Customer Reviews

Other Fish In the Sea

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

as a 40-year old male, I found this book an excellent ride.

Funny, insightful, and a clever use of personal letters to say so much about a character without having to come right out and say it.

Travel, strange dreams, and love in a dentist chair -- what more does a book need? Oh yeah, good creative writing and it has that, too!

I'm looking forward to another dozen hours of fun with Lisa Kusel's next book.

This is my first review on a book, and the only thing I can say is Lisa Kusel has done an outstanding job with "other fish in the Sea". WOW I haven't read a book written in this manner, the short stories, the view points from other people in Elly's life, everything that she goes though, the people that touched her life. I was truly moved by this book, if truth be told people men or women can relate to everything Elly goes though. I can't tell you which chapter was my favor because there isn't one. The editorial review done on this book couldn't be more WRONG, this book is about what really men and women go though heart breaks, happiness, lose, things that regular people go thorugh to find love and themselves. All of my male friends like "other Fish" to I highly recommend this book. I can't wait for the next book by Ms. Kusel

I was surprised how much I liked this book. Its a collection of 10 stories that all have the same character, a woman named Elly. Usually I don't really like short stories or a book comprised of a collection of stories. Its just by the time I get to know & enjoy the characters, background, and the plot, the story ends. They're just too short! Hence the definition of a short story.

I liked how some stories centered around Elly and in some stories Elly was a secondary character. My two favorite stories were "Praire Dogs and "Other Fish in the Sea." I liked the character "Praire Dogs" focused on, a young artist named Lydia. I think it would be neat if the author decided to write another book similar to this one but use the character of Lydia as the common thread connecting all the short stories.

Other Fish in the Sea not only brings back memories of my 20's but the journey involved in discovering contentment and possibly the love of our life.

I love the creative way author Lisa Kusel incorporates a series of short stories all interconnected with one character, a young woman who experiences the anguish of love, heartache, and pain. Kusel's writing suggests the possibilities of affecting the lives of those around us, even in situations where we're merely bystanders or have no personal or frequent contact with that individual.

Kusel is a talented and up and coming author. Her humor, attention to detail, and insight into the grooves of relationships is remarkable. I recommend this book to all of the hopeless romantics and look forward to reading her future novels. It's a great read. You won't be dissapointed.

I wasn't greatly happy with these stories when I first started the book, but it becomes apparent that the character building is weak initially because it's all filled in with the other stories in the book. They're all connected, in that they are stories from random times in the life of the "main" character, Elly, who is a woman in one unsuccessful relationship after another. She's a little crazy, a little neurotic, sometimes trying to hard, sometimes not caring enough, but it's all pretty interesting.
She actually mentions my alma mater, Wake Forest, in one of the stories, and it makes me wonder if the meeting with that student in Europe in one of the stories is based on any real life event.

I found this book by chance. I was intrigued by the title. I could not put it down. I was laughing, crying and watching Elly grow. It was cool how you got to see her through her own eyes and through other people's perspectives. That was my favorite part. I was so happy with the ending. I never saw it coming. I read this book in about a day. I hope to see more from Lisa Kusel if she keeps writing like this. This is a book that any woman can relate to in some way. It is just that incredible.

I enjoyed following Elly along for the ride as she embarks on one of the greatest quests of these times- finding love. The short stories lend a wonderful vision to Elly from outside and within, as we see her through other characters' eyes and her own perspectives. I was so hoping she would find peace and I was not disappointed. Well thought out, with wonderful attention to detail and colorful characters. A great debut!

Exhilarating and witty! "Other Fish in the Sea", a collection of short stories is a book you won't want to put down. I found myself hanging on to every word and couldn't wait to find out what happens next. I didn't want it to end! Elly Fisher's search for love and herself makes this book almost seem real. I could relate to so many of Elly's experiences that it made the story even more intriguing. Kusel introduces new characters in each story and allows them to join Elly on her journey. It was hard to decide which story was my favorite and found them all so enjoyable. Each of them kept my imagination running wild. I would recommend "Other Fish in the Sea" to anyone and would be great for reading groups. I look forward to reading her next novel.

A friend of mine recommended Lisa Kusel's book for a plane trip I was taking, and I am so glad she did. By the end of the four-or-so hours, I was totally engrossed with Elly Fisher and the other characters so realistically and honestly portrayed in these stories. The format of the book (interrelated but essentially separate short stories) is unique and interesting. Each story has a style and voice of its own, but together they reflect the life of this compelling woman, Elly Fisher, as she matures, makes mistakes, and ultimately makes peace with herself. This is an unusual but wholly enjoyable way to learn about someone. I love all of this book, but there are two things in particular that strike me as brilliant: 1/ The author's attention to detail: It seems to me that Kusel is an exceptional observer of people and that she has a real talent for capturing gestures and moments that bring these people alive in her stories. I especially enjoyed Kusel's original, witty, and crisp analogies. I frequently found myself nodding, chuckling, and thinking "That's perfect!" 2/ The endings: Kusel is truly masterful at knowing how --and when--to end a story. Her timing is perfect. She leaves just enough to the reader's imagination to make each story satisfying yet still intriguing and thought-provoking. I would definitely recommend Other Fish in the Sea. And I look forward to more fine work from Lisa Kusel.

The cover of "Other Fish in the Sea" caught my attention and I am so glad it did. This collection of short stories is clever, engaging and a wonderful read. It is a book that I would recommend to my girlfriends, but your boyfriend/husband/brother just might like it too. What makes the stories something to be enjoyed by many is the fact that each story has a different voice. In each story, the character Elly appears. Nevertheless and quite interestingly, Elly is not the main character in each. The author creates a new voice (female and male) in each story and does so masterfully. The book is just real enough to be believable, but also lets you dream a little. I like to read before bed and usually cannot make it through novels in under a month or so. "Other Fish in the Sea" was the perfect read for me because of its short story format (actually I often read more than one story a night), and also because it was extremely entertaining. The stories made me think, but were sheer fun as well. I highly recommend the book to anyone.