Three by Ann McMann

Three by Ann McMan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Contains three of the four Diz and Clarissa short stories.

Nevermore
Two coworkers work in the same basement area. One is named Diz, the other Clarissa. One's destined to not rise much above her current position, the other is headed to the moon (or something like that). One looks like Rachel Maddow while the other has red hair . . . and is gorgeous.

They bicker a lot.

One, the rich one, Clarissa, invites the other, Diz, to spend time with her at the Christmas party - since Dash, the boyfriend of Clarissa, will be late. And so they do - spend time together there. Diz getting steadily drunker, Clarissa nursing 1 glass of wine.

Lovely little short story. Abrupt ending.

Rating: 4.25

November 17 2016

A Christmas Tree Grows in Baltimore
It's a year later and Clarissa, as the first story promised, is rapidly moving up the company ladder, while Diz is still in her old position. Though with a new office mate.

Most of this story does not take place with both Clarissa and Diz in it.

This one had humor and it made me tear up (and, just like the first story, there was vomiting).

Rating: 4.62

November 17 2016

Blended Families
Family, Holiday, Christmas

This is the story that I probably shouldn't have read immediately. There's only so much 'one partner blaming (largely incorrectly) the other for every mistake known to man; while the other partner just takes it like a doormat that feels lucky' before I explode. So I ended up pausing this specific story before continuing.

Once I continued it the story turned out okay - good even.

The two main characters are once again about to enjoy Christmas (every story, including the fourth not in this collection, are set during Christmas time in Baltimore). The difference this time is that both live together, and they are going to have a 'blended families' Christmas party - both of their families. The ultra-rich, and the less than ultra-rich. Diz, naturally, is ashamed of her family (for whatever reason - a lot of her problems are built on her feeling ashamed of herself or of her family).

As normal - stuff occurs out of Diz's control that end up involving the police, damage, and her partner - Clarissa, being ultra pissed at her (while also fighting back laughter).

Rating: 3.9

November 19 2016

Overall
Nevermore: 4.25
A Christmas Tree Grows in Baltimore: 4.62
Blended Families: 3.9

Overall: 4.257

November 20 2016



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