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skeltzer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Uneven stories. Some were great and others skippable. The American stories were less interesting than then Irish stories. Not entirely sure the highly disturbing language was called for.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Grief
kikiduck's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
tomaxhull's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Several of these stories were excellent - deft with language, capturing small details of life (especially life in Ireland, and the tense relationships between men and women) incredibly vividly. I was gearing up to give it 4 or 5 stars. Then one felt weirdly racist: dropping the n word, through character voice, but not remotely necessarily -- and seeming to depict a black man being accused of rape in a way you assumed would lead somewhere and was instead left ambiguous.
Huh, I thought, maybe I missed the point. Then another one was also casually derogatory about black people, in character voice. Then the final story in the collection, about a child going missing,mentioned her being enticed away by a black stranger. This detail appears to have no relevance, and what actually happened is not resolved. I... what? What's going on here? Really weird. I wish I could recommend this work but I truly can't.
Huh, I thought, maybe I missed the point. Then another one was also casually derogatory about black people, in character voice. Then the final story in the collection, about a child going missing,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
julesmathhart's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
el_speth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
keltic_j's review
2.0
I’m currently making my way through Claire Keegan’s works. Up until this point I really enjoyed them, however, one short story in her debut Antarctica uses the n-word (racist and unnecessary ESPECIALLY as a white woman from Ireland?!) and portrays a black man as a predator. Why do hardly any reviews mention this? (I know why—that’s rhetorical)
Edited to two stars for this because really?
Edited to two stars for this because really?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
farrawayreads's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
favs: love in the tall grass, quare name for a boy, ride if you dare, sisters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
booksjessreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This is yet another stunning piece by Claire Keegan. I am growing to love short-story collections and this one is up there with one of my favourites. I also really enjoyed going back to her first published work to see her beginnings, and they are strong.
There were several short stories that just completely grabbed me, they are compelling and beautifully written. Keegan absolutely has such an impeccable way with words and has the capability to bring these stories alive in your imagination. I really liked how the collection really focused on relationships with others, be those romantic, familial or friendships, and the complexities of them. The stories are very dark, capturing the absolute worst side of the human condition, but they were intriguing and suspenseful and kept you wanting more.
Furthermore, stories were not just set in Ireland, but in the UK and America as well. I felt the American stories were somewhat less compelling, especially the use of racial slurs in the final two stories. Whilst their intention may have been used to help set the scene of the times in that story, their use was unnecessary. I appreciate that this was written in the 90s and that she is an author who has continually written about social injustice, but it is something to be aware of when reading.
I still did really enjoy this read. It isn't my favourite of hers, but certainly an interesting collection that I would recommend.
There were several short stories that just completely grabbed me, they are compelling and beautifully written. Keegan absolutely has such an impeccable way with words and has the capability to bring these stories alive in your imagination. I really liked how the collection really focused on relationships with others, be those romantic, familial or friendships, and the complexities of them. The stories are very dark, capturing the absolute worst side of the human condition, but they were intriguing and suspenseful and kept you wanting more.
Furthermore, stories were not just set in Ireland, but in the UK and America as well. I felt the American stories were somewhat less compelling, especially the use of racial slurs in the final two stories. Whilst their intention may have been used to help set the scene of the times in that story, their use was unnecessary. I appreciate that this was written in the 90s and that she is an author who has continually written about social injustice, but it is something to be aware of when reading.
I still did really enjoy this read. It isn't my favourite of hers, but certainly an interesting collection that I would recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Rape, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault
rachjy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Kidnapping