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billyjepma's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was really, really good in a way that snuck up on me. Each story is good on its own, but when linked together in the collection their shared thematics, anxieties, and ideals evolve into something far richer and toothier. Evans’ writing is excellent; not flashy, but measured and lovely and naturalistic. I wish the endings for the short stories weren’t quite as abrupt as they are, admittedly. However, even that abruptness (mostly) aligns with Evans’ presentation of the motivations and consequences that carve the women in her stories into the people they are. The characters make this the powerhouse it is, too. Evans has an impeccable knack for getting into the weedy, thorny interior lives of her characters, letting (forcing) her readers see why they make the choices they do, why they face the consequences they do, and, often, why the world they live in didn’t give them any choice in the first place.
This is almost a 5-star read for me, and upon reflection, might eventually climb up to it. But the final short story—the titular one—ends on a note I didn’t love. In a series of stories that felt familiar yet intimately unique, this one concludes with a bigger dramatic push that almost felt out of place. I see why Evans ended up with the ending she did, but I wanted and hoped to see her do something different, to take the roadmap of tensions she had laid out for us and show us a different outcome. All of this is undoubtedly a “me problem,” but closing the book with this specific ending left me with a sense of discontent I’m still feeling the following day. Still, this is an excellent, worthwhile read that I will be keeping on my shelf and recommending to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Medical content, Classism, and Cursing
Minor: Gun violence, Stalking, and Mass/school shootings
caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
- Every single story in this collection feels like it could be its own novel, and yet somehow I am not left wanting more from any of them - they are all perfectly self-contained.
- Some feel ripped from modern headlines (Boys Go to Jupiter) and some are steeped in family history (Alcatraz) but every one feels populated with real people and real history.
- And when everyone tells you the novella that closes this book is phenomenal, everyone is right - holy cats, wow!
- Some feel ripped from modern headlines (Boys Go to Jupiter) and some are steeped in family history (Alcatraz) but every one feels populated with real people and real history.
- And when everyone tells you the novella that closes this book is phenomenal, everyone is right - holy cats, wow!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
thechiaraface's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This is a collection of short stories and one novella. These stories explore grief, loss, race, American History, and so much more. I think the flap copy explains the thread that ties this story collection together best "Evans considers how and why some people choose to confront history and others to outrun it".
This book is so INCREDIBLY timely and the title novella feels meant for this exact moment. This book is important and so amazingly written. Every story had such insightful nuggets, and the title novella was sheer perfection (if it was just that novella this would be a 5+++⭐ read). Every story was thought provoking, some resonated more than others, and some I found distinctly uncomfortable (and that was the point). My favorite story by far was the novella "The Office of Historical Corrections", but I appreciated all the stories. The writing was smart and sharp. I got way more than I expected out of this book. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book and in particular the title novella.
This book is so INCREDIBLY timely and the title novella feels meant for this exact moment. This book is important and so amazingly written. Every story had such insightful nuggets, and the title novella was sheer perfection (if it was just that novella this would be a 5+++⭐ read). Every story was thought provoking, some resonated more than others, and some I found distinctly uncomfortable (and that was the point). My favorite story by far was the novella "The Office of Historical Corrections", but I appreciated all the stories. The writing was smart and sharp. I got way more than I expected out of this book. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book and in particular the title novella.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, and Grief
wai's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Suicide, Cancer, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Gun violence, and Cursing
Minor: Slavery
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