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maekay's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
Short story collections tend to have a few great stories, a few bad ones, and a lot of meh ones. This collection has two good ones and the rest was a flaming pile of uncomfortable sh*t. The few gems in this collection can't save it from the blatant attempt at provocation/edgy-ness that relies on borderline incest, ephebophilia, exclusively abusive queer relationships, and Asian racism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Animal death
nicmilt's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Rape
wikxoxo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.25
I was lead to believe that this would be weird in a quirky and funny way, but it wasn't. It was dark and weird and odd in a way that I hadn't expected, but that I could learn to appreciate. If you're going to read any of the stories, read 'The Boy from Lam Kien' and 'How to Tell Stories to Children'. The rest of this - to paraphrase Wes Anderson - is worthless garbage
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
gius's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Pedophilia
marrrk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
sofilduarte's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
ciwanski's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I don’t really read short stories but I picked this one up for some reason. Maybe a recommendation? I can’t remember. It’s a pretty quick read, the stories move at a nice pace. I personally had to space out this book because some of the stories, especially the first half, made me feel so desolate and exhausted.
I want to do more research on July to see what has inspired her to write these stories. I wonder why many of them have themes of pedophilia.
I think my favorite stories were This Person, Something That Needs Nothing and How To Tell Stories To Children.
I think July’s writing encapsulates the complex simplicities of being human and interacting with lives we didn’t ask for and the people in them. The whole book felt like a never-ending transitional period and made me yearn for change in my own life. Some stories were also a little disturbing and yucky and made me feel things that I don’t normally feel. An interesting book to read to feel things beyond joy and sadness.
I want to do more research on July to see what has inspired her to write these stories. I wonder why many of them have themes of pedophilia.
I think my favorite stories were This Person, Something That Needs Nothing and How To Tell Stories To Children.
I think July’s writing encapsulates the complex simplicities of being human and interacting with lives we didn’t ask for and the people in them. The whole book felt like a never-ending transitional period and made me yearn for change in my own life. Some stories were also a little disturbing and yucky and made me feel things that I don’t normally feel. An interesting book to read to feel things beyond joy and sadness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual content
geneebee's review against another edition
This book was extremely unsettling. I don’t understand the hype around it. It was disturbing and I read a lot of disturbing books. I actually dreaded reading the book at times and had to put it down several times. I almost made it to the end too but couldn’t do it anymore. I would suggest checking content warnings before you read the book if you have certain triggers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Pedophilia
a_connors's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Racism
moraofthestory's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia