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jessicarc88's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
This collection of short stories showcases simple, every day experiences. It is not extravagant or complex, but beautiful in its simplicity and understanding of the every day.
My personal favorite story is about a first time mother dealing with the grief of losing her child. Through the grieving process she believes that somehow her toddler was cursed by a woman she had encountered in a CVS pharmacy, and spends many afternoons in the same store as a result. Not knowing if she and her husband will be able to overcome the grief and support each other, they finally come together again in the store. It is a touching, honest and lovely moment when the mother comes to terms with the fact that they lost their daughter through the fault of no one.
Contrasting this story of grief is a story over the pettiness and jealousy between neighbors. When a new family moves into the house next door, Pat becomes upset over the positive changes that are happening next door. Trying to one-up her neighbor, Pat allows a man to garden in her yard in exchange for some of the vegetables produced. The man befriends the neighbor instead, who views him as a human being and not some form of a hired hand. Pat becomes jealous of the closeness between the two and eventually tries to show the man that her neighbor is selfish and irresponsible because she waters her yard during a drought.
Overall a likeable collection of the hidden stories inside all of us.
This collection of short stories showcases simple, every day experiences. It is not extravagant or complex, but beautiful in its simplicity and understanding of the every day.
My personal favorite story is about a first time mother dealing with the grief of losing her child. Through the grieving process she believes that somehow her toddler was cursed by a woman she had encountered in a CVS pharmacy, and spends many afternoons in the same store as a result. Not knowing if she and her husband will be able to overcome the grief and support each other, they finally come together again in the store. It is a touching, honest and lovely moment when the mother comes to terms with the fact that they lost their daughter through the fault of no one.
Contrasting this story of grief is a story over the pettiness and jealousy between neighbors. When a new family moves into the house next door, Pat becomes upset over the positive changes that are happening next door. Trying to one-up her neighbor, Pat allows a man to garden in her yard in exchange for some of the vegetables produced. The man befriends the neighbor instead, who views him as a human being and not some form of a hired hand. Pat becomes jealous of the closeness between the two and eventually tries to show the man that her neighbor is selfish and irresponsible because she waters her yard during a drought.
Overall a likeable collection of the hidden stories inside all of us.
moirastone's review against another edition
4.0
So satisfying, these stories. Dense and thoughtful. The stand-alones and the interlinked were equally strong. I could have read a dozen more. Come on, Jessica, write another novel.
sshabein's review against another edition
5.0
Not many short story collections are entirely wonderful. One or two stories, while not necessarily UNenjoyable, usually feel like filler. And yet, Jessica Francis Kane's new collection is quite near perfect. It left me wishing for one more story, which likely means that the length of the book is exactly right. Twelve stories, some related and some standalone, navigate the yearning for connection and the complex interior lives that we all have.
(My full review appears on Glorified Love Letters.)
(My full review appears on Glorified Love Letters.)
moreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
“And yet I think a lot about whether it would’ve been harder to lose her later. She was only a toddler. We only had a few clues about who she was. She liked ice cream and spicy sausage and lemon wedges. She moved her hands when she ate, as if she were conducting. She had a fine sense of balance and enjoyed crowds. She always moved to music. She laughed a lot. But wouldn’t it be harder to lose someone you knew better? Is losing a toddler just losing a dream?
One day I spent several hours in S’s crib. Later, when H asked if he could dismantle it, I didn’t object.”
Short stories are just so awesome when they're on, when they're done well. My graphic novel display is getting absolutely no love, so maybe I'll switch it to short story collections instead. While I'd say that two or three of the stories here don't work on a really stomach-aching level, the good ones are so gut-wrenching, particularly "Next in Line" which I quoted above, there's no sense of letdown by the end. Kane asks for your attention for one or two sentences at the start & if you give it freely, she'll suck you in & reward you well. If, you know, you think reading about bleak, lonely people is rewarding.
One day I spent several hours in S’s crib. Later, when H asked if he could dismantle it, I didn’t object.”
Short stories are just so awesome when they're on, when they're done well. My graphic novel display is getting absolutely no love, so maybe I'll switch it to short story collections instead. While I'd say that two or three of the stories here don't work on a really stomach-aching level, the good ones are so gut-wrenching, particularly "Next in Line" which I quoted above, there's no sense of letdown by the end. Kane asks for your attention for one or two sentences at the start & if you give it freely, she'll suck you in & reward you well. If, you know, you think reading about bleak, lonely people is rewarding.
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