Reviews
"...raw and engaging...more textured and complicated world than is usually found in collections. This, combined with the energy of the writing and the dark wit of these characters, will endear the book to Schappell's audience and fans of Lorrie Moore and Maile Meloy." - Publishers Weekly, On the Best Fiction of 2011 list. - Oprah One of the Best Books of 2011. - eMusic Editor's Choice. "...darkly funny...distinctive and tart...the stories have a comedic touch and ironic edge, softened by moments of memorable tenderness." - Chicago Tribune "Schappell's stories acutely evoke the disorientation induced in women by our culture's barrage of mixed messages..." - The New York Times "...raw and engaging...more textured and complicated world than is usually found in collections. This, combined with the energy of the writing and the dark wit of these characters, will endear the book to Schappell's audience and fans of Lorrie Moore and Maile Meloy." - Publishers Weekly "...brisk and satisfying..." - The New Yorker "Schappell's sardonic, not-afraid-to-show-ugly voice quietly carries us along, linking sex and dread - not in a Scary Movie way but rather in a mode of hard-lesson suburban nihilism." - Elle "...sharp, meticulously etched and tenuously linked...deeply affecting..." - New York Press "[a] knockout new collection...Disarming, wickedly funny, and moving, these stories reveal girls and women on their way to becoming other people...wise and entrancing..." - Boston Globe "...accomplished... Taken altogether, an immediacy and intimacy are offered up in this generous collection. Schappell's commanding, honest prose taps into a deeper sense of story that promises to resonate with many readers." - San Francisco Chronicle "...well-worn elements of women's fiction are revived by Schappell's dark, funny, biting prose, gift for metaphor, and incredibly believable characters...Her smart, flawed, strong, fascinating women are the stars of the show.' - Oregon Live "...superior fiction, the work of a talented stylist with a cold eye." - Washington Times "...wise and witty...Schappell writes with piercing insight and good humor, but one of her greatest gifts is her restraint...Schappell's stories read like snapshots - capturing precise moments from a woman's life from a distinct perspective. Considered together, Blueprints for Building Better Girls is a treasured photo album." - BookPage "Don't be fooled by the playful title, there's a master architect at work here...sharp, smart collection...Honest, unflinching, and deeply affecting." - Barnes & Noble Review, On the Best Fiction of 2011 list. - Oprah "Schappell's stories acutely evoke the disorientation induced in women by our culture's barrage of mixed messages..." - The New York Times "...raw and engaging...more textured and complicated world than is usually found in collections. This, combined with the energy of the writing and the dark wit of these characters, will endear the book to Schappell's audience and fans of Lorrie Moore and Maile Meloy." - Publishers Weekly "...brisk and satisfying..." - The New Yorker Editor's Choice. "...darkly funny...distinctive and tart...the stories have a comedic touch and ironic edge, softened by moments of memorable tenderness." - Chicago Tribune "Schappell's sardonic, not-afraid-to-show-ugly voice quietly carries us along, linking sex and dread - not in a Scary Movie way but rather in a mode of hard-lesson suburban nihilism." - Elle "...sharp, meticulously etched and tenuously linked...deeply affecting..." - New York Press "[a] knockout new collection...Disarming, wickedly funny, and moving, these stories reveal girls and women on their way to becoming other people...wise and entrancing..." - Boston Globe "...accomplished... Taken altogether, an immediacy and intimacy are offered up in this generous collection. Schappell's commanding, honest prose taps into a deeper sense of story that promises to resonate with many readers." - San Francisco Chronicle "...well-worn elements of women's fiction are revived by Schappell's dark, funny, biting prose, gift for metaphor, and incredibly believable characters...Her smart, flawed, strong, fascinating women are the stars of the show.' - Oregon Live "...superior fiction, the work of a talented stylist with a cold eye." - Washington Times "...wise and witty...Schappell writes with piercing insight and good humor, but one of her greatest gifts is her restraint...Schappell's stories read like snapshots - capturing precise moments from a woman's life from a distinct perspective. Considered together, Blueprints for Building Better Girls is a treasured photo album." - BookPage "Don't be fooled by the playful title, there's a master architect at work here...sharp, smart collection...Honest, unflinching, and deeply affecting." - Barnes & Noble Review, On the Best Fiction of 2011 list. - Oprah One of the Best Books of 2011. "...women continue to live, resist and question the blueprints the world hands them, and Schappell's collection masterfully illustrates this timeless dance." - eMusic Editor's Choice. "...darkly funny...distinctive and tart...the stories have a comedic touch and ironic edge, softened by moments of memorable tenderness." - Chicago Tribune "Schappell's stories acutely evoke the disorientation induced in women by our culture's barrage of mixed messages..." - The New York Times "...raw and engaging...more textured and complicated world than is usually found in collections. This, combined with the energy of the writing and the dark wit of these characters, will endear the book to Schappell's audience and fans of Lorrie Moore and Maile Meloy." - Publishers Weekly "...brisk and satisfying..." - The New Yorker "Schappell's sardonic, not-afraid-to-show-ugly voice quietly carries us along, linking sex and dread - not in a Scary Movie way but rather in a mode of hard-lesson suburban nihilism." - Elle "...sharp, meticulously etched and tenuously linked...deeply affecting..." - New York Press "[a] knockout new collection...Disarming, wickedly funny, and moving, these stories reveal girls and women on their way to becoming other people...wise and entrancing..." - Boston Globe "...accomplished... Taken altogether, an immediacy and intimacy are offered up in this generous collection. Schappell's commanding, honest prose taps into a deeper sense of story that promises to resonate with many readers." - San Francisco Chronicle "...well-worn elements of women's fiction are revived by Schappell's dark, funny, biting prose, gift for metaphor, and incredibly believable characters...Her smart, flawed, strong, fascinating women are the stars of the show.' - Oregon Live "...superior fiction, the work of a talented stylist with a cold eye." - Washington Times "...wise and witty...Schappell writes with piercing insight and good humor, but one of her greatest gifts is her restraint...Schappell's stories read like snapshots - capturing precise moments from a woman's life from a distinct perspective. Considered together, Blueprints for Building Better Girls is a treasured photo album." - BookPage "Don't be fooled by the playful title, there's a master architect at work here...sharp, smart collection...Honest, unflinching, and deeply affecting." - Barnes & Noble Review "Schappell's writing is entertaining...funny and smart...[Narrator] Julia Whelan...brings a sly humor to the work, with a mock earnestness with occasional emotional truth erupting beneath the surface. She is a great choice as a reader for this book." - Metapsychology.com, "Schappell's stories acutely evoke the disorientation induced in women by our culture's barrage of mixed messages..." - The New York Times "...raw and engaging...more textured and complicated world than is usually found in collections. This, combined with the energy of the writing and the dark wit of these characters, will endear the book to Schappell's audience and fans of Lorrie Moore and Maile Meloy." - Publishers Weekly "Schappell's sardonic, not-afraid-to-show-ugly voice quietly carries us along, linking sex and dread - not in a Scary Movie way but rather in a mode of hard-lesson suburban nihilism." - Elle "...sharp, meticulously etched and tenuously linked...deeply affecting..." - New York Press "[a] knockout new collection...Disarming, wickedly funny, and moving, these stories reveal girls and women on their way to becoming other people...wise and entrancing..." - Boston Globe "...wise and witty...Schappell writes with piercing insight and good humor, but one of her greatest gifts is her restraint...Schappell's stories read like snapshots - capturing precise moments from a woman's life from a distinct perspective. Considered together, Blueprints for Building Better Girls is a treasured photo album." - BookPage "Don't be fooled by the playful title, there's a master architect at work here...sharp, smart collection...Honest, unflinching, and deeply affecting." - Barnes & Noble Review
