Reviews

Skin Folk by Nalo Hopkinson

jae_28's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-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? N/A

4.5

This was enlightening to say the least! I'm just getting into anthologies and this was my first time reading anything in the horror/thriller genre and I loved it. As a Jamaican myself, I loved seeing the folklore come to life and from different Caribbean islands at that. I've been holding back from telling stories that are too contradicting or trying to make everything make sense and this woke and pushed me toward including more of myself into my work rather than focusing on what's general. I can't wait to read more from this author even though a few of these stories scared me a little.

laura1980458's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-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

thandi's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

tbaileythomp's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely love Nalo Hopkinson. She infuses so much culture and imagination in every story. Each chapter was so unique.

patchworkculture's review

dark hopeful 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

triseke's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

ketreads's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted

3.75

Another choice for this years Storygraph Reads the World challenge. This pick is for the country of Jamaica.

I manged to snag the audiobook version of this from libby and found it fantastic. Each story is it's own unique but, surprisingly, realised world. I definitely found myself liking some more than others, but the over arching themes of culture, self love, and community were some of my favourite aspects. This author has a clear passion and skill when it comes to adding fantastical or sci-fi elements to her short stories. Each one managed to surprise or impress (or often both) me!

My only minor gripe (or rather personal taste) is that I didn't enjoy more sexual leaning-stories. Especially as the book ends on quite a long and particularly graphic one. But, again, this is just a personal preference and not a comment on the authors skill regarding it.

Overall a lovely collection of short stories that I mostly loved!

heidipolkissa82's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

suzannemseidel's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

3.0

hilham's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

3.0

I enjoyed how some of the later stories delved into relationships and friendships with a good dose of magical realism. Some of the stories however, didn't seem that distinct from one another and at times felt similar enough to feel repetitive.