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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WARNING: this book is not a happy book / these stories are not happy stories
Difficult women and quite difficult subject matter. It is really well written - the writing just fits so well with the subject matter - but some of the content is hard to read. It addresses some of the seamier side of life and the trials women suffer within that life that make them difficult women. A great book but not a comfortable read.
Harrowing as her writing often is but powerful and captivating.
I read this book of 21 short stories before I read Roxane Gay’s memoir “Hunger” and I wish I had reversed the order in which I read these two books. There are so many touch points in the short stories that were reflected in her memoir, I think I would have had a greater appreciation or at least a more in-depth understanding of many of the short stories. That said, I really enjoyed this collection.
Looking back, some of the short stories seem auto-biographical (North Country, I Am a Knife, ), some are fantastical (Requiem For a Glass Heart, The Sacrifice of Darkness), some are hopeful (How) and all of the short stories include women in complicated situations with family or lovers.
Looking back, some of the short stories seem auto-biographical (North Country, I Am a Knife, ), some are fantastical (Requiem For a Glass Heart, The Sacrifice of Darkness), some are hopeful (How) and all of the short stories include women in complicated situations with family or lovers.
These stories have all appeared in other publications on their own and have been compiled and revised to make this collection. I give this information because I think it will inform one of my criticisms later. But first, let's talk about these "difficult women". I wouldn't so much describe them as difficult instead I would say these stories highlight the ways in which life as a woman can be difficult. These women make good choices and bad choices, but they are all human choices and are informed by their life experiences. There are very good men, very bad men and very human men in these women's lives. There are a lot of common themes in these stories including sex, pain, pregnancy and child loss, hunting, and Michigan. Some of these common themes led me to question if I was reading another story about a character I had met in a previous story, but there was not overlap. I think since these were all published independent of each other, they could have all these commonalities of each other, but when they're all put together in one it added a repetitiveness to the book. At times, I began to grow weary of the book because of that, but at the same time I felt guilty about those feelings because I don't think Gay is telling her own story with all of these, but I certainly feel there is a lot of the personal in them for her and that made it feel like a judgement on her, when that is absolutely not the case. There were many stories I felt incredibly engrossed in and connected to and no one can deny her talent as a writer. I will say ultimately, this book was a mixed bag for me as can often occur in short story collections, but I still think it is absolutely worth a read.
Love this book and this author. Took me awhile to get into the first story but once I did I started to fall into the rhythm and themes being brought up. Always a great refresh to read a book of short stories to get in some narrative and perspective, especially when the topics tend to be so personal. Would recommend to anyone trying to get back in the reading game with digestible pacing and relevant material.
I’ve never really been able to understand what women want/get from relationships with men, and this collection of short stories just adds to the confusion. Ugh.
Skillful writing, but the stories seemed almost blurred in their theme. To the point that all of the characters seemed to blend together, and I couldn’t differentiate one from the next. Maybe that was the point? I don’t know. Hurt women, seeking to be further hurt by men. Stinking, hulking, angry men obliging. Cringe, cringe, cringe.
Skillful writing, but the stories seemed almost blurred in their theme. To the point that all of the characters seemed to blend together, and I couldn’t differentiate one from the next. Maybe that was the point? I don’t know. Hurt women, seeking to be further hurt by men. Stinking, hulking, angry men obliging. Cringe, cringe, cringe.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced