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rorikae's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
'Tunneling to the Center of the Earth' by Kevin Wilson is a short story collection that utilizes subtle strangeness to illuminate lived experience. Each story is a little bit weird and out of the ordinary, from character's jobs to broader circumstances. This strangeness allows Wilson to hone in on moments and speak to larger lived experiences through the minutiae and specifics. My favorite stories in the collection include:
- Grand stand-in, which follows a woman who works as a replacement grandmother
- Birds in the house, which touches on a strange inheritance condition that asks brothers to create a number of folded paper cranes
- Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, about a group of recent college graduates who decide to tunnel beneath their town
and
- Worst-case scenario, which follows a man that assesses people's lives to prepare them for the worst possible outcomes.
I appreciate Wilson's character work. The characters stood out within their individual worlds. This paired with subtle but impactful themes to create meaningful stories that each felt unique and deeply character driven. Sometimes I wish there were more speculative elements to the stories, especially with a few that felt more grounded. There was a moment in/aspect of the story "Go, fight, win," that, since it was never interrogated or commented on, I found concerning regarding how the rival sports team and their fans were characterized.
I did like the collection as a whole. I would return to more of Wilson's stories in the future as his mind is clearly very creative while still centering stories in the character's experience.
- Grand stand-in, which follows a woman who works as a replacement grandmother
- Birds in the house, which touches on a strange inheritance condition that asks brothers to create a number of folded paper cranes
- Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, about a group of recent college graduates who decide to tunnel beneath their town
and
- Worst-case scenario, which follows a man that assesses people's lives to prepare them for the worst possible outcomes.
I appreciate Wilson's character work. The characters stood out within their individual worlds. This paired with subtle but impactful themes to create meaningful stories that each felt unique and deeply character driven. Sometimes I wish there were more speculative elements to the stories, especially with a few that felt more grounded. There was a moment in/aspect of the story "Go, fight, win," that, since it was never interrogated or commented on, I found concerning regarding how the rival sports team and their fans were characterized.
I did like the collection as a whole. I would return to more of Wilson's stories in the future as his mind is clearly very creative while still centering stories in the character's experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Racism
thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Violence, Mental illness, Suicide, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Medical content
Moderate: Racism
lostcupofstars's review against another edition
I got to a story with unnecessary racism and put it down. Also came across incest and it was starting to feel like the author just wanted to live out some of his weird fantasies through these stories.
Everything I read was depressing with no reason.
Everything I read was depressing with no reason.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Incest
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