My Father, Dancing

by Bliss Broyard

Book Overview

Bliss Broyard's fathers are charismatic, seductive, brilliant men who loom large in the world, and larger at home. Their daughters, hungry for attention and connection, veer wildly between naivet and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375400605
• ISBN13: 9780375400605
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 189 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Some poignant stories, mostly about young womens' lives

The eight stories in this anthology are poignant pieces of young women encountering the challenges that lie ahead in their lives. Most of the stories have the girl as the main character, and the father is a leading influence. You can read a sample from this collection online at the Ploughshares web site, a very reputable literary publication and the source through which I found this author. The story, "Mr. Sweetly Indecent," was selected as one of the best short stories of the year a few years ago by Best American Short Stories, a popular annual, and is my favorite piece in the anthology. I hope to see more writing of Ms. Broyard in the future.

Stories for Men and Women

In response to an earlier review, this book speaks to men as well as to women. True, the coming of age awkwardness of the female main character reminds the reader of Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John. But that same sense of adolescent confusion has roots in the boy's classic tale, Catcher in the Rye. None of the stories are filler. Each one holds the same level of heart.-Nathaniel (New York)

Excellent review recently on NPR weekend edition; I agree!

Poignant semi-autobiographical account of life with Dad