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lauralhart's review
2.0
"'Am I okay?' I asked her. I was panting.
She just shook her head."
It's not that I didn't enjoy this collection of novellas and stories because the characters were unlikeable or the endings were too abrupt. I agree with translator Charlotte Coombe in that the characters are unlikeable precisely because they are real, and the abrupt endings are also true to lived experience. I also appreciated the way that García Robayo portrayed dissatisfied people in various types of in betweens. Perhaps, ultimately, I simply didn't connect with the author's style or her flavor of dark humor. My favorite pieces were "Like a Pariah" and 'Sexual Education.'
She just shook her head."
It's not that I didn't enjoy this collection of novellas and stories because the characters were unlikeable or the endings were too abrupt. I agree with translator Charlotte Coombe in that the characters are unlikeable precisely because they are real, and the abrupt endings are also true to lived experience. I also appreciated the way that García Robayo portrayed dissatisfied people in various types of in betweens. Perhaps, ultimately, I simply didn't connect with the author's style or her flavor of dark humor. My favorite pieces were "Like a Pariah" and 'Sexual Education.'
perejil's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
befriendtheshadow's review
5.0
Absolutely loved this. One of my favourite 2018 reads. Such a fresh voice.
booksnpunks's review
3.0
Was really excited to delve into my first piece of writing by Robayo. This collection is comprised of two novellas and a short story collection. The first novella I didn't love but I found the setting and the writing enjoyable. The short stories were a lot better and I would have given that mini-collection four stars if I was rating it on it's own. The second novella was great as well and I loved how it explored the ideas of sexuality and friendship with a coming-of-age edge to it.
I'm excited to read more from her because her stories are really atmospheric and she has a really sinister edge to everything that she writes about. Her stories at their core are about people and the relationships people have with each other, even though the majority of the time they are quite strange and unhealthy.
Reading [b:Holiday Heart|49008124|Holiday Heart|Margarita García Robayo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588869962l/49008124._SY75_.jpg|57775850] next.
I'm excited to read more from her because her stories are really atmospheric and she has a really sinister edge to everything that she writes about. Her stories at their core are about people and the relationships people have with each other, even though the majority of the time they are quite strange and unhealthy.
Reading [b:Holiday Heart|49008124|Holiday Heart|Margarita García Robayo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588869962l/49008124._SY75_.jpg|57775850] next.
lilly71490's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
stone_stupas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beekaycee's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
thelaurasaurus's review
3.0
The first short story, "Waiting for a Hurricane", follows an aloof and emotionally detached girl with dreams of escaping her life. I loved this story, which was reminiscent of "Bonjour Tristesse" with its nihilistic teen vibes.
The short stories were more challenging as this is not a format I typically enjoy. In the end I enjoyed 2/7 of them, which isn't bad for me. They were "Worse Things" (Titi the fat kid), and "Something We Never Were" (weird sex playwright). The others were too bleak. Overall, this section is what dragged the book down to 3* for me and reinforced my opinion that if your short story leaves a lot unsaid and I have to guess at your hidden meanings, I'd rather you just wrote a longer story.
The final part of the book, a second novella called "Sexual Education" was the one which I related to the most. I enjoy a nostalgic look back at school days, so this story of a teenager at a strict catholic school trying to navigate the world of sex was right up my street.
The short stories were more challenging as this is not a format I typically enjoy. In the end I enjoyed 2/7 of them, which isn't bad for me. They were "Worse Things" (Titi the fat kid), and "Something We Never Were" (weird sex playwright). The others were too bleak. Overall, this section is what dragged the book down to 3* for me and reinforced my opinion that if your short story leaves a lot unsaid and I have to guess at your hidden meanings, I'd rather you just wrote a longer story.
The final part of the book, a second novella called "Sexual Education" was the one which I related to the most. I enjoy a nostalgic look back at school days, so this story of a teenager at a strict catholic school trying to navigate the world of sex was right up my street.
thehannah's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0