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rubyq's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
A creepy and unusual selection of short stories that made me feel quite quesy. very unique, I did find a few of the themes a little repetitive.
draig_dyke's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
It took me ages to get through these short stories. They are peculiar. It felt like reading dark fairytale fever dreams. I really liked four of them (“Unstitching”, “Waxy”, “Edward, do not pamper the dead” and “Notes from a Spider”). The others were not for me - maybe because I just couldn’t get behind some of them.
ellenmegan123's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
dllman05's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
rainbowwitchling's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Geniální kombinace Kafkovy Proměny, Handmaid's Tale a hry Dishonoured. Špína, prapodivné výjevy jako ze starých viktoriánských pohlednic, naturalismus těhotenství.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Rape, Sexism, and Pregnancy
elishaslibrary's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
naokamiya's review against another edition
4.0
Truly uncanny fiction that defies all genre conventions I'm currently aware of, there are recognizable influences that Grudova is keen on divulging [the obvious love for Kafka and classic fairy tales is all over this collection], but for the most part the author carves out her own niche, and the points of reference are just that, rather than anything that overwhelms the singular artistic vision here. Most potently, this is a deeply feminist [and often appropriately angry and even misandric] batch of stories with a keen focus on the divides in expectation and privileges between men and women and the hegemonic violence that occurs as a result of patriarchy. But the violence is rarely ever direct - more appropriately everything in these stories comes to a sinister, slow boil of confusion, communication breakdowns and the disquiet that comes with that. It's a deeply aesthetically interesting volume as well - I agree completely with the person who said this has a post-war feel, everything in these stories is fractured and haunted and desolate, often centering urban landscapes that are apocalyptic only in what is suggested, rather than directly explained, and Grudova has a lot of obsessive motifs of things that shouldn't be unsettling but made are by this bizarro world; fish, dolls, weird tastes in food, sewing machines, etc. - Objects and Items [and the capitalist mass production thereof] are a big thing here, working in tandem with the many themes of objectification of women's bodies and the subjugation of women on basis of their physicality. Vivid despite [and because of] its sparseness, and genuinely disturbing; Camilla Grudova is definitely a contemporary author I'll be revisiting.
amandaleib's review against another edition
3.0
Disturbing, haunting, and unforgettable stories. I kept thinking of Edward Gorey as I read them. My favorites were the first and last stories: “Unstitching” and “Notes from a Spider.” Steer clear if you don’t like body horror.
jaciacarlile's review against another edition
3.0
I was incredibly unsettled by these! A collection of very uncanny things. Shudder.