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trin's review
3.0
A beautiful and thought-provoking but very difficult read. Haslett’s short stories share themes of mental illness, suicide, alienation and grief—boy, do I make this book sound fun! But these stories are striking, and Haslett’s prose is beautiful. “The Beginnings of Grief,” about the violent relationship an orphaned boy tumbles into with a brutal classmate, was especially compelling to me, as was the story about a grown up brother and sister living together, haunted by the memory of their mother’s suicide and the man they both loved. Plus, “Notes to My Biographer” has one of the most startling and effective descriptions of schizophrenia that I’ve ever encountered. These stories are stark and incredible, but not recommended reading if you’re feeling the least bit emotionally vulnerable!
stjernesvarme's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
itshannahlevy's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
derekmoodyrutledge's review
4.0
The first three stories were a gut punch. Just astonishing and heartbreaking. The rest were good, but didn't quite live up to the beginning. Until the last story, which I read while delusional tiredness, but still rocked me. Read this. Best short story debut since Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies.
matthewwester's review against another edition
3.0
A solid 3.5 stars. [It's books like this that really make me wish I could give half stars]
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who needed a happy-go-lucky pick-me-up. It's not that kind of book. Instead, this book is a tough (but worthwhile) look at various forms of brokenness. The 9 stories within are all well written, though of course every reader will find a few they like more than the rest.
The book jacket seemed to promise a far-reaching cast of characters and contexts. I was surprised, then, when I was about halfway through the book to see so many homosexual protagonists. Perhaps the book jacket would have been more accurate if it mentioned that homosexuality and mental disorder play a more-than-passing presence throughout the book? Just saying.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who needed a happy-go-lucky pick-me-up. It's not that kind of book. Instead, this book is a tough (but worthwhile) look at various forms of brokenness. The 9 stories within are all well written, though of course every reader will find a few they like more than the rest.
The book jacket seemed to promise a far-reaching cast of characters and contexts. I was surprised, then, when I was about halfway through the book to see so many homosexual protagonists. Perhaps the book jacket would have been more accurate if it mentioned that homosexuality and mental disorder play a more-than-passing presence throughout the book? Just saying.