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jessereadsthings's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Kidnapping, Death, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
micalyia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I have never had a set of short stories absolutely gut me repeatedly. The discussions around race, humanity and right and wrong is so unnerving and moving.
Each story made me pause, think, and feel.
Honestly I’d recommend with my whole heart.
Each story made me pause, think, and feel.
Honestly I’d recommend with my whole heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Gun violence, Car accident, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
This collection is amazing.
Danielle Evans is a force, a talent, a gifted writer, a freaking prose deity, all of the superlatives. Every story in this collection is detailed, gripping, and emotionally charged but also incredibly pedestrian - on the surface.
Some standouts for me:
- Boys Go To Jupiter: in which a phenomenally self-absorbed white girl goes to great lengths to justify her blatant racism. I have never felt more uncomfortable while reading a story, in the best way.
- Why Won’t Women Just Say What They Want: in which an artist disappears for years only to reinsert himself in the public consciousness via extremely public and elaborate apologies. Everything about this one is perfect.
- Anything Could Disappear: in which a young woman unintentionally kidnaps a toddler.
- The Office of Historical Corrections: a novella that is simultaneously deep commentary on history and historians, racial justice, Black womanhood, the federal government, gentrification and white supremacy and also a really interesting near-future story about a woman doing her (boring) job.
👍🏻Recommended for fans of short stories and contemporary fiction. If you liked Milk, Blood, Heat by Dantiel Moniz or Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw, you will enjoy this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Chronic illness, Violence, Sexism, Murder, Car accident, Kidnapping, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, and Racial slurs
ladyandherlibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-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? N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
dramaqueentears's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The short stories would be a 3 and the novella would be a 5, so I’m going to round out my review to 4 stars.
All in all, Danielle Evans can tell an enthralling story. The plot is there. I didn’t think the characters were developed enough, or maybe the plot was told in a removed way? Either way, something felt lacking to me in the short stories. Definitely thought provoking though. The ones that have me thinking are “Boys Go to Jupiter,” a story about a white girl who is harassed online for wearing a Confederate flag bathing suit, and “Why Won’t Women Say What They Want?,” a story about an artist who was emotionally abusive to several women in various relationships who turns his apologies to each of them into an art exhibit. The other short stories to me were just forgettable.
HOWEVER. I’ve been raving all day about the novella, “The Office of Historical Corrections.” The plot reminds me of The Vanishing Half, but I like the author’s creation of the Institute of Public History, a fictional government agency that works to correct historical inaccuracies. I love the dynamic between Cassie and Genie. Cassie works for the agency to go along to get along, whereas Genie gets pushed out because telling the “truth” about America’s treatment of Black people with no analysis isn’t enough for her. I could have read a whole book about the two of them.
All in all, Danielle Evans can tell an enthralling story. The plot is there. I didn’t think the characters were developed enough, or maybe the plot was told in a removed way? Either way, something felt lacking to me in the short stories. Definitely thought provoking though. The ones that have me thinking are “Boys Go to Jupiter,” a story about a white girl who is harassed online for wearing a Confederate flag bathing suit, and “Why Won’t Women Say What They Want?,” a story about an artist who was emotionally abusive to several women in various relationships who turns his apologies to each of them into an art exhibit. The other short stories to me were just forgettable.
HOWEVER. I’ve been raving all day about the novella, “The Office of Historical Corrections.” The plot reminds me of The Vanishing Half, but I like the author’s creation of the Institute of Public History, a fictional government agency that works to correct historical inaccuracies. I love the dynamic between Cassie and Genie. Cassie works for the agency to go along to get along, whereas Genie gets pushed out because telling the “truth” about America’s treatment of Black people with no analysis isn’t enough for her. I could have read a whole book about the two of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Police brutality
chloemakesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love a good book of short stories and Danielle Evans is a master. And then she kicks you in the gut with her novella and all you can say is thank you
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Mass/school shootings
sophieduncan's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Hate crime
Moderate: Racial slurs, Gun violence, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Slavery
kate_louise's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Kidnapping
kyrie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This collection is absolutely beautiful. Danielle Evans understands human behavior and relationships like no one else. She is an exceptional writer and story teller. Her characters are realistic, flawed, sincere and relatable. She does a much better job developing a character in 30 pages than most authors do in 300+ pages. Honored to have read this collection.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Racism, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, and Terminal illness
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