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starrwad's review
5.0
I loved this anthology. It is definitely different, which I like. I was particularly drawn to Bey Deckard's story. I've read all his other books, and you just can't go wrong with that guy. His writing is superb. I'm happy to have found new authors to read in the future too.
rumputlaut's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
juliwi's review
4.0
Story collections can be brilliant, as long as all the stories come together to support a cohesive theme or message. That's exactly what happens in UnCommon Bodies and it makes it a great collection of stories, each of which has something to add. Thanks to Fighting Monkey Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As the title might suggest, UnCommon Bodies is all about the physical, about how our bodies determine our reality and our fantasy. Each of the characters and each of their stories tries to deal with what it's like to have a body that is "out of the ordinary" or "weird". It's incredibly inspirational to read stories about characters working with what makes them unique or trying to overcome the problems they have with themselves. The body is incredibly central to a lot of modern day popular culture and social media. Everything is sold by being displayed next to or on a body, from make-up to cars, and as a consequence there are some pretty strict ideas out there about what makes a "good body". It's a skinny beach body or a muscular gym body, but any other shape seemingly doesn't exist according to the billboards. As such it's important that literature becomes more diverse and opens itself up to a whole variety of characters.
Although not each of the stories in UnCommon Bodies was to my taste, I loved the collection overall. I raced through it and loved the originality of each of the stories. I'd recommend this to fans of Magical Realism and Surrealism, because then
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/review-uncommon-bodies-collection-of.html
As the title might suggest, UnCommon Bodies is all about the physical, about how our bodies determine our reality and our fantasy. Each of the characters and each of their stories tries to deal with what it's like to have a body that is "out of the ordinary" or "weird". It's incredibly inspirational to read stories about characters working with what makes them unique or trying to overcome the problems they have with themselves. The body is incredibly central to a lot of modern day popular culture and social media. Everything is sold by being displayed next to or on a body, from make-up to cars, and as a consequence there are some pretty strict ideas out there about what makes a "good body". It's a skinny beach body or a muscular gym body, but any other shape seemingly doesn't exist according to the billboards. As such it's important that literature becomes more diverse and opens itself up to a whole variety of characters.
Although not each of the stories in UnCommon Bodies was to my taste, I loved the collection overall. I raced through it and loved the originality of each of the stories. I'd recommend this to fans of Magical Realism and Surrealism, because then
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/review-uncommon-bodies-collection-of.html
luciameetsbooks's review
4.0
Another one of my favorites horror books!
I have to admit that in this collection there were some stories that I didn't like or I couldn't fully understand what was happening and that's why it doesn't have 5 stars. Otherwise, it's incredible, with lots of blood, murder, vengeance, sometimes a little bit of romance, sirens, weird creatures with uncommon bodies ;)
Some of the ones I remember that were really twisted and dark were We is we by Michael Harris Cohen, Saltwater Assassin by Samantha Warren, Don't touch me by Bey Deckard, The Well-Rounded Head by Sally Basmajian.
I'm so sad I don't remember a lot of things (I read it in 2015) but what I do remember is how I felt, so scared, always watching my back and my eyes were so opened in shock that I'm surprised they didn't fall of my face. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it <3
I have to admit that in this collection there were some stories that I didn't like or I couldn't fully understand what was happening and that's why it doesn't have 5 stars. Otherwise, it's incredible, with lots of blood, murder, vengeance, sometimes a little bit of romance, sirens, weird creatures with uncommon bodies ;)
Some of the ones I remember that were really twisted and dark were We is we by Michael Harris Cohen, Saltwater Assassin by Samantha Warren, Don't touch me by Bey Deckard, The Well-Rounded Head by Sally Basmajian.
I'm so sad I don't remember a lot of things (I read it in 2015) but what I do remember is how I felt, so scared, always watching my back and my eyes were so opened in shock that I'm surprised they didn't fall of my face. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it <3
kittykult's review
2.0
Each of the stories in this collection centers around the concept of bodies that are differently abled, differently shaped, or simply differently perceived. There are a variety of scenarios that are played on: "freak shows" (We Is We, Saltwater Assassin, Ruby), tall vs. short, obese vs. skinny, tattoos and body modification, etc.
Most of the stories fell quite short for me, and the drastic inconsistency in length was disruptive - some stories were a mere 3-4 pages, while others were 30-40 pages, and it seemed like most of the good ones were on the shorter side. My most common commentary/note on the stories was that they left me wanting more backstory and could have been excellent had they been a bit longer.
A lot of the writing had interesting concepts or characters but was poorly delivered or started strong with a weak ending. Although I gave it 2 stars, Scars: First Session is also a really good example of a strong concept - a woman who has been horribly abused begins the therapeutic process of covering her scars with tattoos and in doing so begins to confront that not all her scars are physical. The actual content of this story, however, read like something a high schooler would write. The pacing was off, the intense scenes were not dramatic enough, and the dialogue was not fluid or realistic. From The Inside, which had some gorgeous atmospheric writing and intriguing concepts, contained the g***y slur and some borderline cultural appropriation that made it a huge disappointment. Given this book was published in 2015, I really do feel like maybe that should have been caught and edited.
The highest rating I gave any of the stories in this collection was a 4 - and trust me, to get a 4, these pieces had to be pretty good because I was so frustrated by how many of the stories I disliked that I was slugging my way through the book. My favorites in this collection include In Her Image, Don't Touch Me, Undead Cyborg Girl, and Ruby (all 4 stars). My least favorites were All The Devils, Three Poems, Made for This, Rudy & Deirdre, The Well-Rounded Head, Reserved, and Scars: First Session (all 2 stars). Everything else was 3 stars. Unfortunately, I can't provide a summary of every single story at this time because even though I just read this book in February, I have already forgotten some of the stories entirely. It does appear that the lower ratings I gave were mostly clustered toward the back of the book, if that helps you in your reading at all, however it did not end up helping me because I skipped around.
I did like that most of the stories were respectful and even appreciative of body diversity, and how many of the characters were strong and impactful. Some strong examples include Saltwater Assassin and We is We - characters who are exploited for their bodies by carnival owners and learn to take their autonomy back into their own hands, Undead Cyborg Girl - a sassy female character who is trying to navigate her identity after not only being turned into a cyborg but also a "zombie" of sorts, and Daedulus's Daughter - a young woman who returns to the lake cabin where her little brother drowned and confronts the profound changes the trauma has made in her. There are parts where villains are done well, too, where the whole of their evil is not the sum of their (body) parts. Skin features a teen girl who is obese who learns how to change her image, rockets to popularity, and becomes more of a monster than the bullies made her out to be as time goes on.
I would say that there are definitely some pieces in this collection that stand out and deserve to be read. Every short story collection has the good and the bad. But there are far too many 2-star stories in this collection and it took me like three months to read because I could only handle a couple stories a week.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
Most of the stories fell quite short for me, and the drastic inconsistency in length was disruptive - some stories were a mere 3-4 pages, while others were 30-40 pages, and it seemed like most of the good ones were on the shorter side. My most common commentary/note on the stories was that they left me wanting more backstory and could have been excellent had they been a bit longer.
A lot of the writing had interesting concepts or characters but was poorly delivered or started strong with a weak ending. Although I gave it 2 stars, Scars: First Session is also a really good example of a strong concept - a woman who has been horribly abused begins the therapeutic process of covering her scars with tattoos and in doing so begins to confront that not all her scars are physical. The actual content of this story, however, read like something a high schooler would write. The pacing was off, the intense scenes were not dramatic enough, and the dialogue was not fluid or realistic. From The Inside, which had some gorgeous atmospheric writing and intriguing concepts, contained the g***y slur and some borderline cultural appropriation that made it a huge disappointment. Given this book was published in 2015, I really do feel like maybe that should have been caught and edited.
The highest rating I gave any of the stories in this collection was a 4 - and trust me, to get a 4, these pieces had to be pretty good because I was so frustrated by how many of the stories I disliked that I was slugging my way through the book. My favorites in this collection include In Her Image, Don't Touch Me, Undead Cyborg Girl, and Ruby (all 4 stars). My least favorites were All The Devils, Three Poems, Made for This, Rudy & Deirdre, The Well-Rounded Head, Reserved, and Scars: First Session (all 2 stars). Everything else was 3 stars. Unfortunately, I can't provide a summary of every single story at this time because even though I just read this book in February, I have already forgotten some of the stories entirely. It does appear that the lower ratings I gave were mostly clustered toward the back of the book, if that helps you in your reading at all, however it did not end up helping me because I skipped around.
I did like that most of the stories were respectful and even appreciative of body diversity, and how many of the characters were strong and impactful. Some strong examples include Saltwater Assassin and We is We - characters who are exploited for their bodies by carnival owners and learn to take their autonomy back into their own hands, Undead Cyborg Girl - a sassy female character who is trying to navigate her identity after not only being turned into a cyborg but also a "zombie" of sorts, and Daedulus's Daughter - a young woman who returns to the lake cabin where her little brother drowned and confronts the profound changes the trauma has made in her. There are parts where villains are done well, too, where the whole of their evil is not the sum of their (body) parts. Skin features a teen girl who is obese who learns how to change her image, rockets to popularity, and becomes more of a monster than the bullies made her out to be as time goes on.
I would say that there are definitely some pieces in this collection that stand out and deserve to be read. Every short story collection has the good and the bad. But there are far too many 2-star stories in this collection and it took me like three months to read because I could only handle a couple stories a week.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
b00kr3vi3ws's review
4.0
The Ruby Iyer Universe has provided me with hours of entertainment already. So, when I heard that Author Laxmi Hariharan has come up with a short story set in the same universe, albeit a different timeline, I jumped up at the chance of getting my hands on an ARC. And Laxmi doesn’t disappoint her fans.
Untamed is the story of Leana Iyeroy trying to come to terms with who she is. She is a half wolf - half human hybrid with has blood on her hands. In order to try discovering her true self and finding her path - her place in this new world, Leana travels to meet the legendary Hugging Saint. Does she find the answer she is looking for?
The problem with short stories is that… well, it is short. But Laxmi has packed in so much within those 7000 words that it delivers a lot more than one would expect. The world is changing from what we know so far and the changes intrigue me. But do not worry if you are a stranger to the Ruby Iyer Universe, you can read this as a standalone short story and it would still be equally interesting. I loved the way the author has set up the world, introduced the protagonist, put across the struggles of the character and delivered the bottom line of the story in so very few words. The narration style is something that is easy to understand yet has a feeling of grandeur about it.
This anthology also contains 19 other stories and while each story brings in a different flavor to the collection, they have the common thread of stories that are told beautifully. From monsters to mermaids and cyborgs, from performing twins to serial killers, this anthology has a lot to offer. My other favourites from this anthology would be ‘We is We by Michael Harris Cohen’ and ‘Daedalus' Daughter by P.K. Tyler’
Untamed is the story of Leana Iyeroy trying to come to terms with who she is. She is a half wolf - half human hybrid with has blood on her hands. In order to try discovering her true self and finding her path - her place in this new world, Leana travels to meet the legendary Hugging Saint. Does she find the answer she is looking for?
The problem with short stories is that… well, it is short. But Laxmi has packed in so much within those 7000 words that it delivers a lot more than one would expect. The world is changing from what we know so far and the changes intrigue me. But do not worry if you are a stranger to the Ruby Iyer Universe, you can read this as a standalone short story and it would still be equally interesting. I loved the way the author has set up the world, introduced the protagonist, put across the struggles of the character and delivered the bottom line of the story in so very few words. The narration style is something that is easy to understand yet has a feeling of grandeur about it.
This anthology also contains 19 other stories and while each story brings in a different flavor to the collection, they have the common thread of stories that are told beautifully. From monsters to mermaids and cyborgs, from performing twins to serial killers, this anthology has a lot to offer. My other favourites from this anthology would be ‘We is We by Michael Harris Cohen’ and ‘Daedalus' Daughter by P.K. Tyler’
dabieyo's review
4.0
"Some of us go through more than others. Heal at your own pace, and in the meantime I'll be here to provide the bandages."
Some of these short stories would make amazing book series or movies, really! I liked some of them so much that their being short-story just upset me way too much. Some of them were pure wtfuckery, other way too beautiful and meaningful, some other just plainly weird. Reading this collection has been a wild ride, you never knew what story to expect next. Totally recommended!
We is we by Michael Harris Cohen - 4 stars
All the devils by Keira Michelle Telford - 3 stars
Skin by Brent Meske - 4 stars
Mermaids by Robert Pope - 2 stars
Phantom Pain by Philip Harris - 3 stars
Unbreakable heart by Rebecca Poole - 4 stars
Saltwater Assassin by Samantha Warren - 4 stars
"Syren [...] has a secret, though. At night, when the lights are finally off and the fair goers leave, she turns into a human-a mermaid assassin."
In her image by Vasil Tuchkov - 4 stars
Undead Cyborg Girl by Kim Wells - 4 stars
Don't touch me by Bey Deckard - 4 stars
Three poems by Deanne Charlton - 2 stars
Ruby by Bob Williams - 4 stars
"It took me years to see that he was wrong. I am much, much more than looks. I am intelligent. I am creative. I am intellectual. I am pain. I am joy. I am deception. I am harmony. I am whatever I choose to be. This is what makes me smile."
UnTamed by Laxmi Hariharan - 3 stars
Made for this by Sessha Batto - 2.5 stars
From the inside by Daniel Arthur Smith - 3 stars
Rudy by Robb Grindstaff - 2 stars
Daedalus' Daughter by P.K. Tyler - 3.5 stars
The Zealot by Christopher Godsoe - 3.5
The Well-Rounded Head by Sally Basmajian - 1 star
Reserved by SMJohnson - 4 stars
"The time had come to step up and be the man he was meant to be, and if he only had one real foot to step up with, well... never mind. It was enough."
Scars: First Session by Jordanne Fuller - 4 stars
"I didn't like hating the world, it just came naturally now."
I kindly received this book from its publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Some of these short stories would make amazing book series or movies, really! I liked some of them so much that their being short-story just upset me way too much. Some of them were pure wtfuckery, other way too beautiful and meaningful, some other just plainly weird. Reading this collection has been a wild ride, you never knew what story to expect next. Totally recommended!
We is we by Michael Harris Cohen - 4 stars
All the devils by Keira Michelle Telford - 3 stars
Skin by Brent Meske - 4 stars
Mermaids by Robert Pope - 2 stars
Phantom Pain by Philip Harris - 3 stars
Unbreakable heart by Rebecca Poole - 4 stars
Saltwater Assassin by Samantha Warren - 4 stars
"Syren [...] has a secret, though. At night, when the lights are finally off and the fair goers leave, she turns into a human-a mermaid assassin."
In her image by Vasil Tuchkov - 4 stars
Undead Cyborg Girl by Kim Wells - 4 stars
Don't touch me by Bey Deckard - 4 stars
Three poems by Deanne Charlton - 2 stars
Ruby by Bob Williams - 4 stars
"It took me years to see that he was wrong. I am much, much more than looks. I am intelligent. I am creative. I am intellectual. I am pain. I am joy. I am deception. I am harmony. I am whatever I choose to be. This is what makes me smile."
UnTamed by Laxmi Hariharan - 3 stars
Made for this by Sessha Batto - 2.5 stars
From the inside by Daniel Arthur Smith - 3 stars
Rudy by Robb Grindstaff - 2 stars
Daedalus' Daughter by P.K. Tyler - 3.5 stars
The Zealot by Christopher Godsoe - 3.5
The Well-Rounded Head by Sally Basmajian - 1 star
Reserved by SMJohnson - 4 stars
"The time had come to step up and be the man he was meant to be, and if he only had one real foot to step up with, well... never mind. It was enough."
Scars: First Session by Jordanne Fuller - 4 stars
"I didn't like hating the world, it just came naturally now."
I kindly received this book from its publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
missjackieoh's review
1.0
Mostly this was a very bizarre and only occasionally interesting set of short stories. Most of the time I didn't get it. I felt like there was really no substance; it was mainly shock-and-awe for strictly shocking purposes. Not quite my thing.
luthereadingqueen's review
4.0
Another one of my favorites horror books!
I have to admit that in this collection there were some stories that I didn't like or I couldn't fully understand what was happening and that's why it doesn't have 5 stars. Otherwise, it's incredible, with lots of blood, murder, vengeance, sometimes a little bit of romance, sirens, weird creatures with uncommon bodies ;)
Some of the ones I remember that were really twisted and dark were We is we by Michael Harris Cohen, Saltwater Assassin by Samantha Warren, Don't touch me by Bey Deckard, The Well-Rounded Head by Sally Basmajian.
I'm so sad I don't remember a lot of things (I read it in 2015) but what I do remember is how I felt, so scared, always watching my back and my eyes were so opened in shock that I'm surprised they didn't fall of my face. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it <3
I have to admit that in this collection there were some stories that I didn't like or I couldn't fully understand what was happening and that's why it doesn't have 5 stars. Otherwise, it's incredible, with lots of blood, murder, vengeance, sometimes a little bit of romance, sirens, weird creatures with uncommon bodies ;)
Some of the ones I remember that were really twisted and dark were We is we by Michael Harris Cohen, Saltwater Assassin by Samantha Warren, Don't touch me by Bey Deckard, The Well-Rounded Head by Sally Basmajian.
I'm so sad I don't remember a lot of things (I read it in 2015) but what I do remember is how I felt, so scared, always watching my back and my eyes were so opened in shock that I'm surprised they didn't fall of my face. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it <3
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