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renreads2much's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-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? No
5.0
God I really love this book, I feel so connected to the writing and its just really beautiful and simple as a whole. But the stories are complex individually.
- Stories vary in length
- I love the writing style. Its easy to understand yet still poetic and meaningful
- I like how all the stories are so different from one another. One is not like the other
- I really enjoyed how the main characters are so diverse in age. As it shows what their lives are like at different stages and how their age may affect their relationship with girl/womanhood. Which shows how you never stop growing as a person. It doesnt matter how old you are. You are still a girl on the inside.
- Intimacy is a big theme, sometimes related to sex not always
(sex is mentioned more than once. sometimes graphic sometimes not.)
- Some stories are based around small moments that are then stretched out to be a longer more interesting story, while others are complex and large naturally
- The way that each story starts is so intriguing, and I loved each ending. The beginnings and endings were always satisfying
- Some of the stories have strange, offputting, and unexpected themes. Not mad about it. But it was just really interesting.
This book was not what I expected, it was even better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual content
hooksbookswanderlust's review against another edition
4.0
When I started this collection of short stories, I was a bit unsure whether the author would be able to actually portray womanhood through a few short stories. It turns out I had nothing to worry about.
The whole experience was a bit ethereal for me, almost like I was a spirit floating through the scenes and inner thoughts of these very different people, gleaning from those experiences a powerful empathy. While the stories were a bit heavy and tended toward melancholy more often than not, there was a certain beauty to them. If I had any doubt about the author's ability to convey such strong emotions and reactions through the format of a short story, that doubt was quelled after the first one, and blown out of the water by the second.
The individual stories are unfolded into the overarching narrative of the many facets that make up the life of the everyday woman's experience and provide quick and satisfying bites of those experiences that can be consumed and reflected upon before moving on to the next. From the somewhat macabre thoughts that would inspire a young girl to a yearly tradition honoring a missing girl that she thought should have been her, to the constraints that a lack of resources would put on the future hopes of a woman, to body image issues, grief and love in unexpected places, Morris expertly guides us through the murky waters of womanhood and all that it encompasses.
If I had to pick at anything, I would have liked to see some sort of timeframe at the beginning of the stories. Generally when there is no set timeframe given, one assumes the present day. But there are stories in this collection that seem like they belong to a time long past, like the story of the sin-eater, Inheritance.
Also, there were stories that featured cameos of characters from others, tying them in together to give you the insight into the small-town life, but a number of stories appeared unrelated to that setting, featuring characters we don't hear any more about. I would have liked to have the stories all revolve around the small-town characters and their inner thoughts and actions, as I feel it would have helped even more to join the individual stories into a collective narrative. That or not have cameos from previous stories' characters at all. But honestly, this is just a Type A thing I think and doesn't take away from any of the emotions evoked reading the book.
Insightful, powerful, evocative, and beautiful, this collection will have you flipping pages long after you should be asleep.
Thank you to Ellen Birkett Morris for gifting me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The whole experience was a bit ethereal for me, almost like I was a spirit floating through the scenes and inner thoughts of these very different people, gleaning from those experiences a powerful empathy. While the stories were a bit heavy and tended toward melancholy more often than not, there was a certain beauty to them. If I had any doubt about the author's ability to convey such strong emotions and reactions through the format of a short story, that doubt was quelled after the first one, and blown out of the water by the second.
The individual stories are unfolded into the overarching narrative of the many facets that make up the life of the everyday woman's experience and provide quick and satisfying bites of those experiences that can be consumed and reflected upon before moving on to the next. From the somewhat macabre thoughts that would inspire a young girl to a yearly tradition honoring a missing girl that she thought should have been her, to the constraints that a lack of resources would put on the future hopes of a woman, to body image issues, grief and love in unexpected places, Morris expertly guides us through the murky waters of womanhood and all that it encompasses.
If I had to pick at anything, I would have liked to see some sort of timeframe at the beginning of the stories. Generally when there is no set timeframe given, one assumes the present day. But there are stories in this collection that seem like they belong to a time long past, like the story of the sin-eater, Inheritance.
Also, there were stories that featured cameos of characters from others, tying them in together to give you the insight into the small-town life, but a number of stories appeared unrelated to that setting, featuring characters we don't hear any more about. I would have liked to have the stories all revolve around the small-town characters and their inner thoughts and actions, as I feel it would have helped even more to join the individual stories into a collective narrative. That or not have cameos from previous stories' characters at all. But honestly, this is just a Type A thing I think and doesn't take away from any of the emotions evoked reading the book.
Insightful, powerful, evocative, and beautiful, this collection will have you flipping pages long after you should be asleep.
Thank you to Ellen Birkett Morris for gifting me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
onebookmore's review against another edition
4.0
Lost Girls is a powerful collection of short stories about the challenges and joys of womanhood. The collection explores topics like grief, self-acceptance, love, the pain of loss, trauma, violation, and more. I was so engrossed in and moved by these stories and the women introduced that I found it difficult to put the book down.
The book looks at womanhood in a deep and varied way and follows different women trying to find their way in an often unforgiving patriarchal society. I was gripped from the first story, which is inspired by the kidnapping of a local girl in the author’s community when she was a teen. Each short story focuses on different people and topics, but they are connected in their examination of the complexities and difficulties of being a woman. I love how each story is distinct and stands on its own even though they are united in theme and setting.
The stories encompass a plethora of topics relevant to women: dreams and disappointments, love and loss, longing and betrayal, grieving over the death of a child and other loved ones, trying to find oneself or redefine one’s life, reflecting on life and missed chances, seeing the beauty in the small things, wanting to belong and to be heard, experiencing emotional and sexual violation, and more. The stories don’t shy away from the harsh realities of life, nor does it make light of the consequences that stem from being a woman in a male-dominated society. This isn’t to say that all men are depicted negatively, as there are many good men in the book. However, the focus is on women and their realities, which are often complex, confusing, and relatable.
The author’s writing flows beautifully and makes for an immersive read. There’s a simplicity to the writing that is eloquent, nuanced, and meaningful. The words and construction feel carefully chosen and have a strong impact on their ease and relatability. I found myself pausing at the end of each story and reflecting on the characters, their lives, and the messages of the piece. It’s definitely the type of collection, rife with poignancy, that moves the reader in many ways.
I’m so thankful to Ellen Birkett Morris for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. This is such a powerful and evocative read, and I know I’ll think about these stories for a long time to come.
The book looks at womanhood in a deep and varied way and follows different women trying to find their way in an often unforgiving patriarchal society. I was gripped from the first story, which is inspired by the kidnapping of a local girl in the author’s community when she was a teen. Each short story focuses on different people and topics, but they are connected in their examination of the complexities and difficulties of being a woman. I love how each story is distinct and stands on its own even though they are united in theme and setting.
The stories encompass a plethora of topics relevant to women: dreams and disappointments, love and loss, longing and betrayal, grieving over the death of a child and other loved ones, trying to find oneself or redefine one’s life, reflecting on life and missed chances, seeing the beauty in the small things, wanting to belong and to be heard, experiencing emotional and sexual violation, and more. The stories don’t shy away from the harsh realities of life, nor does it make light of the consequences that stem from being a woman in a male-dominated society. This isn’t to say that all men are depicted negatively, as there are many good men in the book. However, the focus is on women and their realities, which are often complex, confusing, and relatable.
The author’s writing flows beautifully and makes for an immersive read. There’s a simplicity to the writing that is eloquent, nuanced, and meaningful. The words and construction feel carefully chosen and have a strong impact on their ease and relatability. I found myself pausing at the end of each story and reflecting on the characters, their lives, and the messages of the piece. It’s definitely the type of collection, rife with poignancy, that moves the reader in many ways.
I’m so thankful to Ellen Birkett Morris for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. This is such a powerful and evocative read, and I know I’ll think about these stories for a long time to come.
strauberry's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A lovely collection of short stories subtly showing you what it is like to experience the world through girlhood and womanhood. The friendship, the love, the loss, the grief, the trauma, the new (and old) connections it is all there. I found myself in all the girls and women in these stories.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Sexual assault
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