Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It is an amazing short story collection that can be read in one weekend or savored over several weeks. Maile Meloy's fourth book formats well for Amazon's ebook reader, the Kindle.
Meloy's stories are delightful and disturbing all in one moment. The realism and reluctance to provide neat wrapped-up story endings make them a joy to read even if there are some frustrating, unsatisfying moments at the end of some of the stories because sometimes reader really do just want to know what happens next. But Meloy often leaves some aspects up to the readers' imaginations and this openness makes her stories incredibly rich and thought provoking.
Structure of Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It
Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It is a collection of eleven short stories. The stories vary in length however each of the stories is easily read in one sitting. Reading Meloy's book on the Kindle makes it even easier as the Kindle automatically saves the last page read so even if a reader is interrupted in the middle of a story, his or her place is never lost.
Given the emotional complexity of each of the eleven stories it is advisable to read each story uninterrupted to experience the full impact and journey the characters take.
Realism in Maile Meloy's Short Stories
Meloy's stories offer an almost uncomfortable view into each of her characters' worlds. She does not shy away from providing the sad, and sometimes sordid, details of their lives. And these are the very details that give her characters vibrancy and life and create such compelling protagonists. Despite being underdogs Meloy's characters are worth rooting for; she shows us their seeds of goodness and provides a window into that last bit of hope.
Even with all of the glorious details the stories in Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It don't provide the full story. Each story leaves something untold, something unsaid, something ambiguous. Readers will either find this terribly fascinating or terribly frustrating.
Recommended Reading
Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It is a beautiful collection of short stories that will surely delight readers who are:
- Fans of Ernest Hemingway's short story "Hills Like White Elephants"
- English majors
- Fans of French films like Amelie
Publication Information
Meloy, Maile. Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It. Kindle Edition Ebook. 231 KB. Riverhead/Penguin Publishing (2009). ASIN: B002IPZG0O
Tracey Carter - Tracey holds a B.A. in English from Hood College and is an avid reader, educator, blogger, and aspiring librarian.
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