Kat with a K

Review: Tell Me a Riddle

Tell Me a Riddle by Tillie Olsen
Genre: Literature, short stories
Pages: 116
Rating: 4.5

I'd never heard of Tillie Olsen until a friend recommended this small book of four short stories. I was very impressed; the voice is both distinctive unto itself and slightly different in each story. "I Stand Here Ironing" was my favorite of the pieces, but they were all interesting. Olsen deals with issues of immigration, war, race, class, and more, generally from the point of view of women dealing with the way these issues and the "progress" of the twentieth century impact their lives and interpersonal relationships. If nothing else, you should read "I Stand Here Ironing," which tells the thoughts of a middle-aged working class mother as she irons her almost-grown-up daughter's dress.