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ad1t1s's review
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
actualresultsmayvary's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Mostly boring. Some of the stories in there had interesting ideas but there are far too samey to be assembled into a collection. You are essentially reading the same melancholic viewpoint over and over again.
I didn't really ever feel invested in any of the characters or any of the stories and the stories were more meandering snapshots of life and didn't ever go anywhere.
reinsdeer's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
rainierbooks's review
4.0
"I'm pretending to love God because I really love her, and isn't that good? Isn't that good enough?"
Most, if not all of the eleven stories in Emily Fridlund's collection are situated in her native Minnesota where even her brilliant first novel [b:History of Wolves|30183198|History of Wolves|Emily Fridlund|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476987308l/30183198._SY75_.jpg|50627306] is set. Her characters are multi-layered and complicated. "Old House" is about Michael and his much older lover Liv who live together with other students in Mrs. Crubin's house, an old lady who gets sick and finally reduced to her bed after a set of strokes. "Marco Polo" sees main character Mason and his Asian American wife A in a relationship that finally folds when the husband gets violent. "Lock Jaw" has a family in its focus that has found a Bullmastiff stray dog that attacks people and finally makes the whole family afraid of her. Fridlund builds her stories carefully, yes, masterfully, leaving much unsaid but forcing you as a reader to fill in the gaps. After having read both of her published books, I see her as a very important and beautiful voice on contemporary American fiction.
Most, if not all of the eleven stories in Emily Fridlund's collection are situated in her native Minnesota where even her brilliant first novel [b:History of Wolves|30183198|History of Wolves|Emily Fridlund|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476987308l/30183198._SY75_.jpg|50627306] is set. Her characters are multi-layered and complicated. "Old House" is about Michael and his much older lover Liv who live together with other students in Mrs. Crubin's house, an old lady who gets sick and finally reduced to her bed after a set of strokes. "Marco Polo" sees main character Mason and his Asian American wife A in a relationship that finally folds when the husband gets violent. "Lock Jaw" has a family in its focus that has found a Bullmastiff stray dog that attacks people and finally makes the whole family afraid of her. Fridlund builds her stories carefully, yes, masterfully, leaving much unsaid but forcing you as a reader to fill in the gaps. After having read both of her published books, I see her as a very important and beautiful voice on contemporary American fiction.
lesley's review
4.0
Fridlund is an amazing writer and these short stories are full of her complex characters and their stark humanness. I'm looking forward to her next novel.
kimanguish's review
5.0
I've been in a short story collection mood for a month or so now, and this was phenomenal. Every story was weird and vaguely unsettling. Fridlund's prose is meticulous and eerie. Absolutely recommend.
bearsister's review
5.0
Gorgeous, aching. Exactly what I needed. Richly written and human beyond a doubt. Sometimes short stories can feel like they're cut short but each one of these was like a little truffle. I loved each one.
atharvg's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
This was kind of a mixed bag. There were stories I really connected with and others I couldn't really see the point of. None of the stories felt resolved, but I thought that the sense of incompletion worked better in some stories than others. Very few of these stories have any semblance of plot, which allowed for some interesting introspection and examination of character relationships. However, I felt that some of these stories were merely snapshots of characters' lives, and I found myself wanting a bit more from them.
Although I preferred her novel, this collection was overall still enjoyable and I would recommend it.
This was kind of a mixed bag. There were stories I really connected with and others I couldn't really see the point of. None of the stories felt resolved, but I thought that the sense of incompletion worked better in some stories than others. Very few of these stories have any semblance of plot, which allowed for some interesting introspection and examination of character relationships. However, I felt that some of these stories were merely snapshots of characters' lives, and I found myself wanting a bit more from them.
Although I preferred her novel, this collection was overall still enjoyable and I would recommend it.
anndouglas's review
5.0
A smart and intriguing collection of short stories. I'll definitely be re-reading these ones.