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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Open Up is a collection of short stories exploring the human condition, particularly loneliness, alienation, and the desire to belong, through a male lens. My reading tends to be female focussed and books like this remind me of the importance of not forgetting the other half (ish) of humanity. The writing was strong and I enjoyed virtually all the stories. The one exception was the last story about a young man getting his teeth shaped into fangs to support his view of himself as a vampire, which fell outside my comfort zone even though I could appreciate what the author was doing with it. My heart hurt for the young boy in the first story, coping with separated parents, desperately hoping Wales would win a football game and that this would result in him and his mother not losing their home. Another favourite story centred on a young seahorse’s coming of age while his father continued to hold out hope that his long-absent wife would return. This felt fresh, especially given the fact that seahorse biology differs significantly from human biology when it comes to matters of reproduction and care of the young. A story about a young socially isolated office worker was memorable for its chilling potential incel vibes. Sometimes discomforting but I’m glad to have read this collection.
phaedraismyusername's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
This book made me so heartachingly homesick for Wales lol the writing just felt sp much like home
liv_withbooks's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
helm108's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? N/A
4.75
daarwin's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
frombethanysbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
"Just because an experience is common, it doesn't make it any less painful to go through."
A beautiful collection of five short stories that invoke an entire range of emotions in a dazzling, highly conceptual and striking way.
A young boy watches his first football match with his dad and tries to summon magic, a sentient Welsh seahorse tries to understand love and loss for the first time, a bitter, below average height office worker tries to fix his life, a conversation between lovers leads to them realising how their childhoods have shaped them, a young vampire gets their internet cut off by their mother — each of these stories paint a hauntingly evocative portrait of aspects of the human condition and the ways we uncover ourselves and learn more about who we are. Each is a snapshot of a life, a transient moment of self-exploration and discovery. Of course each story has its own merits, some longer than others and they have different styles of storytelling so you may not like every one but the themes and feelings woven through them make this an interesting, impactful read.
Thomas Morris has a distinct voice, with beautifully poetic prose that is layered with nuance and vivid imagery, with deep meaning and achingly authentic ideas that reach into the reader to create a genuine connection and recognition.
A young boy watches his first football match with his dad and tries to summon magic, a sentient Welsh seahorse tries to understand love and loss for the first time, a bitter, below average height office worker tries to fix his life, a conversation between lovers leads to them realising how their childhoods have shaped them, a young vampire gets their internet cut off by their mother — each of these stories paint a hauntingly evocative portrait of aspects of the human condition and the ways we uncover ourselves and learn more about who we are. Each is a snapshot of a life, a transient moment of self-exploration and discovery. Of course each story has its own merits, some longer than others and they have different styles of storytelling so you may not like every one but the themes and feelings woven through them make this an interesting, impactful read.
Thomas Morris has a distinct voice, with beautifully poetic prose that is layered with nuance and vivid imagery, with deep meaning and achingly authentic ideas that reach into the reader to create a genuine connection and recognition.
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