Life and Other Shortcomings: Stories

by Corie Adjmi Narrated by Abigail Rakocy

Overview

Life and Other Shortcomings is a collection of linked short stories that takes the reader from New Orleans to New York City to Madrid, and from 1970 to the present day. The women in these twelve stories make a number of different choices: some work, others don't; some stay married, some get divorced; others never marry at all. Through each character's intimate journey, specific truths are revealed about what it means to be a woman-in a relationship with another person, in a particular culture and era-and how these conditions ultimately affect her relationship with herself. The stories as a whole depict patriarchy, showing what still might be (and certainly what was) for some women in this country before the #MeToo movement. Both a cautionary tale and a captivating window into women's lives, Life and Other Shortcomings is required reading for anyone interested in an honest, incisive, and compelling portrayal of the female experience.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Included in 2020's Best Beach Reads by Parade

“A compelling collection that captures the mystery and menace beneath love and family life. ”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Corie Adjmi has a flair for dramatizing scenes. She homes in on the killer moment, and her dialogue is so honest that I was cringing at times . . . It is just so vivid. ”

—Susan Breen, author of The Fiction Class



“Corie Adjmi’s stories are sharply written, unsparing, and spot-on. With wisdom and humanity, Life and Other Shortcomings plumbs the mysteries of adult life: the menacing underside of love, the protean nature of grief, and the baffling difficulty of staying true to ourselves and the things we value most. Assured in her storytelling, Adjmi writes with force and perception. Her stories are a must-read.”

—Elyssa Friedland, author of The Floating Feldmans and The Intermission and Love and Miss Communication



“Pitch perfect and very haunting, Life and Other Shortcomings is a true delight. Adjmi’s interlocking stories are as funny as they are tragic. Her characters are so real and relatable, you’ll find yourself rooting for them, even as they get into trouble. Adjmi is a great new talent.”

—Alison Espach, author of The Adults



“All that glitters is not gold in Corie Adjmi’s wonderful short story collection Life and Other Shortcomings. Adjmi exposes the fear, envy, and yearning that simmer just beneath the surface of her characters’ beautiful lives. Her writing is both elegant and powerful. I was hooked from the first page to the last.”

—Ellen Sussman, New York Times best-selling author of four novels, A Wedding in Provence, The Paradise Guest House, French Lessons and On a Night Like This

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175411202
Publisher:	She Writes Press
Publication date:	12/08/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged

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