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Cannie has several similarities with Weiner: Both are Philadelphia journalists who went to Princeton, and both have struggled with being larger women. They've also both been hit hard by their parents divorcing; and like Cannie, Weiner has a mother who has come out of the closet. Weiner jokes on her website that after college, she was "qualified to do nothing but write self-conscious short stories about [my] parents' divorce." As with many writers, trauma has become a mixed blessing for Weiner; who writes candidly and potently about the pain of being from a "broken home."
Weiner's books are immediately comfortable, with smart, movie-worthy dialogue and characters that are almost always engaging, if not likable. It would be (and has been) easy to categorize her work as "chick lit," and she might not even argue with that; but to do so is a bit facile. It undercuts the effortless intelligence that Weiner injects into her writing, her characters dropping references to Steinbeck and Andrea Dworkin as they apply MAC lip gloss.
Since her 2001 debut, Weiner's fictional themes have matured, as well. Although she mostly ties up her stories with satisfying neatness, she never shies away from the messiness of life. Her work resonates with real issues faced by countless women: the complexities of family relationships, the challenges of motherhood, and the exasperating, seemingly unsolvable mystery of men.
Weiner delivers terrific recreational reading, but imbues her characters with a wit and complexity that goes beyond beach-reads. It's fitting that she has called journalism "just about the perfect career for aspiring young writers." She has developed her skills as a journalist and columnist, and focused them on creating characters who could be you, or your friend.
Her real-life dog, Wendell, appears frequently in her writing. In Good in Bed, he insisted on a pseudonym, "Nifkin."
Some outtakes from our interview with Weiner:
"I have a nanny. I say this first because I recently made the mistake of posting on someone else's web site using the phrase ‘as a working mother.' I was promptly flamed for aligning myself with my embattled sisters in the trenches when I'm fortunate enough have a nanny who takes care of my fifteen-month-old daughter in the afternoons, and that's how I get my work done. So there. Nanny! And my husband and I will also occasionally hire a babysitter and go out Saturday night. I realize I'm torpedoing my shot at mother of the year with this, but what the hey."
"In my dreams, I am a backup singer. Not a lead singer, because I don't dream that big (at least, not vocally), but a backup singer."
"Reading is my number-one hobby. I also love walking with my daughter, either in her backpack or stroller. My husband is a wonderful cook, and I am a pretty passable sous-chef."
Anonymous
Posted January 8, 2011
This is getting bad reviews because folks have downloaded it, expecting a full price book at the sale price of 99 cents -- but it's only 64 pages! So be warned.
22 out of 22 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.thecollector0
Posted August 29, 2011
I Also Recommend:
I am a voracious reader who enjoys chicklit novels and Jennifer Weiner is a fantastic writer. i enjoyed reading this one.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 18, 2011
I would never have purchased this book if i knew it would be so short. i feel like it ended before it barely got started.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 2, 2011
Istarted reading book and assumed it would be like Jennifer Weiner's other novels which I always enjoyed. This was a series of excerpts from her other books and so I was disappointed to start a story and then not have it conclude in the novel.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 10, 2011
Great short story...too short. Unfortunately, I missed the "short story" in the title and was really beginning to enjoy it when it was over!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.TitanzMommy
Posted February 3, 2011
Nice story, very sweet, but what happens next?!?!
I personally LOVE Jennifer Weiner and purchased this book thinking I was getting a great deal!!!
No.
It is a 50 page story and the last 100 pages are samples of some of her other work.
Wish they would have said it was a SHORT STORY
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 1, 2011
The book is extremely short and ends unexpectedly, leaving you looking for the rest of it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 9, 2011
very nice read
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 12, 2011
I enjoyed this short story but sure wish it was a book. It ended way too quickly. But it was a reminder of how much I have enjoyed the other books written by Weiner and I will read more of her.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 4, 2011
I usually like Jennifer Weiner, but I wasn't impressed with this story. I also found the Nook book format a little misleading since the story comes with many samples of Weiner's other books.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 31, 2011
This short story was mediocre at best and ended abruptly. I would not recommend actually paying for it unless the excepts from the other stories would br useful for you. Very disappointing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 1, 2012
Cant wait to read the rest of her books!!!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.disneychannelmomma
Posted April 11, 2012
Another page turner from Ms. Weiner. I had started reading this story in a magazine and never went on their website to finish. I was thrilled when I cam across it for my Nook. Not a disappointment!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 19, 2012
Very short story
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 16, 2012
Weiner always has a way to reach her audience. Great quick read!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 15, 2012
Seriously. Its 28 pages long (not the 64 someone else says). It's good... but it's very very very short. The 'book' has 160 pages but thats just excerpts of her other books.
Consultant Piper's husband tells her he's leaving her as she leaves for a business trip. But then a volcanic eruption stops her trip. In about 10 pages she deals with it. Not much else you can say about a 28 page story.
Anonymous
Posted February 6, 2012
Great author
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 29, 2012
This story is so engrossing that if it was turned into a whole novel, I would read it in one setting!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.NotimetoreadCS
Posted January 16, 2012
Jennifer Weiner is entertaining, this was a quick read BUT it leaves you wanting for more to happen
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 15, 2012
I thought there was more to this book.
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Overview
From #1 bestselling author Jennifer Weiner, a short story about what can happen when one restless woman's best laid travel plans go astray...