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chameleonhound's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
ladymirtazapine's review against another edition
5.0
CN: if you find basically anything triggering you probably need to be careful with this book
An amazing collection, that in its form as well as its content speaks to various experiences of being a piece that doesn't quite fit.
An amazing collection, that in its form as well as its content speaks to various experiences of being a piece that doesn't quite fit.
lucysbookpage's review
5.0
Amazing selection of short stories in this book. I really enjoyed all of them especially how Alzayat plays with form. She has such a strong writing voice and every character feels so fleshed out. I'll definitely be reading whatever she puts out next. I was shocked to see in an interview I read that she had a lot of trouble finding a US publisher.
annekrag's review
informative
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
erinshinereads's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.0
orangeslices1210's review
5.0
Wow. Every story was fantastic and they stood out so well against each other. Alzayat’s writing is so versatile and wholly original. I love how she can meander through stories of such different characters with such grace. A supremely talented writer! I’m excited to read more of her work.
jouljet's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
3wilcotroad's review
challenging
emotional
informative
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? Yes
3.5
libbysbookshelf's review
challenging
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
ALLIGATOR & OTHER STORIES by DIMA ALZAYAT
I don’t want to hear anyone say that they ‘don’t read short stories’. That’s like saying, ‘I don’t read books with the letter a in them’ or ‘ I don’t believe in novels about people’. Just stop. You’re doing yourself a disservice. Especially when glorious short story collections like THIS existent.
No, don’t cry.
I’m sorry for shouting.
It’s ok. Dry your eyes.
Just promise me you’ll buy this and we’ll put all this nastiness behind us, ok?
————————————————
This collection of short stories is outstanding. The writer is experimental with her style and, though each story is linked in themes, the structure and language and style of each one is so different. The writer has a strong voice, no doubt, but she takes risks and tells stories in fresh and exciting ways.
The stories are mostly about race and immigration from the point of view of Syrians in America. The writer was born in Syria, so it felt all the more important.
I was just about to go to the contents page and list my favourite stories for you, but then I realised that I’d be listing all of them. They all shone.
@dylanthomasprize judges are going to have one hell of a hard time choosing a shortlist because everything I’ve read has been phenomenal. This is exactly why DT is my favourite book prize.
#book #books #alligator&otherstories #dimaalzayat #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booklove #booklover #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviews #bookstagramreadsthedylanthomasprize #dylanthomasprize #dylanthomasprize2021
I don’t want to hear anyone say that they ‘don’t read short stories’. That’s like saying, ‘I don’t read books with the letter a in them’ or ‘ I don’t believe in novels about people’. Just stop. You’re doing yourself a disservice. Especially when glorious short story collections like THIS existent.
No, don’t cry.
I’m sorry for shouting.
It’s ok. Dry your eyes.
Just promise me you’ll buy this and we’ll put all this nastiness behind us, ok?
————————————————
This collection of short stories is outstanding. The writer is experimental with her style and, though each story is linked in themes, the structure and language and style of each one is so different. The writer has a strong voice, no doubt, but she takes risks and tells stories in fresh and exciting ways.
The stories are mostly about race and immigration from the point of view of Syrians in America. The writer was born in Syria, so it felt all the more important.
I was just about to go to the contents page and list my favourite stories for you, but then I realised that I’d be listing all of them. They all shone.
@dylanthomasprize judges are going to have one hell of a hard time choosing a shortlist because everything I’ve read has been phenomenal. This is exactly why DT is my favourite book prize.
#book #books #alligator&otherstories #dimaalzayat #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #booklove #booklover #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviews #bookstagramreadsthedylanthomasprize #dylanthomasprize #dylanthomasprize2021