Vinegar Girl

Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think books that take classic stories & modernize them. Its the only way I understand them. LOL But I thought this was a cute retelling of the Taming of the Shrew. It wasn't earth shaking or anything special, but it was a fast read & I appreciated the character, Katie & her love for her family & I actually appreciated her "shrewd-ness" attitude. I'm always a fan of Anne Tyler anyways as well so that helped.

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Kate Battista is feeling stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she’s always in trouble at work – her pre-school charges adore her, but the adults don’t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.

Dr Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There’s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr…

When Dr Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he’s relying – as usual – on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time he’s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men’s touchingly ludicrous campaign to win her round?

Anne Tyler’s retelling of The Taming of the Shrew asks whether a thoroughly modern, independent woman like Kate would ever sacrifice herself for a man. Its answer is as individual, off-beat and funny as Kate herself.