Ms. Hempel Chronicles Audiobook

" Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this book, but I'm in the middle of the book when I finally realize the main character is Asian. Important? No, but the book wasn't going anywhere either.... I have to admit that I put the book down with 40 pages to go. "

" This collection of stories posing as a novel had some problems. I don't know any seventh grade teacher who would teach To Kill a Mockingbird, This Boy's Life, or Romeo and Juliet. Ms. Hempel's argument "justifying" the language of the Wolfe autobiography would never cut the mustard with parents of my seventh graders. Also, Ms. Hempel is an English teacher, but it was obvious that Ms. Bynum could have used an English teacher to assist with grammar, at least to explain how to use colons properly. That being said, this novel did have its moments. I could identify with Ms. Hempel's gruesome daydream about breaking something that would require a full body cast and thus release her from her teaching career. There is some truth in her observation that teaching "had rendered her unfit for everything else." I have felt the deep tenderness she describes as I've watched students pour over yet another standardized test. Some of the observations are valid even if the character is a bit wonky. Bynum seems to me a writer in the vein of Lorrie Moore and Elizabeth McCracken. The generous critic believes her best work is yet to come. "

" This book was mostly very dull. "

" A novel in the form of interconnected short stories that I was quite taken with at first, but then I sort of lost interest. I did finish it, though. Good writing and interesting main character, but the format of the book created some distance that kept me from getting caught up in the story/ies. "

" This is what it's like when boring people introspect. "

" Favorite quote: "She had chosen instead the squishy embrace of the humanities, where nothing was quantifiable and absolute, and now she was paying for all those lovely, lazy years of sitting in circles and talking about novels." "

" Beautifully written with plenty of resonance for teachers/former teachers. Felt a bit like a creative writing exercise, rather than a novel, though. Still well worth a read. "

" This is a lovely, fun little book. Bynum's prose is delicate and heartwarming, perfect for describing children on the cusp of adulthood. It will remind you that middle school wasn't that bad. Maybe. "

" i enjoyed this author's first book, so i'm giving this one a try. i'm liking it so far! it's about a new teacher... "

" beautiful, sweet, warm, smart- bynum has the most lovely voice i've read in awhile & i ate this book up quick as anything. "

" Very accurate and well-written descriptions of a secondary teacher's inner thoughts, but doesn't hold together. More like a string of related short stories. "

" This is one of those books with absolutely no plot; it's all about a slow exploration of a character. Well done and enjoyable. "

" Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum's Ms. Hempel Chronicles is witty and humorous, even brilliant at times, but on the whole seems rather aimless. It would be nice if the charming parts were more fully developed and tied together by a plot or some other unifying concept. "

" This is a short book composed of several short stories. It is a fast read and really captures the life of an upper elementary school teacher. Most teachers will see themselves or their colleges in this book "

" The best description of teaching I've read. Lovely, funny book about the secret lives of teachers. "

" I enjoyed this book, but some of the inconsistencies really annoyed me. It wasn't until after I finished it that I learned it was originally published as separate short stories, which explains that problem. But, if you are a teacher or love someone who teaches, this is a fun read. "

" This is the book Jonathan Franzen recommended at the Brooklyn Book Festival. "

" I quit reading this book, perhaps because each of the chapters was a short story, and the connection was obtuse at best. perhaps at a later date, I will return and be enthraled but for now there are too many books calling me. "

" This is a terrific story collection. The voice is wonderful and every sentence is pitch perfect. "

" Very free stream of thought...one minute as a teacher at a school talent show...then back when she was five ... then fast forward to her live in boyfriend... rewind to her mom's childhood.. I constantly felt like I was trying to keep up... exhausting. "

" excellent read. It's a bunch of short stories but all about the same character so it reads like a novel. This book had some of the best sentences I have ever read. I wanted to underline and take notes and all sorts of stuff I never do. "

" i really liked certain parts of this book. lovely turns of phrase. light. but overall found it unsatisfying as lacking in plot and found the main character oddly pathetic. "

" wish I could remember where I read about this book and why I decided to read it...it's fine, with some beautiful moments, but nothing special. "

" I enjoyed this book, but some of the inconsistencies really annoyed me. It wasn't until after I finished it that I learned it was originally published as separate short stories, which explains that problem. But, if you are a teacher or love someone who teaches, this is a fun read. "

" The Ms. Hempel Chronicles tops my list right now. Sarah Shun-lien Bynum is young, but her first was National Book Award Finalist and she's got some damn fine prose. Also, teachers will "get" this particular book on a whole other level. "

" Really enjoyed the humor, particularly the evil clowns (a real phobia of mine). Want to read more of her. "

" Felt very 'convicted' when reading parts of this. In a good way, I suppose. "

" Charming. A fast read. Thanks, Elissa! "

" one of my favorite reads of 2010. i loved the simplicity of the writing style & cant wait to read "madeleine is sleeping" "

" i really liked certain parts of this book. lovely turns of phrase. light. but overall found it unsatisfying as lacking in plot and found the main character oddly pathetic. "

" What an odd little melancholy novel. Hints and reminiscences. "