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thebetterstory's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a strange and occasionally beautiful collection of stories. Some of them are likely to stick with me for a good long time due to their sheer originality.
My favourites were generally the ones that were a bit tenderer and more human, with the standout for me being the bittersweet story of a woman returning to the house her abandoned, alcoholic father owned after his death and reflecting on the bygone days when he and her mother had been part of a group of artistic, hippie communists who all lived and dreamed together there. (There's a supernatural twist, of course.)
In general, short story collections aren't my favourite format, as I often end up wishing I could see what the author does when their characters and narratives are given more room to expand. Here, at least, the stories all felt complete in and of themselves. I would definitely love to see Tidbeck's blend of creepiness, domesticity and nostalgia in a longer story some day in the future.
My favourites were generally the ones that were a bit tenderer and more human, with the standout for me being the bittersweet story of a woman returning to the house her abandoned, alcoholic father owned after his death and reflecting on the bygone days when he and her mother had been part of a group of artistic, hippie communists who all lived and dreamed together there. (There's a supernatural twist, of course.)
In general, short story collections aren't my favourite format, as I often end up wishing I could see what the author does when their characters and narratives are given more room to expand. Here, at least, the stories all felt complete in and of themselves. I would definitely love to see Tidbeck's blend of creepiness, domesticity and nostalgia in a longer story some day in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Body horror
Moderate: Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Incest
Minor: Bullying and Fatphobia
zivan's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.5
This is a great introduction to Tidbeck's work. Usually I pause between short stories in a collection by the same author, the same way I pause between books by the same author, so the reading doesn't get monotonous.
Karen Tidbeck's work is different enough to keep me excited at every twist and turn.
Weird, Dark, thought provoking, familiar enough yet different.
jhoffer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Standout stories include “Who is Arvid Pekon,” “Reindeer Mountain,” and “Pyret”
thniels's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
konsgard's review
adventurous
funny
medium-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? No
4.0
saint_eleanor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This was so delicious, the stories are so strange and disturbing and creative i actually cannot even believe a human being wrote them. its a love letter to weirdos but especially weird women.
My favorites were Pyret, Jagannath, Some Letters for Ove Lindström, Who is Arvid Pekon? , Brita’s Holiday Village Reindeer Mountain, Cloudberry Jam, Aunts (which is almost all of them).
My favorites were Pyret, Jagannath, Some Letters for Ove Lindström, Who is Arvid Pekon? , Brita’s Holiday Village Reindeer Mountain, Cloudberry Jam, Aunts (which is almost all of them).
aykdanroyd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sarabz's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written fantastical stories. I'll be looking for more of her books.