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    Ordinary Life: Stories
    Ordinary Life: Stories
    Ordinary Life: Stories
    Audiobook6 hours

    Ordinary Life: Stories

    Written by Elizabeth Berg

    Narrated by Elizabeth Berg

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In this superb collection of short stories, Elizabeth Berg takes us into remarkable moments in the lives of women, when memories and events come together to create a sense of coherence, understanding, and change. In “Ordinary Life,” Mavis McPherson locks herself in the bathroom for a week, shutting out her husband and the realities of their life together—and, no, she isn’t contemplating a divorce. She just needs some time to think, to take stock of her life, and to arrive, finally, at a surprising conclusion.

    In “White Dwarf” and “Martin’s Letter to Nan,” the secrets of a marriage are revealed with the sensitivity and “brilliant insights about the human condition” (Detroit Free Press) that have become a trademark of Berg’s writing. The Charlotte Observer has said, “Berg captures the way women think as well as any writer.” Those qualities of wisdom and insight are everywhere present in Ordinary Life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateFeb 4, 2014
    ISBN9781480501621
    Ordinary Life: Stories
    Author

    Elizabeth Berg

    Elizabeth Berg is the award-winning author of more than twenty-five books, including the New York Times bestsellers True to Form, Never Change, Open House, The Story of Arthur Truluv, Night of Miracles, and The Confession Club. She lives outside of Chicago. Find out more at Elizabeth-Berg.net.

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    Reviews for Ordinary Life

    4/5

    106 ratings8 reviews

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    • 5/5
      great short stories thatvyou wish were longer. Maybe Elizabeth will chose one of the stories to make a novel.
    • 4/5
      It is all about Mundane day-to-day life of women who suffer from boredom, illness and the vicious cycle of being trapped in their relationships.
    • 4/5
      As the title suggests the book is a collection of stories about ordinary life or actually about the disruptions in ordinary life that make one appreciate the mundane. One minor complaint is that men, particularly husbands, are presented seemingly overly silent and withdrawn.
    • 4/5
      Digital audiobook narrated by Laura Hicks.This is a collection of short stories exploring the role of women and their relationships in contemporary America. Berg writes wonderfully about these women. I understand their frustrations and share their hopes, empathize with their pain and disappointments, and celebrate their triumphs and joys. There are moments that are laugh-out-loud funny, and moments that quiet my soul and cause me to reflect. Some scenes are almost unbearably tender, and a few made me feel uncomfortably like a voyeur. Her characters are familiar; we all know (or actually are) women like this. Their lives may be “ordinary” … the stories, and this collection, are NOT. I could not help but think of my late friend Sally, who first introduced me to Berg years ago. I can picture her sitting on my patio during book club and exclaiming, “You haven’t read Elizabeth Berg!?!” Thank you, my friend; I miss your recommendations, but at least I have plenty more of Elizabeth Berg’s books to read.The audiobook is performed by Laura Hicks, who does a marvelous job. She really brings these characters to life.
    • 3/5
      A bit of a Debbie Downer book that seemed a bit too realistic in its short stories. One, in particular, hit close to home. Depressing I felt.
    • 3/5
      I don't often read short stories, but this is one of my favorite authors. The stories were solid, but as usual with short stories, I'm left wanting more.
    • 5/5
      WONDERFUL collection of short stories, showing the extraordinary in 'ordinary' lives. Ms. Berg writes truthfully, and beautifully. If you like this, check out her other short story collection, "The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation".
    • 5/5
      I don't normally care for short stories, but this book was the exception. Especially rewarding was the one which gives answers to a novel Berg had written previously (I'll let you figure that out or do your own research. ;) Loved it!