Reviews for Cressy

The average rating for Cressy based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-10-11 00:00:00 Maria Diz Arthur Miller's collection of three short stories describe the lives of three ordinary, yet extraordinary Americans in the mid-19th century. The first, "Homely Girl, A Life," deals with a young woman whose identity is so wrapped around her flawed appearance that I cannot recall if readers ever even learn her name. Her invisibility is so resolute. The story begins with her relationship with her father, who consistently hammers on her lack of physical beauty as though it is a moral deficiency. When he dies, she accepts the attention of an abusive and unfaithful suitor because she believes this is all the love she will ever receive. The circumstances which compel her to leave at last are truly revolting. Miller's compassion comes through loud and clear, and there is a strong sense of the writer recounting the story as it unfolds simply and straightforwardly. There is nothing forced or false about it. Yet it's such a oldfashioned and white male view of how women perceive themselves, as though their identities are truly defined by their relationships with the men in their lives. Maybe at the time when this was written, they were. "Fame" is a delightful, short little piece about how perception changes with the shift of a latitude or two. Meyer Berkowitz is the king of Broadway, but when someone from his forgotten podunck past meets him by chance, his view of the world undergoes some much-needed seismic shifting. "The Fitter's Night" is by far the best story in the series, about men who do what needs to be done, no matter under what conditions for the love, honour and respect of other men. The protagonist is no cartoon hero, and his life is small and sordid, but for the heroism of one night's work when all he needed to do was his job. This is a wonderful man vs. the elements story.

Review # 2 was written on 2018-05-16 00:00:00 Pierre Leveille All three short stories were great but I especially liked the first story. It was written so long ago, yet in the story he addresses divorce and how it should be accepted and not shamed. The way he describes the relationship with the woman and the blind man is really sweet. I love how he weaved humour into the story as well!