Reviews

The End of the World is a Cul de Sac by Louise Kennedy

kimberlyf's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

A collection of fifteen short stories on the lives of many women, steeped in Irish culture. My average ended up below 3.0 but I’m feeling generous today so I’ll round up.

I did not connect with this. Some stories I found myself really enjoying but even then, they felt incomplete by the time I got to the end. I tried to justify it by saying that a short story will never feel as complete as a novel but that’s simply not true. Many of these stories felt like they were plucked out of the middle of an already developed novel and didn’t provide enough detail or backstory for me to feel immersed in my reading. I personally believe that this collection could have benefitted from being only 7-8 stories with each piece being twice as long to allow for a more well-rounded story.
I, unfortunately, don’t think any of these stories will stick with me for long. I did, however, enjoy Kennedy’s descriptive settings which helped create environments that you can feel.

alexiscastro's review against another edition

Go to review page

Sooooooo slow and every time I thought of reading, it felt like a chore

thekaylie's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

really liked some of them, didn’t like others. i lack the necessary irish contdxt

eils's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

poisonwood's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

allymango's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

2.5

morganecamille's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Some stories I went in so easily and was sad to leave as some are harder to get into. But this is the general problem with short stories. In all, I find it really well-written and shows honesty in the characters description. 

aggreenhouse's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

moviesnob04's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

tabithapupo24's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense

2.75