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catsbreadbikes's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Abortion, and War
cheazcakeguy's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Some stories were more interesting than others. A couple were a bit dull, but my favorites were the ones that really leaned in to the ridiculousness. I especially liked The Finkelstein 5, Friday Black, Zimmer Land, and Through the Flash. Nothing really blew me away, but this book was certainly unique and unexpected. Overall, this is a pretty thought-provoking, well-written collection of stories.
Graphic: Racial slurs and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Torture, Xenophobia, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Police brutality
buer's review
- 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
4.5
The stories range widely, exploring topics like abortion, white supremacist violence, school shootings, over-consumerism, and more. Adjei-Brenyah is a visceral, visual writer exploring violent themes, so his writing is often stomach-churning. If you can handle a hefty amount of gore, though, these stories are sure to inspire a lot of interesting (maybe even productive) conversations.
The only thing keeping me from a full five star rating is that several of the stories are all center around the same retail environment. If all of those had to be included, I think grouping them together would have been more effective.
I recommend this for people who are politically minded, thoughtful, and a little twisted.
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Violence, and Abortion
leahjanespeare's review
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Racism
Moderate: Suicide, Mass/school shootings, and Abortion
xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The Finkelstein 5 - 4.5 stars
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
katie_morris's review
3.0
Graphic: Torture, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
bibliozord's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Racism, Abortion, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings
literaryintersections's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
The finklestein 5 is an unbelievable story. Heartbreaking and sad. Feels realistic and also highlights the ends people will go to try and get some kind of justice. To get people to say their names.
Lark Street was WEIRD but also sad. Maybe a take on abortion overall but more a take on how women are impacted by abortion.
Zimmer Land was disgusting and horrifying and felt like the early stirrings of Chain-Gang All-Stars. The idea of doing something good when really it’s stripping of humanity.
Friday Blsck - capitalism and materialism.
Light Spitter - honestly heartbreaking all around.
Some were so strong and others not as strong. But overall, such a great read. I want a full Finklestein 5 and full Zimmer Land story.
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Abortion, and Murder
Moderate: Gore
madsmacmath's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
This was the book that got me into both short stories as dystopian horror. I’m grateful to Adjei-Brenyah for both of those things.
Increased my rating because I was a little more uncertain the first time around.
—————
I don’t read a lot of short stories, and they’re a unique genre in their own right. It took me a second to get the feel and cadence, and to realize my criticism, that the stories felt like they were ripping off real life, is the whole damn point. These stories feel like looking at an uncanny valley image; they’re just different enough for you to see the story but so hauntingly and eerily familiar. It’s like everyone else has said - dystopian, sci-fi, selective realism. Like a Black Mirror episode on the page.
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Abortion
Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, and Mass/school shootings
m_papaya's review
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, and Bullying
Minor: Islamophobia