You Are Having a Good Time: Stories

If this is what passes for good writing at the present then I'd say we are in big trouble. The writing-simple declaritive sentences-is of not interest, and the characters are all adrift on the sea of modern life. I suppose that is what so hip in that the writer writes so convincingly about empty characters. Pretty soon we will be reading writing about people on drugs having sex with their dogs in a Buddist shrine room. Anything goes for these empty and lost people. And we're supposed to applaud people who write about them? What's hip about degeneracy?

I read it straight through twice and now want to read particular stories a third time. My favorite was "Animals," about an actress who is tormented by a ruthless director. But they're all terrific. These are brilliant, hilariously funny and devastating stories. You'll love this book. Amie Barrodale has the most original and honest voice of any short story writer working today. Her characters will remind you of all of those difficult and irresistible conversations you have going on in your head. An exhilarating new talent. She knows the human heart very, very, very well.

This exceeded expectations. Gaitskill, Carver, whoever else - Amie is at the table with them. Her stuff's a little like if "Cat Person"by Kristen Roupenian was actually good

The book was easy to read and easy to love. All of the stories are one of a kind and they really take you into another setting. Recommend this book! great read

This is a very very smart collection of stories. I love it.

I read great reviews of this book but woof. Could not get into any of the stories. Most stories included descriptions of sex for the sake of being "edgy" and even then none of the plots were compelling.

A delightful set of spare short stories. Not a lot of resolution, so if you need that, may not work for you

Best spiritual writing I have ever read.

A disappointment from start to finish

This book had plenty of excellent reviews and people compared this author to Miranda July (who I really enjoy) so I was looking forward to reading it. I typically like collections of stories that are strange and dark as this one can be, at times, but the writing was so flat and just not engaging enough to hold my attention. The character development was lacking and as was plot thus I felt I just could not get into these stories.

Fabulous

Good read!