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tigger89's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What does it mean to be missing something? In these seven short stories, Samanta Schweblin paints a vivid and unsettling portrait of seven situations where something vital has been overlooked or misplaced, and the consequences that result. Originally published in Spanish, this collection has been translated to English by Megan McDowell.
Overall I enjoyed these stories. I'd picked up this book based on a recommendation billing it as a horror novel, but in my subjective opinion, with the exception of The Unlucky Man — a story about a young girl who feels ignored by her parents on her birthday and the man who gives her the attention she craves — the horror was very light. Rather, I found sadness in most of the stories. The houses were missing their things, and instead of feeling unsettled by the consequences I just mourned the loss. The writing style fit the tone of the stories very well, setting the stage for each scenario with quick strokes before leading the reader through the narrative at a brisk pace.
My favorite stories were the aforementioned The Unlucky Man, Breath from the Depths, and Out. Breath from the Depths, the longest story in the collection, is about an elderly, chronically-ill woman who's busy preparing for the end of her life when a neighborhood boy starts coming around her house. Out is about the aftermath of a couple's argument, and about choosing what to let go of and what to keep.
The collection does trend toward the bizarre, particularly the second story, My Parents and My Children. I admit I don't entirely understand that one. I can tell you what happened, but the ultimate meaning — and I do believe there was one, based on the other stories in the collection — was lost on me. But maybe that one will click for you and you'll be left stumped by one of the ones I liked.
Overall I enjoyed these stories. I'd picked up this book based on a recommendation billing it as a horror novel, but in my subjective opinion, with the exception of The Unlucky Man — a story about a young girl who feels ignored by her parents on her birthday and the man who gives her the attention she craves — the horror was very light. Rather, I found sadness in most of the stories. The houses were missing their things, and instead of feeling unsettled by the consequences I just mourned the loss. The writing style fit the tone of the stories very well, setting the stage for each scenario with quick strokes before leading the reader through the narrative at a brisk pace.
My favorite stories were the aforementioned The Unlucky Man, Breath from the Depths, and Out. Breath from the Depths, the longest story in the collection, is about an elderly, chronically-ill woman who's busy preparing for the end of her life when a neighborhood boy starts coming around her house. Out is about the aftermath of a couple's argument, and about choosing what to let go of and what to keep.
The collection does trend toward the bizarre, particularly the second story, My Parents and My Children. I admit I don't entirely understand that one. I can tell you what happened, but the ultimate meaning — and I do believe there was one, based on the other stories in the collection — was lost on me. But maybe that one will click for you and you'll be left stumped by one of the ones I liked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Dementia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death, Death, Grief, and Pedophilia
mlewis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Chronic illness, and Dementia
Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Child death
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