.
Published on October 20, 2003 by Jennifer Marino

1.0 out of 5 stars Huh?!?
A friend passed me this book and said with resignation,
"Here. I give up. Since you work in the comic industry,
you may have better luck with this. Read more
Published on March 14, 2003

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