Customer Reviews

Stop That Girl: A Novel in Stories

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just reading the first few delicious pages of Stop That Girl, I knew I was in for a treat (I remember sinking into it one night and I kept waking up my husband accidentally by laughing out loud so much). I read the opening story over twice, I found it so funny, witty, and qwirky but then the rest of the book turned out to be just as good. The stories are hilarious, but there is a underlining psychological thread that makes this go way beyond humor -- this is satisfying story-telling, poignant. The main character has alot of spunk and insight. She's brought up by a crazy family such as only California can produce. Rollicking, sad, sassy, and irreverent, this is a fun world to be in and includes an unforgetable sojourn in Europe with Dr. Frost the grandmother, a weird risk-taking mother, antics at a hamburger stand, an outrageous car ride with Alan Ginsberg. Delicious is the word that continues to come to mind. I'll watch this author closely.

This is an Amazon Breakout Book for 2005, and once again, the editors do not disappoint with their selections. It's a quick read comprised of snapshots of narrator Ann Ransom's life as she grows from grade school through college.

The book starts out with a bang, as the spunky and self-centered grade-school age Ann deals with her mother's new boyfriend, losing her only child status, her manipulative and insane Grandmother, and an annoying schoolmate/neighbor. I enjoyed seeing Ann grow, and she's no angel, just a girl trying to find her place in the world and deal with the people around her.

I'm only giving the book 4 stars because I felt it kind of wandered at the end, and I didn't feel complete when I finished the book. Author McKenzie portrays a psychotic grandmother, but the scenes with her are so brief that the reader barely gets to make up his or her mind based on evidence. I almost felt as if the author used this "novel in short stories" gimmick to get out of having to fully develop some of the characters.

Overall, this is a great book, and each chapter is a vivid portrait of the events which shaped Ann as she grew up. I highly recommend this breakout book from a new talent in fiction.

I could not put "Stop that Girl" down, and have now read it several times -the first time I read it, I was so captivated by the characters and what they were going through that I read it really quickly. Each time I have returned to it, though, I have slowed down to savor McKenzie's incredible turn of phrase, descriptive power, humor and tenderness. So many times while reading it, I laughed out loud and cried as well. Some people I know have asked on hearing the title, "is this a 'girlie-book'"? - I am able to tell them that is is a powerful tale about people, relationships and life told with humor and flair - this book will appeal to all. It's beautifully written. I am glad to see that the paperback is out, as it might reach an even wider audience. I can't wait to read more by Elizabeth McKenzie. She's brilliant.

This book was very enjoyable and a fun read but not something I would read twice.

The novel goes through the life of Ann Ransom. You meet her when she is very young and only living with her mother. By the end of the book, she is living with her son. Each chapter is a different time in her life and a different story. It comes together nicely though I did feel as if some of the stories were kind of like "fillers."

Maybe the problem was that I had very high expectations for this book and it didn't live up to them.

This hapless character warmed my heart and gave me many laughs. The book is surprising all the way with comical ups and downs and genuine sadness. A lovely book with lovely writing and imagination.

"STOP THAT GIRL" is quite a little accomplishment. Each story stands alone but then when taken in the context of cumulative meaning, they tell a complete look at the life and times of native Californian Ann Ransom. The stories are warm and humorous. An extremely wonderful book deserving of many praises. I also recommend "MY FRACTURED LIFE", "THE GLASS CASTLE", "PREP", and "RUNAWAY."

I bought the book after a reading at Women and Children First in Chicago and discovered a delightful, poignant book. The characters have real affection for one another at the same time they revel in the others' failings and weaknesses. The relationship between the mother and grandmother woven through the book make you want to read from section to section as you learn that the underlying love in families carries them through some truly wild rides. The book is that life adventure I expected to put down but didn't until there were no more pages to read, and then I shut Stop That Girl reluctantly.

I was looking forward to a fun, light read. Instead I got a depressing memoir. I know it was not 100% about the author but you wonder which parts were "changed". Don't read this book if you're looking for laughs. It really isn't funny...

I usually stick with nonfiction but got this book thinking it was nonfiction by accident. It was set up to read like a memior which I was happy about but it was SO BORING. The 'trials and tribulations' are trivial. The family is no more dysfunctional then anybody else's family.
The mother has mild depression and the two daughters have an outstandingly caring step-father. The book was suppose to be full of humor and by the end of the book I was still waiting to find this humor. Nonfiction has a reason to be common place whereas I expected Fiction to be more outrageous and outlandish. This book, to me, just seems to fall very flat.

"Stop That Girl" is deliciously funny and highly entertaining. The way it is written is so smooth and effortless that at the end you feel like you have known the character all yout life. Each chapter is a free standing story of itself but yet when you connect them you end up with a skillful patchwork type story. In my own mind I liken it to eating Hor d overies as a meal. succulent and yet I desire more.