Homely Girl, A Life: And Other Stories

By Arthur Miller

Book Overview

In his long career, Arthur Miller has charted some of the most hidden aspects of the American character, and made us recognize ourselves. With Homely Girl, A Life, he turns his attention to a smaller, more intimate, canvas, but one that in its deceptive delicacy still encompasses a vast range of human fears, ambitions, and desires. Janice--the eponymous homely girl--has hated her face ever since she was a child and her mother held up Ivory Snow advertisements to her, saying, "Now that is beauty." Homely she is, but also fiercely herself. Still, it is not until she falls in love with a blind musician that she feels her full nature unfold in this exquisite portrait of a woman finding a language to describe herself.

Flanked by two stories also set in Manhattan, "Fame" and "Fitter's Night," Homely Girl, A Life pays homage to a city constantly reinventing itself--and to the classic Miller themes of work, honor, and identity.

"Chekhovian . . . deserves praising to the top of the highest skyscraper for its humanity, wit, depth" --A.N. Wilson

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140252797
• ISBN13: 9780140252798
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Penguin Adult Hc/Tr
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.0" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Life

As a tremendous fan of Arthur Miller, I have made it a goal to read everything he has published. That being said, I can put this collection of short stories in perspective in relation to his other work. I would suggest this collection of short stories is plain and unspectacular compared to anything else of Miller's I have read. Each of the stories lack much in the way of plot, but they are intended to a be a sample of life. The first story, "Homely Girl, A Life" is about a less than pretty girl's struggle to find her place in the world. As if often the case in Miller's work, the woman lead is a flawed and sexaully promiscuous character. Her conflict seems unresolved except for her gaining acceptance for her appearance from some men. The second story, "Fame" is arguably the best. It is a brief and perhaps somewhat autobiographical story of a writer coming to grips with his celebrity status. Miller portrays the public is a negative light in this story. The last story, "Fitter's Night" is the one I enjoyed least. The story describes the life of a ship worker who can see himself as a hero only when he realizes the flaws in the members of his community. Much of the story is focused on a crisis at the ship yard in which a ship needs major repairs. Not being familiar with the lingo of the ship yard, I found these parts hard to read. Because Miller is a former ship worker, he has much more expertise in ship repair than his readers. I greatly enjoy Miller's work, but this is not up to par with some of his other writing. If you can afford not own every Arthur Miller work, this might be the one to skip.

Quick, accessible stories; unique, interesting conflicts

I'd say that the three stories in this book share a common theme: what "success in life" versus "failure in life" means. The first story recounts the personal history of a woman who happens to be physically unattractive. And since other forms of beauty are even rarer than physical beauty, she runs the risk of being a "failure in life"--insofar as beauty always eludes her. But then, one day, she encounters a very beautiful thing and she melds with it, changing her world. The next story is a snapshot of the surreal life of a popular celebrity, showing the possibility of having too MUCH "success in life." The story is kind of a gag, but intriguing. By the time it's over, your increasing sympathy may silence your laughs. The last story is action-oriented: shipfitters braving harsh elements to make vital repairs on a Navy destroyer. The chief shipfitter is arguably a "failure in life." However, the story reveals that his faults aren't his own; they are the faults of his community. The story also suggests that people with "success in life," like the ship's Captain, probably owe their victories to others. This book is yet another thought-provoking work of art by America's finest writer.

A mixed bag of short stories

This collection of three stories by Miller is worth reading for the last story in the book alone, "Fitter's Night." This is a superb story, the kind of short story you could imagine a great dramatist might write. The first story - "Homely Girl" is confused and not up to the mark. The second story, "Fame" is unfortunately a rather easy joke. So skip these (or read them quickly) and go straight to the last one. It is a story that will stay with you for a long time to come.