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Throughout Chicken Shapiro weaves an intricate tapestry of unlikely relationships, moving over and under seemingly unrelated threads of omnipotence and serendipity until, at last, the story steps back from its proximity to previously indiscernible motifs, reveals its true scale and, ultimately, an underlying truth: that we, as humans, are never really alone.
A highly imaginative novel full of whimsy and depth.
A breathtaking and slightly haunting psychological puzzle that will pull you in. The various characters grapple with the East Village, and life itself, such that would have made Hitchcock proud. A fun read.
Sometimes That Happens With A Chicken is a wonderful story about life and secrets, secret agendas and unlikely twists of fate, and redemption. Wanda Shapiro has written a novel with a strong sense of storytelling and a rapier-like wit. I coudn’t put this book down. It has been a long time since I read a book from such a sharp mind. This woman can write!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel! It is cleverly written and extremely witty and I could hardly put it down as I was reading it. Sometimes That Happens with Chicken is rich in characters, which are so well portrayed, you almost feel like you know them (and most likely, you do know a few Amanda’s, Nat’s or Jack’s just like the ones Shapiro gives life in her book). Shapiro masters the art of creating an entertaining-yet-entangled web of characters, all with the most interesting of personalities and all related to each other in some sort of fascinating-yet-trivial way. From leading characters like the Amandas, Nat the rich orphan super, and Jack the not-so-smart guy, to supporting roles like Jane the psychic, Mrs. Frank the whisperer, and Charlotte the widowed neighbor, you can’t help but reading this novel and think that Shapiro is telling us a real life story of the neighbors at Tompkins Square Park and the lives of half-a-dozen Amandas.
This novel is simply genius.
“A GEM”
AFTER READING “SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH CHICKEN” I QUICKLY REALIZED, IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I’D READ A GREAT BOOK. IT IS SEAMLESS, FOLLOWS NO FORMULA AND TOOK ME ON A WILD RIDE WITH QUIRKY AMANDA. AS I WAS READING I COULD NOT GET WILLIAMS BURROUGHS OUT OF MY MIND.
“Tell ‘em I fuck like an Angel, that’s all they need to know” is a qoute from Wanda Shapiro’s provocative new novel “Sometimes That Happens With Chicken”. In a story that’s written in one of the most unique, uncompromising, raw opening thirty pages I’ve ever read, Shapiro takes you into the uniquely bizzare world of Amanda, the sexually promiscuous, shooting-from-the-hip straight talking, young woman who lets nothing get in her way for too long – with an expectation that the reader “should know” or “already does know” the various flow of characters and plot points in Amanda’s story – as they appear on the page without the reader having any prior knowledge, visual or background to who they are or how they relate to the story. The remarkable thing is, she, Wanda Shapiro, the writer of said novel, gets away with it invoking charm, humor and an original dark wit that keeps the reader fascinated, curious and glued to the page, truly the funniest, most unsual compelling page turner I’ve ever experienced…Wanda Shapiro is a new writer of the twentyfirst century…
I found this book baffling initially. What is Amanda on? A ponce/ex stripper who loves/hates the smell of sofas!?!. I was confused beyond belief, but I still couldn’t put this book down because I wanted to see where it lead to, I was frustrated and refused to walk away from a story I wanted to understand and enjoy, I’ll keep reading because I while I keep reading it, I find parts that I find enticing, and have valuble lessons to be learned. Bits of it make sense, I just want to know how they connect with the bits that don’t, it’s evolving into a good storyline. A trip or a ride, I dunno, but I ain’t jumping off.
The humor and dialogue are brilliant. I kept thinking to myself Hemingway meets Urban Dictionary slapping Emily Post, giving a reach around to Palahniuk. Cheers on what will definitely be a huge success!
This was an excellent read!
Shapiro manages to take us on a wonderful journey of whimsy and insight while managing to keep us entertained throughout.
Shapiro’s “Sometimes That Happens With Chicken” is a work of pure brilliance, and that’s not an exaggeration. Few times in my life have I ever read a novel that literally kept me from taking a break from reading it. This novel definitely goes at the top of my all-time favorite novels list.
“Chicken” is such a wonderful novel. It reminds all of us that life is happening around us (and no, we’re not at the center of it). But not in that, “hey there’s a lesson in all of this and I’m so freaking wise so listen up” kind of way…it’s a beautiful web of stories and backgrounds. I didn’t want this book to end, a true sign of an awesome book and of course a great writer. I’m already hungry for the next Shapiro masterpiece.
That Happens With Chicken,left me wondering where the hell the chicken was,the lives an personality were identifiable,and fun to read,sparked some emotional buttons, Nats plan for the building full of amandas awesome.first novel i read from start to finish(ole adirondacker)think i’ll stay here
Deliciously quirky. Crafty. A real treat!! I’ll pass on the camel urine though…..I don’t much care if it’ll cure me, thanks anyway.
Sometimes That Happens With Chicken is a great book. It blazes beyond what we have come to expect from modern fiction and stands alone as a brilliant and unique masterpiece. I haven’t had so much fun reading since reading Salinger’s Nine Stories. Like the characters in a Salinger story, we know these people. We knew them before we opened the book and we’ll go out and see them in the street when we close it. Not all of us are prepared to except the truthful, comical and tragic oddity that fills our lives; but, those who are willing to take the ride will be out of breath and in awe at page 252. Despite my allusions to Salinger, this is not a work from the past. Wanda Shapiro is a writer of today. Of this moment. She is writing with the likes of Charlie Kaufman. Shapiro possesses a wealth of social and psychological insight but she also offers a voice that is completely her own. Richly drawn scenes, imaginative twists and the funniest, most ambitious climax scene I’ve ever read. This is a work to be triumphed and I suspect Wanda Shapiro will be one of the important literary voices of the 21st century.
60 pages in, and I simply have to start over. (I should’ve fastened my seat-belt.) This story will own you.
This was such a great story. The most remarkable thing for me was how deeply involved I felt with each character. The writing was fantastic and I didn’t want the story to end. I can’t wait to see more from this author!
When my daughter turned me on to this book she told me that it was refreshingly unique; I couldn’t agree more! The characters are sometimes delightfully profane, while at other times being melancholy and touching. I would love to follow their paths even further. The author certainly knows how to turn a great phrase, and weave an even greater web of a story. I wish her great success, and hope to be able to read more of her work in the future!
I think Wanda is a good writer. But some things confused me, like the title I must have missed the reference in the story. I am an openminded 48 year old woman and I had to force myself to get pas the first two chapters. I didn’t like the brash in your face tit this tit that and fuck this and fuck that. I suggested several women at work read it and to keep an open mind and get passed those chapters but i am still waiting for one of them to tell me they read it. Wanda is a good writer when she is not juvinile sex talk at you. I thought the end was flat because you knew earlier in the book why he wanted Amanda’s and I was hoping for a juicy secret in the letter. I think if Wanda wants to expand her ability to reach more readers she needs to tell a good story without the shock factor. I am interested in something new from Wanda.
Ok, I just bought this book and got through the first few chapters but I had to stop by and say I LOVE THIS BOOK! Just when I thought I knew what was going on Wanda throws one innocent sentence in that completely changed the story. I was like ‘WHAAAAAT???’. I can’t wait to finish the book and will stop by again once I’m done to review the whole thing. If you haven’t bought this yet I suggest you do so immediately!!
As I began to read the story, I was fascinated by this Amanda person. I wanted to know more about her. I was pulled in and found myself completely absorbed and I enjoyed every minute of it. I never knew what to expect as I plunged deeper into the world of Amanda. I loved the complexity of the characters and their relationships and the depiction of life in New York City. This book would make a great French movie. The kind of strange film that when it’s over you are still looking at the screen wondering what else happened to these people and you can’t get it out of your mind for a few days. I’m looking forward to Wanda’s next novel. I don’t know what to expect; but, I’m pretty sure I’m gonna like it.