Vinegar Girl
William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew Retold: A Novel
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4.0 • 238 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
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?
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
We loved Anne Tyler’s wickedly funny, poignant adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Released to mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death, Tyler's wry, whip-smart novel makes an incredibly worthy addition to the canon of retellings (and gains bonus marks for prompting us to revisit 10 Things I Hate About You). Our heroine is Kate Battista—a warm, sharp, and very single 29-year-old facing an unlikely marriage proposal via her (desperate) father. Tyler expertly uses centuries-old inspiration to explore very modern feminist issues.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In the latest of Hogarth's Shakespeare series, Pulitzer-winner Tyler transposes the famously shrewish Kate and her would-be master Petruchio to Tyler country: Baltimore's genteel Roland Park neighborhood. This modern retelling has no big plot surprises, but actress Potter's narration sparks new life into the taming of feisty Kate. Potter voices a cool but none-too-confident character who baffles her screwy scientist father and silly teenaged sister with sharp sarcasm and ironic humor. Against her inclinations, Kate begins to develop a liking for her father's lab assistant, Pyotr. Potter makes smooth work of Kate's transition from man-hater to wife and mother by slowing and softening her speech and diluting Kate's vinegar voice with sweeter sounds. A Hogarth hardcover.
Customer Reviews
Vinegar Girl
Funny & touching. Very enjoyable.
Different
So different than her other books. I could easily see this as a play. Funny and endearing.
Obvious
Obvious, predictable, and if you're like me, too short. I didn't realize this is basically a short story; my fault, I should've paid better attention. Nicely written. Readable. Not worth a buy in my opinion.