Cheerful - By Request

Some of her passages take my breath away with their skill, humor, and poignancy. She tends to have many strong female characters, which is not typical of the early part of the last century. But all of her characters are wonderfully well-developed and very human. This one is a series of short stories, so it's a good way to start reading Edna Ferber, especially if you are short on time in your day. She creates such a full and interesting world in each story. I am amazed by her ability to write so well and to create such believable and compelling stories in such a small number of words. If you like this book, read others of hers such as The Girls and Showboat. If you are from Chicago, you will especially appreciate her work because she writes a lot about it, and it's fun to read about what it used to be like. Her books will break your heart a little because they are gritty and unsentimental, but they are full of humor and humanity, too. by Jenny Aguero