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Summary: The Poetry and Short Stories of Dorothy Parker
Review: For those who enjoy a sharpened wit, Dorothy Parker is a pleasure to read. The difficulties lie in her context. The poor woman was one of the most miserable characters in recent times and not even the Algonquin Round Table could hide her self-destructive nature. Endowed with some of the most powerful literary skills, she chose to live writing little of moment and tying it to her particular time and place (with her attendant circumstances). Although there is plenty to recommend this collection to readers, remember to watch her carefully, she wasn't (and isn't) completely safe.-Kelly Whiting
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Summary: The Poetry and Short Stories of Dorothy Parker
Review: Great book. Ideal for any Dorothy Parker fan
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Summary: Bitter and Fascinating
Review: Having been exposed only to the most famous few of Parker's poems and quips, I was surprised to find she had written so much poetry and that, in fact, she was an accomplished short story writer as well. It's her short fiction which has engrossed me. Her dialogues are killingly accurate in their pacing and cadences. Her take on human nature is razor sharp as always. I'm finding her fiction more rewarding than her poetry because it is less self-indulgent and her range of subjects is broader. It's only a shame she never got it together to write more stories or a novel. Most definitely worth exploring if you haven't read her before.
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Summary: Words that Cut Like Diamonds and are Twice as Pretty
Review: Here you have it, all of the wit and charm of Dorothy Parker in one neat compact volume. The poems, many of which I had read before, are brilliant and stunning, having the punch of an O. Henry story in one or two little pages. The short stories, of which I had read exactly none before I picked up this book, are, incredibly, just as good as her verses. Full of the pathos and drama of a wide variety of domestic experience, these prose gems are brimming with smart and realistic dialogue seldom found in any medium. Some of the best tales are simply inner monologues of a woman doing ordinary things like waiting for the man she adores to call her on the phone or dancing with a clog footed bore who keeps kicking her in the shins. These pieces are so well done and so dead on that they would make great audition pieces for budding actresses to impress a casting agent with. Much has been made of Dorothy Parker's unhappiness and self destructive behavior, but despite, or possibly because of, her abject misery, the lady could put pen to paper. Her work, much more than her biography, is what should stand the test of time. If you like this book and simply have to have more, you should also pick up "Not Much Fun: The Lost Poems of Dorothy Parker" compiled by Stuart Silverstein and collecting, many for the first time, the poems that Dottie wasn't that fond of--they are brilliant as well.
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Summary: 4 books in one, and at a great price
Review: This book is a compilation of all three of Parker's books of poetry as well as her published book of short stories. As for the price, it can't be beat, especially considering it's in hardcover. Plus, you also don't have to worry about buying 2 or 3 books to make sure you've got all of the poems you wanted.Dorothy Parker's writing is fantastic anyway, and uses cynical wit to draw the reader into the poem. The reader laughs, but manages to feel empathetic. Her style is unique and doesn't seem outdated, even though most of this was written at least half a century ago. If you've ever wanted to laugh about being broken-hearted, this is the book for you.
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Summary: 4 books in one, and at a great price
Review: This book is a compilation of all three of Parker's books of poetry as well as her published book of short stories. As for the price, it can't be beat, especially considering it's in hardcover. Plus, you also don't have to worry about buying 2 or 3 books to make sure you've got all of the poems you wanted. Dorothy Parker's writing is fantastic anyway, and uses cynical wit to draw the reader into the poem. The reader laughs, but manages to feel empathetic. Her style is unique and doesn't seem outdated, even though most of this was written at least half a century ago. If you've ever wanted to laugh about being broken-hearted, this is the book for you.
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