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bookslifeandeverythingnice's review against another edition
3.0
I don't the I'm a huge fan of short stories, or maybe I didn't really connect much with these characters. I absolutely respect and appreciate the author's writing. Sometimes I just felt as if I didn't get it, which I am ashamed to say. The short stories are fresh, raw, heartfelt, honest and well written. Worth the read.
teachermeg's review against another edition
4.0
Read this for book club. I sometimes have a hard time getting invested in short story collections so I listened to the audio book for half of it. Nicely performed and beautiful prose. Short stories are still not my favorite, but I’m glad I was challenged to read a book about experiences different than my own.
jacqui_des's review against another edition
2.0
I find it incredibly hard to review short stories. For the most part these weren’t very memorable but it was a very quick read which was nice.
Interiors
Only Once
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love?
"When Love Withers All of Life Cries"
Interiors
"…the fire burned my hair, my clothes, my violin. Nature is beautiful that way . . . she leaves you with nothing to say…"
Only Once
"He opened her wide and the dawn came in."
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love?
"He does not seem to understand that this young colored woman he has spawned does not, herself, believe in color: that to her the young freedom rider of her dreams is colorless (as indeed he is), that their feelings begin where color ends (as indeed they must), that if only he could understand that race as an issue, race as a social factor, race as a political or economic stumbling block—race is part of the past."
"Can’t he see that love is color-free?"
"When Love Withers All of Life Cries"
"Reasons are like smiles, man, useless games people play."
applemagnet's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
carolynaugustyn's review against another edition
4.0
*3.5 stars*
Some of these stories were fantastic and left me speechless. Others felt a little flat or just a retelling of previous stories. But the writing style is unique and has a cool attitude in the narrative. The feeling is very modern, it almost feels hard to believe these stories were written in the 60s. Really worth a read for an awesome look at blackness- especially female blackness- that feels timeless.
Some of these stories were fantastic and left me speechless. Others felt a little flat or just a retelling of previous stories. But the writing style is unique and has a cool attitude in the narrative. The feeling is very modern, it almost feels hard to believe these stories were written in the 60s. Really worth a read for an awesome look at blackness- especially female blackness- that feels timeless.
stephaniebookish's review against another edition
4.0
"He does not seem to understand the shape of the world to come. He does not seem to understand that this young colored woman he has spawned does not, herself, believe in color: that to her the young freedom rider of her dreams is colorless (as indeed he is), that their feelings begin where color ends (as indeed they must), that if only he could understand that race as an issue, race as a social factor, race as a political or economic stumbling block--race is part of the past. Can't he see that love is color-free? She is close to tears."
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love by Kathleen Collins is so raw and beautiful and hopeful. Collins hits where it hurts yet she finds beauty in unexpected places. It's amazing to think Collins' essays were written during and about the 1963 Civil Rights movement, yet the topics/ issues she explores transcend decades/ generations. Frankly, this should be eye opening. I highly recommend and suggest this small but powerful read.
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love by Kathleen Collins is so raw and beautiful and hopeful. Collins hits where it hurts yet she finds beauty in unexpected places. It's amazing to think Collins' essays were written during and about the 1963 Civil Rights movement, yet the topics/ issues she explores transcend decades/ generations. Frankly, this should be eye opening. I highly recommend and suggest this small but powerful read.
morganamberj's review against another edition
5.0
My God, what a wonderful set of short stories.
Kathleen's beautiful language had me reading the same lines/passages/stories/words over and over again. She made me think of my own life more poetically. My vocabulary has improved for the better, but she also made me think.
The title story was intense and hard for me to decipher. I had to Google an explanation and even then, people really couldn't put it into simpler terms. I think that's the beauty of Kathleen's work. It's ambiguous yet straightforward. There's space to put your own thoughts in between the lines.
This book is full of tragedy, Blackness, womanhood, sexuality and joy. The first story literally made me gasp aloud, and it was only 3 pages long.
If you like a quick read (but please, take your time with this one. Absorb her messages, her prose) then read this! I cannot emphasize it enough.
Kathleen's beautiful language had me reading the same lines/passages/stories/words over and over again. She made me think of my own life more poetically. My vocabulary has improved for the better, but she also made me think.
The title story was intense and hard for me to decipher. I had to Google an explanation and even then, people really couldn't put it into simpler terms. I think that's the beauty of Kathleen's work. It's ambiguous yet straightforward. There's space to put your own thoughts in between the lines.
This book is full of tragedy, Blackness, womanhood, sexuality and joy. The first story literally made me gasp aloud, and it was only 3 pages long.
If you like a quick read (but please, take your time with this one. Absorb her messages, her prose) then read this! I cannot emphasize it enough.
cflorescu33's review against another edition
5.0
A master of the short story form. Kathleen Collins has a unique turn of phrase, says a lot in very few words and fleshes out full, multidimensional characters in just a few pages.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
5.0
RATING: 4.5 STARS
2016; Ecco/HarperCollins
(Review Not on Blog)
READ THIS! I loved this collection of short stories. Her concise writing style reminds me of Alice Munros - where a sentence tells you as much as a paragraph does for others. Her words are raw and powerful that remind me of Toni Morrison or Alice Walker. This is one collection I read every story, even if I was not enthralled by it. (This is very thin collection so great for your commute).
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
2016; Ecco/HarperCollins
(Review Not on Blog)
READ THIS! I loved this collection of short stories. Her concise writing style reminds me of Alice Munros - where a sentence tells you as much as a paragraph does for others. Her words are raw and powerful that remind me of Toni Morrison or Alice Walker. This is one collection I read every story, even if I was not enthralled by it. (This is very thin collection so great for your commute).
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***