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libraryinthecountry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
agrausam's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
n0vel_ideas's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hilaryelle's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, I cannot forgive that aptly named especially heinous short story. I look forward to seeing what new things Carmen Maria Machado writes.
ddillon154's review against another edition
4.0
A nice quick read showcasing a writer with a range of styles. I enjoyed the subtle use of sci-fi/fantasy throughout the stories. CMM has a gift for taking seemingly innocuous details and imbuing them with haunting, fantastical significance.
hannahshriver5's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.5
incredible collection of short stories that have really stuck with me since. touches of sci-fi/horror elements both highlight and critique the normalized violence, expectations, and hypocrisy that femme people face under patriarchy. the stories had elements of both beauty and grotesqueness.
Graphic: Violence, Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Death
rachellitt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Like others have said, is harder to review an anthology, but overall I really enjoyed this one!
There was one story that pretty much went over my head, others made me feel discomfort in their honesty and the lense they displayed it in. I enjoyed the discomfort though, it was a very reflective experience and left me feeling reverence for Machado and her writing style.
I would recommend taking a look at the content warning before picking this up. I didn’t, and there were some topics that, if I were in a different place, would have had some negative effects on me.
There was one story that pretty much went over my head, others made me feel discomfort in their honesty and the lense they displayed it in. I enjoyed the discomfort though, it was a very reflective experience and left me feeling reverence for Machado and her writing style.
I would recommend taking a look at the content warning before picking this up. I didn’t, and there were some topics that, if I were in a different place, would have had some negative effects on me.
eveningjaye's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
Not all of the stories are as good as the best, which is why this isn't as highly rated as it might otherwise have been. Especially Heinous is probably one of my favourite short stories of all time and I've never even seen Law & Order.
morganzayet's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
camerongib's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 because it was brilliant but i wasn’t moved and that is purely because of the fact that these are short stories so what are you gonna do. especially adored ‘the resident’.