Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I'm not sure how I feel about this collection of stories other than to say that while they made me feel weird, at the same time I was unable to put the book down and finished it in a day. Take from that what you will.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow! These stories feel like sacred rituals; very important experiences for your heart and soul. Russell takes the mundane and weaves transcendence from small details. THE NEW VETERANS stopped my heart several times and let me breathe between the beats. Gorgeous talent.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Oddball characters like in Swamplandia, only in stories. Some too short, some too long, but I loved the massage therapist story.
I think I am still processing whether or not I liked this book. It was an interesting collection of short stories and I definitely got drawn in [eventually] with each story, but sometimes it felt like Russell was trying to hard OR that she wasn't committed to kneading out each story to develop it into a longer story. Not sure about this one!
As other comments said - same great prose and enjoyed the scenarios and ideas but most fell flat. I don't need every story wrapped up in a pretty bow but most just leave you completely hanging like maybe there should have been 1 more page to the story. I was very excited to read this but after the first 4 stories I decided to stop, as I have many more books I am looking forward to reading.
I loved this book of short stories. Each story takes you into an entirely new world, some macabre and some a bit more fantastical, all cleverly written. Some stories reminded me of my favorite Bradbury short fiction and this was really a treat to read.
Not the best short story collection, and I liked the first half more than the latter half, but it defintely gave me a taste of Karen Russell's writing.
Brief reviews of the stories:
Vampires in the Lemon Grove: It's weird to read the title story right at the beginning of the collection. a melancholic story about an old vampire and his relationship with another vampire. about he perceives himself, about the nature of vampires and their hunger/thirst. it got a bit gory, but that's expected in a vampire story.
Reeling for the Empire: I like the different international vibes in each story, the 1st was set mainly in Italy, and this is set in Japan. It starts with a horrific image of women being sold to a factory and transformed to silkworm caterpillars to produce silk. gives me the vibes of geisha lives, but make it horror.
The Seagull Army descends on Strong Beach, 1979: The way these stories mix the historical with the horror with the fantasy is just great. This one was weird though, as I was more interested in the seagulls stealing stuff from the future, than in the story of the teenager Nal and his woes.
Proving Up: I was intrigued to know what the title of the story meant. In houses that remind me of hobbit holes but less elegant, live settlers who wait for an inspector that checks if they have a "glass window" to "prove up" and get to own their land. any horror set in a farm is extra scary to me.
The Barn at the End of our Term: I mean, the story begins with a US president stuck in a horse's body, but given that I know very little of horse breeds and even less of American presidents' names and characterstics, this story was a bit of a chore. But there's something comedic about presidents stuck in horses bodies and trying to act in control.
Dougbert Shackleton's Rules for Antarctic Tailgating: was this story about people travelling to Antarctica to choose sides between whales and krills and cheer on each "team" in "Food Chain Games"? It started out very confusing but I was in on the humor halfway through it.
The New Veterans: I was hesitant about this story for two main reasons: it's the longest in the collection (I believe) and it's about war veterans, and I don't get on well with those stories. But besides being about the veterans, it's also about the masseuse Beverly and her life story, and her "magic powers" of massage. Also, magical tattoos?
The Graveless Doll of Eric Mutis: this gives off the feeling of old goosebumps stories. four teenage boys come across a scarecrow in their town that doesn't have scarecrows. Very violent and aggresive.
Brief reviews of the stories:
Vampires in the Lemon Grove: It's weird to read the title story right at the beginning of the collection. a melancholic story about an old vampire and his relationship with another vampire. about he perceives himself, about the nature of vampires and their hunger/thirst. it got a bit gory, but that's expected in a vampire story.
Reeling for the Empire: I like the different international vibes in each story, the 1st was set mainly in Italy, and this is set in Japan. It starts with a horrific image of women being sold to a factory and transformed to silkworm caterpillars to produce silk. gives me the vibes of geisha lives, but make it horror.
The Seagull Army descends on Strong Beach, 1979: The way these stories mix the historical with the horror with the fantasy is just great. This one was weird though, as I was more interested in the seagulls stealing stuff from the future, than in the story of the teenager Nal and his woes.
Proving Up: I was intrigued to know what the title of the story meant. In houses that remind me of hobbit holes but less elegant, live settlers who wait for an inspector that checks if they have a "glass window" to "prove up" and get to own their land. any horror set in a farm is extra scary to me.
The Barn at the End of our Term: I mean, the story begins with a US president stuck in a horse's body, but given that I know very little of horse breeds and even less of American presidents' names and characterstics, this story was a bit of a chore. But there's something comedic about presidents stuck in horses bodies and trying to act in control.
Dougbert Shackleton's Rules for Antarctic Tailgating: was this story about people travelling to Antarctica to choose sides between whales and krills and cheer on each "team" in "Food Chain Games"? It started out very confusing but I was in on the humor halfway through it.
The New Veterans: I was hesitant about this story for two main reasons: it's the longest in the collection (I believe) and it's about war veterans, and I don't get on well with those stories. But besides being about the veterans, it's also about the masseuse Beverly and her life story, and her "magic powers" of massage. Also, magical tattoos?
The Graveless Doll of Eric Mutis: this gives off the feeling of old goosebumps stories. four teenage boys come across a scarecrow in their town that doesn't have scarecrows. Very violent and aggresive.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated