Scan barcode
amalia1985's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
‘’God?’ The voice was shaky, close to tears. ‘Are you there? Can I talk to you?’ There was a pause while God and the other child both held their breath, then nothing. God had lost him. God jumped up and stood on his chair, putting his face close to the planet as it hung there. Even in the darkness he could see the white of the poles, some jet-streams, clouds. He could not, of course, see the boy who had whispered to him. ‘Hello,’ he whispered back, his lips touching the exosphere. ‘It’s me. I’m right here.’
Some Rain Must Fall: As a teacher whose students primarily belong to the ages of 6 and 12, this story struck a particular chord. Frances is called to substitute a teacher who left her position due to mysterious (for us readers) circumstances. Her calm manner and kindness for the children provide the shelter the little ones desperately need. And all the while, the rain falls and falls…A tender and shocking story.
Fish: A mother and a daughter try to survive in a post-apocalyptic world that puts their lives and their relationship at risk. Faber turns a world where fish float in the air into a masterpiece of psychological horror.
In Case of Vertigo: A nun living alone in absolute isolation shows us the beauty of Life and the merciless presence of Death.
Toy Story: In a moving, bittersweet story, God-child discovers the Earth in the discarded junk of an abandoned universe.
Miss Fatt and Miss Thinne: Miss Fatt is a voluptuous aspiring actress and Miss Thinne is a slender, polite nurse. Best friends for years, they excel in their respective fields. Until one day, Miss Fatt decides to eat more and more and Miss Thinne decides to stop eating altogether. And their world crumbles…
Half a Million Pounds and a Miracle: A quirky duo is in charge of the renovations in St Hilda’s church in Scotland. But what happens when the statue of the Virgin Mary is smashed beyond repair?
The Red Cement Truck: In a brilliant story that will make you extremely uncomfortable, a woman haunts her murderer in the most unusual of ways. Somewhere Warm and Comfortable: An eleven-year-old, who is too eager to become a man, is initiated into the world of teens and their irresponsibility the hard way…
Nina’s Hand: In a touching story, Nina’s right hand chronicles her emotional demise.
The Crust of Hell: What happens to a raindrop after it hits the soil of the desert? This is the beginning of Ivan’s research in Africa as we witness the dynamics in his family, in a place forgotten and - potentially - hostile.
The Gossip Cell: This story was disappointing. I have no time to care about the hysterics and sexual frustration of a family of utter idiots.
Accountability: A thirteen-year-old girl tries to save herself and her grandmother from the abuse of her stepfather. Set in a city close to Melbourne, this story will make your blood run cold.
Pidgin American: In a poignant story full of wit and bittersweet nostalgia, we follow a young Polish woman’s observations of London, Poland, and questions of cultural identity. A marvellous example of remarking without ‘preaching’.
The Tunnel of Love: Two people with troubled troubled pasts and troubling presents try to make ends meet in the toxic field of the sex industry.
Sheep: Five artists are practically imprisoned in a remote estate in the Scottish Highlands by an ‘’Art Lover’’. It pains me to say that this story felt incomprehensible and devoid of any meaning whatsoever. Not the best way to end an, otherwise, memorable collection…
Recently, Ralph Fiennes, one of the greatest actors to ever grace this miserable planet, received the venom of woke fiends, pseudo-feministic Meanads and the rest of the illiterate TikTok mob who have the notion they belong in the human race. Why? Because he claimed that having trigger warnings in Theatre is completely pointless, that the audience of today has gone all soft, naive, and frankly, unable to think straight.
Same goes for the readers of today. Short stories are meant to make you uncomfortable, to question everything. Don’t like it? Don’t read it! Don’t watch it! Leave the rest of us (who are the VAST majority) to enjoy it. And have a bath. Or two. You stink stupid.
In other news, Faber’s debut collection showcases his unique talent.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com
Some Rain Must Fall: As a teacher whose students primarily belong to the ages of 6 and 12, this story struck a particular chord. Frances is called to substitute a teacher who left her position due to mysterious (for us readers) circumstances. Her calm manner and kindness for the children provide the shelter the little ones desperately need. And all the while, the rain falls and falls…A tender and shocking story.
Fish: A mother and a daughter try to survive in a post-apocalyptic world that puts their lives and their relationship at risk. Faber turns a world where fish float in the air into a masterpiece of psychological horror.
In Case of Vertigo: A nun living alone in absolute isolation shows us the beauty of Life and the merciless presence of Death.
Toy Story: In a moving, bittersweet story, God-child discovers the Earth in the discarded junk of an abandoned universe.
Miss Fatt and Miss Thinne: Miss Fatt is a voluptuous aspiring actress and Miss Thinne is a slender, polite nurse. Best friends for years, they excel in their respective fields. Until one day, Miss Fatt decides to eat more and more and Miss Thinne decides to stop eating altogether. And their world crumbles…
Half a Million Pounds and a Miracle: A quirky duo is in charge of the renovations in St Hilda’s church in Scotland. But what happens when the statue of the Virgin Mary is smashed beyond repair?
The Red Cement Truck: In a brilliant story that will make you extremely uncomfortable, a woman haunts her murderer in the most unusual of ways. Somewhere Warm and Comfortable: An eleven-year-old, who is too eager to become a man, is initiated into the world of teens and their irresponsibility the hard way…
Nina’s Hand: In a touching story, Nina’s right hand chronicles her emotional demise.
The Crust of Hell: What happens to a raindrop after it hits the soil of the desert? This is the beginning of Ivan’s research in Africa as we witness the dynamics in his family, in a place forgotten and - potentially - hostile.
The Gossip Cell: This story was disappointing. I have no time to care about the hysterics and sexual frustration of a family of utter idiots.
Accountability: A thirteen-year-old girl tries to save herself and her grandmother from the abuse of her stepfather. Set in a city close to Melbourne, this story will make your blood run cold.
Pidgin American: In a poignant story full of wit and bittersweet nostalgia, we follow a young Polish woman’s observations of London, Poland, and questions of cultural identity. A marvellous example of remarking without ‘preaching’.
The Tunnel of Love: Two people with troubled troubled pasts and troubling presents try to make ends meet in the toxic field of the sex industry.
Sheep: Five artists are practically imprisoned in a remote estate in the Scottish Highlands by an ‘’Art Lover’’. It pains me to say that this story felt incomprehensible and devoid of any meaning whatsoever. Not the best way to end an, otherwise, memorable collection…
Recently, Ralph Fiennes, one of the greatest actors to ever grace this miserable planet, received the venom of woke fiends, pseudo-feministic Meanads and the rest of the illiterate TikTok mob who have the notion they belong in the human race. Why? Because he claimed that having trigger warnings in Theatre is completely pointless, that the audience of today has gone all soft, naive, and frankly, unable to think straight.
Same goes for the readers of today. Short stories are meant to make you uncomfortable, to question everything. Don’t like it? Don’t read it! Don’t watch it! Leave the rest of us (who are the VAST majority) to enjoy it. And have a bath. Or two. You stink stupid.
In other news, Faber’s debut collection showcases his unique talent.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com
missmim's review against another edition
3.0
Faber is weird and wonderful. Some of these are misses but a good number are hits, and he's a great writer regardless, so you'll enjoy being in his bizarre world. Definitely recommend.
sarahgoldcrest's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
madness_personified's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.0
A couple of the stories were interesting but I found the majority of them slow and uninteresting. There was some good deeper themes explored I'm a few of the stories but overall I wouldn't recommend for someone else to read
wentingthings's review against another edition
3.0
torn about this collection - really enjoyed the stories that stayed on this side of realism, less sold on the magical realism selections, which felt weaker. i will repurpose the criticism of a past writing instructor - the magical elements seem to conceal fault lines
vickyc94's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read many short story collections, but of the ones I have this one is by far my favourite. The writing is beautiful, though I did expect that as all of the works by Michel Faber I have read before were also written beautifully. The stories themselves are diverse and imaginative and I was left wanting this book to be longer
havelock's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
marissalobot's review against another edition
4.0
If someone told me that each story was written by a different author - I would believe them! I never make it through a whole book of short stories, but I really liked the range of stories and styles in this. In most of the stories, the characters are built up really well - to the point where a couple of the stories could be whole books on their own.
I'm gonna rank the stories, in case I ever read this again and my opinions change:
1) Toy Story
2) The Crust of Hell
3) Accountability
4) The Tunnel of Love
4) Miss Fatt and Miss Thinne
5) Some Rain Must Fall
6) Somewhere Warm and Comfortable; The Red Cement Truck; Nina's Hand; Pidgin American
7) Fish; The Gossip Cell
8) In Case of Vertigo; Sheep
9) Half a Million Pounds and a Miracle
Accountability, The Tunnel of Love, and Some Rain Must Fall reminded me of Inside No. 9 (one of my favourite shows) because of their twists/dark endings.
In Case of Vertigo, Sheep, and Half a Million Pounds and a Miracle didn't really go anywhere for me in terms of the characters.
I'm gonna rank the stories, in case I ever read this again and my opinions change:
1) Toy Story
2) The Crust of Hell
3) Accountability
4) The Tunnel of Love
4) Miss Fatt and Miss Thinne
5) Some Rain Must Fall
6) Somewhere Warm and Comfortable; The Red Cement Truck; Nina's Hand; Pidgin American
7) Fish; The Gossip Cell
8) In Case of Vertigo; Sheep
9) Half a Million Pounds and a Miracle
Accountability, The Tunnel of Love, and Some Rain Must Fall reminded me of Inside No. 9 (one of my favourite shows) because of their twists/dark endings.
In Case of Vertigo, Sheep, and Half a Million Pounds and a Miracle didn't really go anywhere for me in terms of the characters.