Cat Person by Kristen Roupenian (and what it says about relationships)

[Vombatus]

This is why I stick to memes.

 

[Dick Whitman]

It's a playful exercise, perhaps one that would be an enjoyable satire of modern fiction tropes (Sam Lipsyte writes dark and funny stuff like this and he's well received) but certainly the reason this resonated with so many women is it mirrored many of their real life experiences. I do think the scenario you laid out is a likely reality.

A more interesting exercise to me: What if he had been pleasant at the end? The author lets the female character off the hook a little with the ending. Her behavior previously feels more justified because he turned out to be a deck. But what if he were nice?

 

[Buck]

A more interesting exercise to me: What if he had been pleasant at the end? The author lets the female character off the hook a little with the ending. Her behavior previously feels more justified because he turned out to be a deck. But what if he were nice?

Well said, the protagonist is 'let off the hook' by the guy's hateful closing comment.

 

[Small Town Guy]

It's a playful exercise, perhaps one that would be an enjoyable satire of modern fiction tropes (Sam Lipsyte writes dark and funny stuff like this and he's well received) but certainly the reason this resonated with so many women is it mirrored many of their real life experiences. I do think the scenario you laid out is a likely reality.

Speaking of Lipsyte, would love if he'd have a new novel one of those years.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

'Cat Person' Author, Kristen Roupenian, Gets 7-Figure Book Deal

Due in January 2019.

 

[Big Circus]

That's a subtle cover graphic.

 

[Severian]

I can already see the arm chair feminists on Twitter championing this book.

 

[Alma]

Just read that story again. Still didn't buy the very ending. End it with the ??? and I think it's stronger.

 

[qtlaw]

As a 50+ old guy who's been happily married for now 23 yrs I'm glad I'm not young now. The way to meet people is easier but the meetings are deeper when it's in person; and guess what? It's hard to talk to people honestly but get over it and life is not a bunch of "is he/she thinking this?" It's real with no ambiguity if you're honest. At least that's how we live our marriage, disagreements last much shorter, more good times.

 

[Severian]

As a 50+ old guy who's been happily married for now 23 yrs I'm glad I'm not young now. The way to meet people is easier but the meetings are deeper when it's in person; and guess what? It's hard to talk to people honestly but get over it and life is not a bunch of "is he/she thinking this?" It's real with no ambiguity if you're honest. At least that's how we live our marriage, disagreements last much shorter, more good times.

Be glad you're not dating "on the apps," in a major city. That is truly the worst.

 

[typefitter]

As a 50+ old guy who's been happily married for now 23 yrs I'm glad I'm not young now. The way to meet people is easier but the meetings are deeper when it's in person; and guess what? It's hard to talk to people honestly but get over it and life is not a bunch of "is he/she thinking this?" It's real with no ambiguity if you're honest. At least that's how we live our marriage, disagreements last much shorter, more good times.

One of the vows my girlfriend and I have made each other: If something is bothering us, we say so. Then we fix the problem on the spot. There is nothing more cancerous to a relationship than the slow accumulation of low-level resentments. It was a hard lesson learned from my marriage.

 

[Small Town Guy]

The early reviews on her collection are interesting.

Readers Who Related to "Cat Person" May Be Turned Off by Kristen Roupenian's Weirder, Pervier Collection

'Cat Person' and Other Tales of Discomfort in a Debut Collection