Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Antarctica by Claire Keegan

5 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Grief

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.

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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

hollyrebecca's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Lyrically written stories that speak to the darkness in humans, their faults and dreams. Each was so well written, but some of these stories will never leave me: Antarctica, The Ginger Rogers Sermon, and Sisters 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Abortion, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Murder, Racial slurs, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Racism

nialiversuch's review

dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Abandonment, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Racism

bvic's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Keegan is a beautiful writer, no doubt about that. Masterclass in short storytelling. It felt like peeking into moments of tragedy. 

This collection was racist in places which marred the experience - memorably in the short stories ‘Passport Soup’ and ‘A Scent of Winter’. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, Rape, Murder, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Grief, Child death, and Animal death