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iamrainbou's review
2.0
When I was offered an eARC of this anthology, I was excited. Fifteen different stories all about borders, their violence, and suffering. I was, sadly, very disappointed. I found these stories upsetting, not for their themes exactly, but for their unchallenged misogyny and homophobia. There's an incredible amount of violence against women and homophobic slurs. Its promotion led me to believe this was a Latinx anthology, which was confusing and not great, as this is an overwhelming white collection. I also don't understand the decision to include a federal agent when talking about borders, specifically the Mexico and United States border.
Overall, these stories felt insensitive, unnecessarily cruel, and gave me nothing but disgust. Although I enjoyed some stories like Rio de Luz's The Letters and David Bowles's El Sombreron and I liked what Sandra Jackson-Opoku's She Loved Trouble and Isaac Kirkman's Grotesque Caberet did, I don't think Both Sides adds nothing new to the countess books about the violence of the border. There's a disconnected between the stories that frustrated me; we have authors calling out racism while also authors perpetuating Indigenous stereotypes for a white hero. It doesn't feel like all these stories can belong in the same collection. Or better said, I don't want these stories belonging in the same place. I closed this book with a feeling of exhaustion and anger, I may have enjoyed some of these authors but the overall feeling is underwhelmed.
an earc was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Overall, these stories felt insensitive, unnecessarily cruel, and gave me nothing but disgust. Although I enjoyed some stories like Rio de Luz's The Letters and David Bowles's El Sombreron and I liked what Sandra Jackson-Opoku's She Loved Trouble and Isaac Kirkman's Grotesque Caberet did, I don't think Both Sides adds nothing new to the countess books about the violence of the border. There's a disconnected between the stories that frustrated me; we have authors calling out racism while also authors perpetuating Indigenous stereotypes for a white hero. It doesn't feel like all these stories can belong in the same collection. Or better said, I don't want these stories belonging in the same place. I closed this book with a feeling of exhaustion and anger, I may have enjoyed some of these authors but the overall feeling is underwhelmed.
an earc was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
lisabreads's review
3.0
Thank you Polis Books for this copy of Both Sides edited by Gabino Iglesias.
Both Sides is a collection of short stories from both sides of the Mexico/US border. There are Mexican and American writers, English and Spanish writing a lot of different types of fiction and stories. Like most short story collections, there are some stories I loved and others that just were not working for me. I think this collection is a great example of some of the different viewpoints and more representative of what some of the border issues really are then some other things I have read. I really appreciated the depth and breadth of some of the stories and would highly recommend this collection to anyone trying to read more about the culture around the area. from both sides.
Both Sides is a collection of short stories from both sides of the Mexico/US border. There are Mexican and American writers, English and Spanish writing a lot of different types of fiction and stories. Like most short story collections, there are some stories I loved and others that just were not working for me. I think this collection is a great example of some of the different viewpoints and more representative of what some of the border issues really are then some other things I have read. I really appreciated the depth and breadth of some of the stories and would highly recommend this collection to anyone trying to read more about the culture around the area. from both sides.
alexanderp's review
4.0
Took me long enough, but this was a rather startling and deep anthology of stories that are not just about sides of the border, but the people who live "in between."
I'm excited to write the full review for this one, but for now, this will have to suffice.
I'm excited to write the full review for this one, but for now, this will have to suffice.
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