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ttorisaurus's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Death
Minor: Car accident, Racial slurs, and Murder
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
mpaterson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
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
5.0
This is my first Danielle Evans read and I’m an instant fan. Short storytelling is an art and she’s an artist. Each story was a uniquely powerful look into the plurality of experiences with racial inequity in America - equally poignant and pithy and effortlessly moves from witty to uncomfortable to melancholy. I’ll be sitting with the final pages for some time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Misogyny, Death, and Cancer
Minor: Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Car accident
nadia's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A real solid collection of stories, heavily focused on the themes of race in America, especially the experiences of black women, correcting past mistakes, apologies, and forgiveness.
I really enjoyed the variety and the themes explored and was intrigued by the setup of pretty much all of the stories. However, I'm left feeling like a little something was missing when thinking of the collection as a whole. I can't help but feel like I was on the verge of "wow" for a lot of the stories but then they fell short a little bit. I guess it's the common "I wanted more!" that I typically have with short stories.
I'm also wondering whether this would have been a better one for me to read in print. I listened to the audio and I think jumping in and out that way made it harder for me to remember salient details, especially with the novella at the end.
However, the writing is great and there were some real standout moments, especially in the titular novella. It's also incredibly thought-provoking on several layers. I was going to give this book a 3.75, but I think I want to round it up to a 4!
I really enjoyed the variety and the themes explored and was intrigued by the setup of pretty much all of the stories. However, I'm left feeling like a little something was missing when thinking of the collection as a whole. I can't help but feel like I was on the verge of "wow" for a lot of the stories but then they fell short a little bit. I guess it's the common "I wanted more!" that I typically have with short stories.
I'm also wondering whether this would have been a better one for me to read in print. I listened to the audio and I think jumping in and out that way made it harder for me to remember salient details, especially with the novella at the end.
However, the writing is great and there were some real standout moments, especially in the titular novella. It's also incredibly thought-provoking on several layers. I was going to give this book a 3.75, but I think I want to round it up to a 4!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Car accident, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Cancer
cassielaj's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A compelling, honest collection of stories that explore history, its lingering influence, and how it shapes us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
mmayern's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Car accident, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Colonisation, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Police brutality, and Sexism
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
annettegonzalez07's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, and Car accident
Moderate: Grief
balladofreadingqueer's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed this short story collection. My favourite was the title story. It follows two black women historians as they work at the new Institute of Public History that corrects historical errors. We learn about their intertwined lives together in school, grad school and their job and discover their dislike of one another but often their allegiance. It explores on historical plaque in Wisconsin and the story of a racist arson attack, passing and family secrets. It ends with racial violence.
Many of the stories explore history and American race relations. Boys go to Jupiter examines a white woman wearing a confederate flag bikini, her run ins with the university diversity board, the hate mail (and support) she received. It also reflects on her earlier life, a close friendship with a black neighbour and her brother and her silence and responsibility for his death. Happily Ever After set in a titanic museum which considers medical racism and tokenism. Alcatraz explores familial history, desire to correct the historical record of an incorrect dishonorable discharge after her grandfather was falsely imprisoned.
Overall this story collection predominantly focuses on the stories of black women and addresses a lot of important and difficult themes such as white supremacy, death of parents and friends, breakdown of relationships, misogyny and how these women attempted to live their lives with joy and dignity in a difficult world.
Many of the stories explore history and American race relations. Boys go to Jupiter examines a white woman wearing a confederate flag bikini, her run ins with the university diversity board, the hate mail (and support) she received. It also reflects on her earlier life, a close friendship with a black neighbour and her brother and her silence and responsibility for his death. Happily Ever After set in a titanic museum which considers medical racism and tokenism. Alcatraz explores familial history, desire to correct the historical record of an incorrect dishonorable discharge after her grandfather was falsely imprisoned.
Overall this story collection predominantly focuses on the stories of black women and addresses a lot of important and difficult themes such as white supremacy, death of parents and friends, breakdown of relationships, misogyny and how these women attempted to live their lives with joy and dignity in a difficult world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Car accident, Cancer, Death of parent, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Murder
arcookson's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Cancer, and Car accident
Minor: Gun violence