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inkdrinkermal's review
3.0
This was an alright collection of short stories. There were some that were excellent and some that were horrible, and a lot in between. It took me just over two months to finish this book because there were several stories that just completely turned me off from it, and made it difficult to go back. I also thought the order of the stories was possible a bad choice - in the first have of the book, there were several stories that centered around infidelity. The second half of the book had none. That was also part of what took me so long - I hate reading about infidelity and it was hard for me to pick up the book again when so many stories had centered entirely around that. The last half of the book went much faster for me.
Irises 5 stars
This story had a very interesting perspective (that of the child, but telling the story from when it was a fetus). It could have been preachy, but wasn't. I enjoyed the story and the imagery that was presented.
The Mongerji Letters 2 stars
Too much magical realism for me, and a short story isn't the ideal place for that. It was very confusing. When I finished the story I still kind of felt like... okay... well... that was weird.
Narrator 1 star
I suppose the story had merit in that it tried to show that idolizing a person you have never met only sets you up for failure and unrealistic expectations, but it just fell flat for me. The main character made so many impulsive and reckless decisions and didn't seem to understand herself or have any semblance of an idea of what she wanted. It was wildly irritating.
Bonus Baby 4 stars
An interesting read. I enjoyed it, even though I don't particularly enjoy sports.
Divergence 3 stars
Eh, it was fine.
A Simple Composition 1 stars
Again, I hated the main character. She had no idea what she wanted and made stupid and reckless decisions over and over again because of that.
Storm Windows 3 stars
It was fine.
Train to Harbin 5 stars
This story was so haunting. The author withheld the critical information until it was almost too late. As the reader, I began to suspect the worst and was horrified to find out I was right. I was even more horrified when I did follow up research and found out that the events depicting in this short story were true. It has continued to come back to me in the weeks since I read it. I think it takes great talent to provide so much historical information in such a haunting and morbidly fascinating way.
Dismemberment 3 stars
It was fine.
Exit Zero 4 stars
I'm not entirely sure I liked this story, per se, but I think it did the magical realism well. It explained just enough to not leave me entirely confused (I'm looking at you, Mongerji Letters).
Cigarettes 5 stars
Excellent very short story. Good characterization and use of atmosphere.
Temples 3 stars
HERE IS THE THING. This story is about a Mormon woman. The author obviously did a great deal of research about Mormons, but I'm not sure they actually sat down and talked to one. There were just a few inconsistencies that immediately made the story inauthentic. For example, Mormons do not go worship with their congregation on Sundays in the temple. They have separate church buildings for that. Mormons also take the Sabbath fairly seriously, so a devout Mormon woman would not go purchase a cake every Sunday. A less devout Mormon wouldn't have a problem with it, but the author tried to paint the aunt as a very religious Mormon woman. The whole story rang false to me because of these fallacies.
Safety 5 stars
It was a very difficult read because of the subject matter, but it was masterfully done.
Bounty 4 stars
It was weird, but it was compelling. I didn't like the main character, but the choices they made made sense to me because I understood their ultimate goal.
A Single Deliberate Thing 3 stars
It was fine.
The Crabapple Tree 5 stars
Probably my favorite of the anthology. So delightfully weird and creepy.
Winter, 1965 3 stars
It was fine.
Slumming 4 stars
Well, the main character sucked, but that's the point, I think. She thinks she so much better than the people around her, but they are helpful and kind where she is a bitter old woman who refused to help those who are hurt and just likes to get high. So. There's that, I guess. The author did a good job of writing into such a clueless and selfish psyche.
Happiness 3 stars
I expected a little more from Ron Carlson. But it was fine.
Irises 5 stars
This story had a very interesting perspective (that of the child, but telling the story from when it was a fetus). It could have been preachy, but wasn't. I enjoyed the story and the imagery that was presented.
The Mongerji Letters 2 stars
Too much magical realism for me, and a short story isn't the ideal place for that. It was very confusing. When I finished the story I still kind of felt like... okay... well... that was weird.
Narrator 1 star
I suppose the story had merit in that it tried to show that idolizing a person you have never met only sets you up for failure and unrealistic expectations, but it just fell flat for me. The main character made so many impulsive and reckless decisions and didn't seem to understand herself or have any semblance of an idea of what she wanted. It was wildly irritating.
Bonus Baby 4 stars
An interesting read. I enjoyed it, even though I don't particularly enjoy sports.
Divergence 3 stars
Eh, it was fine.
A Simple Composition 1 stars
Again, I hated the main character. She had no idea what she wanted and made stupid and reckless decisions over and over again because of that.
Storm Windows 3 stars
It was fine.
Train to Harbin 5 stars
This story was so haunting. The author withheld the critical information until it was almost too late. As the reader, I began to suspect the worst and was horrified to find out I was right. I was even more horrified when I did follow up research and found out that the events depicting in this short story were true. It has continued to come back to me in the weeks since I read it. I think it takes great talent to provide so much historical information in such a haunting and morbidly fascinating way.
Dismemberment 3 stars
It was fine.
Exit Zero 4 stars
I'm not entirely sure I liked this story, per se, but I think it did the magical realism well. It explained just enough to not leave me entirely confused (I'm looking at you, Mongerji Letters).
Cigarettes 5 stars
Excellent very short story. Good characterization and use of atmosphere.
Temples 3 stars
HERE IS THE THING. This story is about a Mormon woman. The author obviously did a great deal of research about Mormons, but I'm not sure they actually sat down and talked to one. There were just a few inconsistencies that immediately made the story inauthentic. For example, Mormons do not go worship with their congregation on Sundays in the temple. They have separate church buildings for that. Mormons also take the Sabbath fairly seriously, so a devout Mormon woman would not go purchase a cake every Sunday. A less devout Mormon wouldn't have a problem with it, but the author tried to paint the aunt as a very religious Mormon woman. The whole story rang false to me because of these fallacies.
Safety 5 stars
It was a very difficult read because of the subject matter, but it was masterfully done.
Bounty 4 stars
It was weird, but it was compelling. I didn't like the main character, but the choices they made made sense to me because I understood their ultimate goal.
A Single Deliberate Thing 3 stars
It was fine.
The Crabapple Tree 5 stars
Probably my favorite of the anthology. So delightfully weird and creepy.
Winter, 1965 3 stars
It was fine.
Slumming 4 stars
Well, the main character sucked, but that's the point, I think. She thinks she so much better than the people around her, but they are helpful and kind where she is a bitter old woman who refused to help those who are hurt and just likes to get high. So. There's that, I guess. The author did a good job of writing into such a clueless and selfish psyche.
Happiness 3 stars
I expected a little more from Ron Carlson. But it was fine.
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