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Blueprints for Building Better Girls Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,529 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Elissa Schappell's book delves into the lives of an eclectic cast of archetypal female characters including the high school slut, the party girl, the reluctant mother, and the anorexic daughter, twisting our pre-conceived notions of who these women are, offering surprising revelations into the nature of female identity, and how it evolves. How the adolescent girl labeled the school slut in 'Monsters of the Deep' will twenty years later become a mother in 'I'm Only Going to Tell You This Once' and, faced with daunting reality of raising a teenage son, be forced to revisit her past. Whether connected by blood, friendship, or necessity, whether living in the same city or in the imagination of others, these women will create a deep and lasting impression.
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"Blueprints is a volume of interlocking short stories which explore the formation of female identity through the lens of some typical archetypes--e.g. the slut, the good girl, and so on. In so doing, I think the author shows how women can be spoken of and thought of monolithically, particuarly with respect to the cultural forces and messages at work on them, but also demonstrates how, at the same time, women are diminished if their individuality and their unique experiences are ignored. The book zips right along so I didn't feel like I had to "stick it out," but I will also say that for the reader who *does* stick it out, there is a great payoff. The books concluding lines, in a story that features the same woman from the opening story, now older, is SUCH a zinger! Because it is so true."
— Julie (4 out of 5 stars)
Blueprints for Building Better Girls Listener Reviews
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" I really enjoyed this book. It is a compilation of short stories of various women/girls. Some of which were quite disturbing. But it reads very well and I couldn't put it down until I finished. "
— Uzma, 2/19/2014 -
" "...there is no such thing as just a girl." What a poignant ending to such a wonderfully interconnected collection of short stories. I loved this. "
— Samantha, 1/28/2014 -
" Well, I didn't love it, but the last story was very very good. "
— Chiara, 1/26/2014 -
" I enjoyed this collection of stories much more than Schappell's first... not that the first was bad but these were so much better. Each was engrossing, thought-provoking, and memorable. These women were like the voices of friends, family, people you know and some nights I couldn't put it down because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. "
— Iris, 1/25/2014 -
" Not sure I saw this as a fix it book--more a reflection of the experiences women have and how it impacts their choices and futures. Liked the varying stories sad, yet real. "
— Laronda, 1/24/2014 -
" Her writing is exquisite. "
— Kristen, 1/18/2014 -
" I liked this book a lot. I thought the stories were relatable & well rounded. I listened to in on audiobook while driving & really enjoyed it. "
— Tracy, 1/14/2014 -
" Liking this quite a bit so far. I'm thinking this would be fodder for good discussion in book club. "
— Karla, 1/3/2014 -
" Wonderfully written book with so many details that it makes you want to take notes. I struggled with how empty I felt at the end of this book. Others love it and I see why. Maybe how empty and sad it made me is a true sign of what a great author Elissa Schappell is. "
— Trish, 11/29/2013 -
" A set of loosely related stories that I found less than satisfying. "
— Sharon, 8/4/2013 -
" a little Lorrie Moore-ish, but not as good. "
— megan, 6/19/2013 -
" Interesting set of short stories and how most of them connected to each other. Some had funny moments as well, despite the sometimes dark topics. "
— Heather, 6/14/2013 -
" first story was so-so but then the next few were amazing. Still, maybe a bit too much upper class girl angst.... "
— Esiobhanmitchell, 2/24/2013 -
" I don't read a lot of short stories, but I really enjoyed this collection. The stories are all loosely connected, referencing characters in the other stories, but never really featuring them. "
— Karin, 11/18/2012 -
" enjoyed this book about women and the relationships that we have....each of us has a story that brought us to where we are today. "
— Tricia, 10/5/2012 -
" Short stories are not usually my reading preference, but this collection was excellent "
— Lynne, 3/27/2012 -
" It grew on me "
— Molly, 3/26/2012 -
" I want to write short stories like these. "
— Maggie, 1/31/2012 -
" I would give it a 3.5. Would like to process some of the stories! "
— Molly, 1/3/2012 -
" So dumb. Don't read it. It was cool how the short stories were related but other than that, not much. "
— Megan, 11/6/2011 -
" I read about half of this in one go, it was captivating in a most depressing way. dark doesn't begin to describe it, but the characters are real and sympathetic. "
— Valissa, 11/1/2011 -
" I really enjoyed this book. It is a compilation of short stories of various women/girls. Some of which were quite disturbing. But it reads very well and I couldn't put it down until I finished.<br/> "
— Uzma, 10/24/2011 -
" Not sure I saw this as a fix it book--more a reflection of the experiences women have and how it impacts their choices and futures. Liked the varying stories sad, yet real. "
— Laronda, 10/15/2011 -
" A solid short story collection that should well resonate with many a white suburban woman. "
— Anna, 10/11/2011 -
" Short stories are not usually my reading preference, but this collection was excellent "
— Lynne, 10/9/2011 -
" Not what I thought it would be. Watch out for the story with the dog in it... cried like it was going out of style - the only redeeming quality of this story collection. "
— Sara, 10/7/2011 -
" This is a wonderful collection of short stories - unlike one I have ever read. The author has her finger on the pulse of young women - she doesn't shy away from difficult subjects and she delivers each story with grace. I will always remember the final line of the book. A joy to read. "
— Anita, 10/2/2011 -
" This is one of the very few books I couldn't finish reading. I only have about 50 pages left but I really have no interest in finding out what happens to anyone of the characters in anyone of the stories. I can save that time and spend it on another book . "
— April, 10/2/2011 -
" read the first story the rest i dont remember<br/> "
— Jessamyn, 9/30/2011 -
" I love Elissa Schappell. I want to read more of her writing, I want to be able to write like her. I want to exist in her fictional universe and talk and cry with her characters and them smoke cigarettes with them and judge other people. "
— Rebecca, 9/27/2011
About Elissa Schappell
Elissa Schappell is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair where she writes the “Hot Type” book column, a former senior editor of the Paris Review, and co-founder and now editor-at-large of Tin House magazine. She lives in Brooklyn.
About Julia Whelan
Julia Whelan is a novelist, screenwriter, lifelong actor, and multiple award-winning audiobook narrator. She graduated with a degree in English and creative writing from Middlebury College and Oxford University. She is a former child actor who has appeared in multiple films and television shows.