Scan barcode
robert_bose's review
5.0
These eleven delightfully dark stories by Sarah L. Johnson provide a glimpse into a collection of damned and damaged souls that could very well be your friends, relatives or probably, in all likelihood, the quiet neighbors down the street. Each is captivating, and after the initial relatively upbeat 'Thank You for Playing' begin to take you places you really don't want to go, pinning you in your seat so you don't even resist when the sack gets stuffed over your head and the men in black toss you in the trunk. Sure, it may be frightening, but the ride is worth it.
Personal favorites? They'd have to be 'Heart Beating Still', 'Little Sister, Little Brother', and most definitely 'Bridge.' I'll never look at my children's art the same way again.
Personal favorites? They'd have to be 'Heart Beating Still', 'Little Sister, Little Brother', and most definitely 'Bridge.' I'll never look at my children's art the same way again.
charkar's review
3.0
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my thoughts.
2.5 stars
I honestly have no idea how to go about reviewing this collection of short stories. For two reasons: one being that it is so short, and two being that I barely have any thoughts on it.
That doesn't sound good, I know, but there's really no other way for me to say it. This collection was just... there. There were only really a few stand out stories, in my opinion, and everything just felt very samey and kind of mediocre. Not bad by any means, just rather meh for me.
I don't dispute Johnson's talent as a writer because it's clear that she is talented. Her ideas are unique and her writing compelling in a simple yet deliberately vague way. She manages to spin tales in a small amount of words that keep you reading until the very last page. All well and good, if you enjoy open endings and questioning the things you read. Personally, I needed things to be a bit more plainly laid out with the endings all wrapped up neatly with bows, and looking back at the stories none of them really had any closure. This did work in the favour of some, like Bridge, for example, but overall it just wasn't to my stylistic taste.
I also found that none of the stories were particularly scary (but maybe I'm just desensitised to horror thanks to all the King that I read), so if you're looking for a true horror collection I would say that this isn't it. However, if you're looking for stories with darker themes - such as suicide, child murder, cannibalism, and incest - and unhappy undertones Suicide Stitch is the book for you. None of the tales included are particularly joyful and there's a real sense of the macabre throughout.
In the end, my top picks would be Little Sister, Little Brother, Bridge, and Suicide Stitch. All three felt a little more rounded, yet still ambiguous at times which really added to the experience and mood. Overall, though, an interesting read. Just not quite for me.
2.5 stars
I honestly have no idea how to go about reviewing this collection of short stories. For two reasons: one being that it is so short, and two being that I barely have any thoughts on it.
That doesn't sound good, I know, but there's really no other way for me to say it. This collection was just... there. There were only really a few stand out stories, in my opinion, and everything just felt very samey and kind of mediocre. Not bad by any means, just rather meh for me.
I don't dispute Johnson's talent as a writer because it's clear that she is talented. Her ideas are unique and her writing compelling in a simple yet deliberately vague way. She manages to spin tales in a small amount of words that keep you reading until the very last page. All well and good, if you enjoy open endings and questioning the things you read. Personally, I needed things to be a bit more plainly laid out with the endings all wrapped up neatly with bows, and looking back at the stories none of them really had any closure. This did work in the favour of some, like Bridge, for example, but overall it just wasn't to my stylistic taste.
I also found that none of the stories were particularly scary (but maybe I'm just desensitised to horror thanks to all the King that I read), so if you're looking for a true horror collection I would say that this isn't it. However, if you're looking for stories with darker themes - such as suicide, child murder, cannibalism, and incest - and unhappy undertones Suicide Stitch is the book for you. None of the tales included are particularly joyful and there's a real sense of the macabre throughout.
In the end, my top picks would be Little Sister, Little Brother, Bridge, and Suicide Stitch. All three felt a little more rounded, yet still ambiguous at times which really added to the experience and mood. Overall, though, an interesting read. Just not quite for me.
More...