Reviews

Alligator and other stories by Dima Alzayat

dallin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

parano's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

3.5

alenezela99's review

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

nyne's review

emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.5

motifenjoyer's review

emotional reflective

5.0

"Watching the assistant, Lina’s fretfulness dissipated, and she began to see that she was not intended to succeed on terms other than the ones now spread out before her. She wondered if perhaps this path had been, despite her oblivion, clearly signposted, and whether if she had only looked down and around, instead of directly ahead, she might have seen the signs. Of this, however, she was to remain unconvinced, and she became increasingly sure the signs, while present, were never meant to be seen."

emijanev's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

shanthereader's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-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? No

2.5

lypellegrini's review

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

n_nazir's review

5.0

Really enjoyed, superbly written, I often struggle with short stories but these were brilliantly done.

servemethesky's review

3.0

This was an interesting collection, though not a favorite among those I've read recently. It was helpful for my own writing to know that stylistically, not all stories have to be similar to belong in a collection together. There was nice variety here.

The title story, "Alligator" was unique in its experimental nature. It was cool to see how Alzayat pieced together so many different sources and forms to tell this story. At times it seemed like there was too much going on, but I thought it all wove together in a thought provoking manner.

Liked some stories more than others, for sure. "Summer of the Shark" may have been a surprise favorite, Sorry to Bother You vibes with a 9/11 twist at the end.

Strong writing overall, a good reminder that a short story doesn't have to be all about plot or growth or change to be effective or engaging.