A selfie as big as the Ritz
By: Lara Williams
Edition: First U.S. edition.
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 196
ISBN-13: 9781250126627
Work titles: Short stories
Description: ""A dark wonder. An often harrowing (and in parts, very, very funny) debut, it targets the unfathomable nonsense of relationships, work and modern living with a keen eye, head-spinning wordplay and enough compassion to crush your heart. Buy it for everyone you know." --The Skinny She finds herself single, twenty-nine, partially-employed, and about a half a stone overweight. Roller dexter of eligible friends rattling thin. Thirties breathing down her neck like an inappropriate uncle. She jogs. Looks good in turquoise. Finds herself punctuating gas "better out than in!" patting her stomach like a department store Santa. This is who I am, she thinks. The women in Lara Williams' debut story collection, A Selfie as Big as the Ritz, navigate the tumultuous interval between early twenties and middle age. In the title story, a relationship implodes against the romantic backdrop of Paris. In "One of Those Life Things," a young woman struggles to say the right thing at her best friend's abortion. In "Penguins," a girlfriend tries to accept her boyfriend's bizarre sexual fantasy. In "Treats," a single woman comes to terms with her loneliness. As Williams' characters attempt to lean in, fall in love, hold together a family, fend off loneliness, and build a meaningful life, we see them alternating between expectation and resignation, giddiness and melancholy, the rollercoaster we all find ourselves on"--
Notes: "Originally published in the UK by Freight Books as Treats"--Title page verso.
Table of contents: title: It begins --; title: A lover's guide to meeting shy girls; or; Breakup record --; title: One of those life things --; title: Both boys --; title: Where I am supposed to be --; title: This small written thing --; title: Beautiful existence --; title: It's a shame about Ray --; title: Dates --; title: Treats --; title: Taxidermy --; title: Penguins --; title: Toxic shock syndrome --; title: Here's to you --; title: Sundaes at the tipping yard --; title: Safe spaces --; title: A single lady's manual for parent/teacher evening --; title: A selfie as big as the Ritz --; title: The getting of the cat --; title: As understood by the women --; title: Tributaries.