Reviews

Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty

kendragaylelee's review against another edition

4.0

The stories were astoundingly well-told. And gripping. Sometimes horrifying. Always visceral.

As a reader, I long for chronology, an ability to fit all the pieces together at the end of the narrative. To see the arc.

Don't look for that in Night of the Living Rez.

Take each story as a stand-alone piece, a glimpse into one boy/teen/man's life on the reservation. You'll gather information as you go along. But you'll never see the full picture clearly. Or at least, I never felt like I did.

But really, how often to we get the whole picture of a life (our own or anyone else's)? If we're lucky, some sort of new understanding settles in. But, I'll be honest--I can even quantify this new knowledge/feeling/realization. Something has shifted, though.

Night of the Living Rez is immersive and resonant. It's worth reckoning with.

deatheslowreader's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I shed tears, that says it all. 

caddyh301's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense 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

4.0

the_snicklefritz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

bchace's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

catbuechler's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.75

saratellmanveloz's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

4.5

bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition

4.5

 I truly enjoyed this immersive, non-chronological short story collection about growing up Native on the modern-day Penobscot reservation. I liked seeing how David (later, Dee) evolved; unfortunately, he didn't evolve in the way I wanted him to, at least through his 20s. I do fervently hope Dee conquers his drug addiction. And finding out some of the traumas David went through toward the end of the collection really make the reader think how David's trajectory was influenced by the trauma on top of the people he hangs out with.

So much is stacked against David and the others on the reservation, and this collection illustrates that with such power. While it grapples with serious issues with a lot of triggers, there was some levity (like the Super Soaker, the first time and when it pops up again). 

clato's review against another edition

reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

jennifer243308's review against another edition

dark sad tense

Heartbreaking