SHOW DON’T TELL

By Curtis Sittenfeld 

In her second story collection Sittenfeld delivers a series of witty, intimate, and often dryly funny snapshots of modern life, primarily focusing on characters navigating the complexities and cringeworthy moments of middle age. She peels back the layers of her characters' inner lives, presenting sharp portraits of people at moments of introspection, often when their long-held beliefs are challenged or overturned. 

If you read Prep, you’ll be happy to read the story that revisits protagonist Lee Fiora, who is now older, more self-aware, and reflecting on a past marriage and life choices with a quiet, hard-won wisdom. Other stories tackle a range of contemporary social issues: racial privilege, the dynamics between genders, class and the nature of success. Sittenfeld's writing balances satire and sincerity while treating her cast with deep humanity, even when their actions are awkward or flawed. The stories are rich with inner monologues, articulating what makes her characters tick and making them feel so human.