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| The Guy Not Taken: Stories | 
 enlarge | Author: Jennifer Weiner
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy New: $0.01
You Save: $14.99 (100%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (59 reviews)
Sales Rank: 19668
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st Washington Square Press Trade Pbk. Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.4 x 1
ISBN: 0743298055
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780743298056
ASIN: 0743298055
Publication Date: June 26, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Not Good June 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really liked this authors other books, so I thought I would take a chance on the short stories, but I wasted my money. These stories just end with no conclusions that I can see. These aren't short stories, theyre beginnings of novels that she didnt feel like finishing. This is how the first short story goes... a broken family with an annoying sister who needs punched, the main character gets married and runs out into the rain because she thinks she sees her estranged father, but its not him, the end. WTF was that??? DO not read unless you like starting books and not finishing them because that is how this book is written.
 If only they had continuations... April 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Some of these short stories were great beginnings but then they suddenly ended. No conclusion. No leading conclusions. Nothing. The only one I felt ok with was the story with Cannie b/c I know there is an actual book that will tell what happen to her and Bruce. After the first couple of stories it really annoyed me that EVERY character had the broken childhood or couldn't keep thier marriage together. And some of these mothers that regret their children or play favorites was a definite turnoff. I really enjoy Wiener but I was truely disappointed in the collection of stories. I also wonder if Jennifer herself was so traumatized by her childhood she has to put her disappointment of her own father or even marriages/children in her writings. I'll force myself to read Certain Girls just to see how Cannie turns out.
Unsatisfying short stories with too-typical Weiner plots March 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The first Jennifer Weiner novel I read was "Good in Bed." I didn't think I would, but I enjoyed it, so I took a friend's recommendation and read "The Guy Not Taken" next. I was sorely disappointed.
I'll contend that part of the problem is that I'm not a fan of short stories in general, but these (especially the last few) are just plain too short. They are inconclusive, the characters and themes are yawningly repetitive, and the writer's tone, while engaging, is not varied enough to keep a reader interested for a significant amount of time.
It just seems that, as she alludes to in the final pages, Weiner herself struggled with many of the same issues such as divorce, an absentee father, depression, etc., that her characters do, and writing is a way to work through those issues. Here's hoping that she's almost done, and will soon move to a wider range of characters and emotions.
Definitely A Quick Read March 3, 2008
I found this book in the Good Will (you ought to check the books out at Good Will or Salvation Army as people donate them ... and you'd be surprised at what you might find!) and since I was sick last week (which is why I was able to read as much as I did!), I picked this book up. It is light on the eyes. It's easy to read and obviously, not a brainer where you have to concentrate on reading to get the message the author is trying to convey.
This is a perfect summer/beach read or vacation read. It is a collection of short stories (which I didn't know about) and I do like short stories. They're fun to read. They're harder to write since you have to make sure that you have a good ending, a good plot and a good story to tell. Weiner does a good job of telling stories and the stories here are just good. They're not her best but they're definitely not the worst collection of short stories either. I just didn't want to know more of any of the characters that she might have written more of.
There is one short story though that tickled my fancy. It is about a young housewife staying at home with her newborn. The title is "The Guy Not Taken" and she happened to be surfing the internet in between feedings. She discovered that her ex-boyfriend, the one she has loved for so many years, had set up a bridal registery at a local store. And naturally, she begins to dream of what it might have been if she stayed with him. Then lived a day in that dream. She then realizes that the grass is not necessarily always greener on the other side of the fence.
It is a cute story and definitely one I've had in the past. That is probably my favorite short story in the whole bunch.
These are cute and quirky short stories. But if you're expecting a novel, don't get this one. But there's nothing wrong with these stories, they're just not as full-fleshed as her other novels are.
3/3/08
 Loved This Book February 8, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This was such a great book! I took it with me on a trip and finished it before the plane landed. (it was a long trip) I couldn't put the book down because it was so good and kept me interested the entire time. I would suggest taking it with you for a light read!
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