Vinegar Girl
Ratings42
Average rating3.3
Pulitzer Prize winner and American master Anne Tyler brings us an inspired, witty and irresistible contemporary take on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Kate Battista feels stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she’s always in trouble at work – her pre-school charges adore her, but their parents don’t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner. Dr. Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There’s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr, all would be lost. When Dr. Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he’s relying – as usual – on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time he’s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men’s touchingly ludicrous campaign to bring her around?
Series
Featured Series
11 released booksHogarth Shakespeare project
Hogarth Shakespeare project is a 11-book series with 11 released primary works first released in 2012 with contributions by Anne Tyler, Jeanette Winterson, and Margaret Atwood.
Reviews
Popular Reviews
Reviews with the most likes.
Four stars just for it being fun to read. This the third book I've read from the Hogarth Shakespeare project, after [b:Hag-Seed 28588073 Hag-Seed Margaret Atwood https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1463887982s/28588073.jpg 49490147] and [b:Macbeth 33952851 Macbeth (Hogarth Shakespeare) Jo Nesbø https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1507978598s/33952851.jpg 54925798], and my favorite of the three. None have been completely satisfying, maybe because it's hard to recreate the stories and capture the pacing of Shakespeare in today's world, but it is interesting to see the different attempts. I give Anne Tyler credit for bringing energy to the old “need to get married for a green card” scenario.
Meh. The Taming of the Shrew is a classic and can be looked at as an example of the time about which it was written, even if parts are difficult to find humorous with its depictions of women. Vinegar Girl is problematic in part because of its modernization.
It's never bad, but it never rose beyond “decent” either. When it really goes for the whole “comedy of manners” vibe (which isn't very often) it can be fun, but otherwise I just found it well-written but completely unremarkable.
