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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Completely bonkers and I completely loved it. I don't usually like short stories. Very adult themed.
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
If I read these stories separately, somewhere else, it wouldn't be so bad, but in a collection they're way too similar to each other for any of them to stand out or be as interesting.
They almost all follow the same "every sentence is a fact" structure, with similar plot beats and "Tim Burton crossed with Wes Anderson"-adjacent vibes. The only things that really changes are the location/job.
They almost all follow the same "every sentence is a fact" structure, with similar plot beats and "Tim Burton crossed with Wes Anderson"-adjacent vibes. The only things that really changes are the location/job.
The Coiled Serpent is a collection of repulsive and dreadful short stories. Despite that, I was really intrigued! If you're into nauseating stories, you will enjoy this! It reminded me of Ottessa Moshfegh's writing. The Custard Factory, The Poison Garden, and Ivor stood out to me as favorites. The writing is very straightforward which I felt worked well with the unsettling stories.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
dark
tense
fast-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
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
gross but in a good way. Read most of it on the way to a sauna which made me feel a bit grubby. It had a fair amount of scat and emetology which for me rarely works but I think it really explores this interestingly and these motifs adds to the narrative rather than as a grossout move. Although it is gross. My faves were madame flora and ivor.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
weird and gross and sometimes made me feel sick. really enjoyed it! repulsive and fascinating collection of characters. not like anything i’ve read before.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A wickedly sharp and dark collection of short stories where the real twists inexorably into the surreal. I love how the world and the characters feel so rooted in the real world, yet drift so far and so deep into the utterly, and spectacularly, weird.