Reviews

An inventive and exciting debut story collection. Each one is told in a different style and tone. I appreciated Alzayat's pacing and slow reveals - it really added to the gravity of the work.

Stories vary in time and place, but two that will stay with me are office/workplace stories ("Only Those Who Struggle Succeed" and "Summer of the Shark") interestingly enough. A seemingly mundane place that many of us spend our lives, but Alzayat twists and turns in some intriguing ways.

The "Alligator" title story is told with mixed media and oral histories, and a long-view look at Indigenous and immigrant lives and violence in south Florida over centuries.

bookeared's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad 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? N/A

3.5

paintedverse's review

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emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

lipglossmaffia's review

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It bored me to death

jmbz38's review

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reflective medium-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? It's complicated

2.75

Ghusl = 1 / 5
Daughters of Manat = 5 / 5
Disappearance = 4 / 5
Only Those Who Struggle Succeed =
2.5 / 5
In the Land of Kann'an = 3 / 5
Alligator = 1.5 / 5
Summer of the Shark = 2 / 5
Once We Were Syrians = 1.5 / 5
A Girl in Three Acts = 5 / 5

TOTAL = 2.75 / 5

Content Warnings