Vinegar Girl By Anne Tyler

[Cloverjo]

I'd be interested to know what other people thought of this book, which is a retelling of The Taming of the Shrew.

I bought it because I love Anne Tyler and, while I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan, TTOTS is my favourite of his plays.

I found it a bit lacking of everything I love about Tyler, and the drama and passion of the play.

Any ABers read it?

[Buenchico]

Very mixed reviews on both Amazon UK
http://tinyurl.com/zzudpvw
and Amazon USA
http://tinyurl.com/zkq2vrb

[Cloverjo]

Thanks, Buenchico. I agree with the top critical review on the USA site.

[Buenchico]

All authors have some books which are better than others. It seems, from reading several of the reviews, that quite a few of Anne Tyler's fans regard Vinegar Girl as one of her weaker works.

[Canary42]

I'm an Anne Tyler fan, and a Shakespeare fan, but haven't come across this book. I'll try my local library, and let you know.

[Canary42]

I got it from the library and have now read it. I do agree that it isn't her best book, and this is further depleted by the fact that William Shakespeare did it so much better (IMO). There were however some delicious Tyleresque characters - I loved Aunt Thelma.

I was amused by the 11-years-later Epilogue, obviously added because American Tastes insist on Happy Ever After conclusions !