Customer Reviews

MY DATE WITH SATAN: Stories

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

My girlfriend and I fought over who got to read it- luckily it's a quick read. The dog artist is one of the best characters I've ever read, bar none. And I couldn't stop laughing during 'Rats Eat Cats'. A lot of writers in the last few years try to be hip and gen-x in a very stiff and awkward manner, and some use pop culture references to cover a lack of actual story. Not here. The stories take place in our culture, not a literary ideal of our culture or a tv commercial version of our culture. It's our genuine, trashy, depraved and sparkling culture, like it or not. The characters are real and instantly recognizable as people we've met or been. What more could you want?

I opened this book to the first page, thinking, 'I'll just read this one page...and maybe the beginning of the next...' and before I knew it the room faded to paste -- I became completely engrossed in Richter's world. Her voice is so genuine and concise, her dialogue and characters so marvelous, I could only shake my head in admiration, turning the pages, already feeling sad that the book wasn't longer. She manages to be hilarious and poignant without sacrificing the absolutely natural feel of the prose. A genuine talent....I feel invigorated. Anyone who calls it self conscious or depressing is missing the point; yet those light years ahead of their time will always be criticized by the unimaginitive and the jealous. Richter deserves all her good reviews and praise....and then some. Best of luck to this hugely talented woman.

With the appearances of Aimee Bender's "The Girl in The Flammable Skirt" and Lorrie Moore's "Birds of America" my attention has not been swayed from the short story genre. Stacey Richter is a wonderful new addition to creative fiction and the short story that offers a strong voice, imagination, and laugh out loud content. I hope the voices of the MFA creative writing programs of the 80's continue to write and find publishers. Stacey Richter's "My Date With Satan" has been an enjoyable read.

This collection of stories is one of the most beautifully written books I have read in a long time. Richter is a master of using words to evoke bright, clear images. Her stories are like none you've ever read, full of imagination and humor. You won't just put this book on your shelf to collect dust -- you'll remember these unique stories long after you've read them and want to share them with your friends.

This is the book I've been waiting for. After reading some brilliant stories online (Nerve.com) I sought this out. It's funny, edgy writing with lots of stylistic panache and engaging action. Brava, Ms. Richter! I look forward to more!

If you've ever thought there was something sinister about Hello Kitty, or wanted to hurl on a bourgeois "gangsta"--Richter is for you. My Date with Satan is like a tomale pop-tart for the mind. Pissed-off but not humourless, overeducated, hip young women everywhere will find this book a refreshing alternative to the precious bull---- generally passed off as good women's writing. Richter combines the astute awareness of female complexity and contradiction found in A.M Homes stories (about women) with the sinister and consumer-driven cultural observations of Bret Easton Ellis. If you were to read only one or two stories out of ...Satan, I would highly recommend "Beauty Treatment" and the title story. Although one might be tempted to compare Richter to Tama Janowitz, this is not fair to either. While at times a little self-consciously cultero-referency, the writing is good. One more thing, girls: If you enjoy magazine's like Bitch and Bust you'll definately like Richter.

I'm having a great time reading this book and thinking about the cast of characters I've started carrying around with me in my head as a result of these stories. It makes living in San Francisco and thinking about Arizona that much more fun. The stories are smart, funny and great to read aloud with friends. Great job and thank you, Stacey!

i can't for the life of me figure out how anyone could fail to adore this book. richter has probably the most perfectly realized voice in short fiction to come along in, oh, forever. other than the regrettable jacket design (why, publisher, why?), it's a total and utter gem. "the beauty treatment" alone is worth the price of the book. she's wickedly funny, a total genius, and spares us no richly earned pathos along the way. i'm constantly finding used copies and spreading them around to any lover of contemporary fiction i can identify. here's hoping richter someday gets the readership she so deserves. maybe if she tackles some lobotomized hybrid of international conspiracy, wizardry, the travails of the single, shoe-obsessed girl, and the life of christ next time?

Overall, I found the stories to take on an overly romantic tone, especially when Richter was trying to wrap things up. But you can't deny, this woman is funny and she's got the pop culture references down.

If you've ever thought there was something sinister about Hello Kitty, or wanted to hurl on a bourgeois "gangsta"--Richter is for you. My Date with Satan is like a tomale pop-tart for the mind. Pissed-off but not humourless, overeducated, hip young women everywhere will find this book a refreshing alternative to the precious bull---- generally passed off as good women's writing. Richter combines the astute awareness of female complexity and contradiction found in A.M Homes stories (about women) with the sinister and consumer-driven cultural observations of Bret Easton Ellis. If you were to read only one or two stories out of ...Satan, I would highly recommend "Beauty Treatment" and the title story. Although one might be tempted to compare Richter to Tama Janowitz, this is not fair to either. While at times a little self-consciously cultero-referency, the writing is good. One more thing, girls: If you enjoy magazine's like Bitch and Bust you'll definately like Richter.