Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fen’s short stories revolve around a small-town located on – chocker – a fen. Told from the perspectives of different local women, each story provides a glimpse of the ecosystem surrounding them, of superstitions, magic, daily lives of common people who live there, those who want to leave, others just passing by. It was a really good read, touching themes like environmental issues and its preservation, feminism, growing up, family, grief. Johnson merges the sultriness of small-town lives with the moister of marshy and marine wildlife through colourful wordplay and great skill, crossing various generations and backgrounds.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know nothing about modern literature but I read something on twitter (sorry) today and I'm thinking, yeah, have people stopped writing endings to their stories? This isn't so much a gripe about technicalities of plot as it is the bulk of stuff that your narrative hinges on. Anyway, all this to say that what I like the most about Daisy Johnson, I think, and the same goes for [b:Everything Under|36396289|Everything Under|Daisy Johnson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1522082835s/36396289.jpg|58089593], is the atmosphere, which is something that really lingers with you, clinging.
Favourite stories:
"How to Fuck a Man you Don't Know"
"Language"
"The Superstition of Albatross"
Favourite stories:
"How to Fuck a Man you Don't Know"
"Language"
"The Superstition of Albatross"
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Generally speaking, I’ve struggled to find short story collections that blow me away as a whole. That being said, this comes close.
With ‘Fen’ Johnson creates a lush, surreal landscape that oozes oddity and indulges in the macabre. This collection is ravenous, possessive, atmospheric but in a way that sneaks up on you until it’s nested in the corners of your brain. I was left with a feeling I can only relate to playing hooky: good, bad, and like I held a secret no one else knew.
In short, it was wonderful. I can’t wait to see what she does with a novel.
With ‘Fen’ Johnson creates a lush, surreal landscape that oozes oddity and indulges in the macabre. This collection is ravenous, possessive, atmospheric but in a way that sneaks up on you until it’s nested in the corners of your brain. I was left with a feeling I can only relate to playing hooky: good, bad, and like I held a secret no one else knew.
In short, it was wonderful. I can’t wait to see what she does with a novel.
I heard this read by LeVar Burton. Not only does LeVar Burton's voice delight but the quality of the podcast with its silences and background music and effects is wonderful too. Daisy Johnson's tale, which brought up images of The Shape of Water, left a sharp pain in my chest. Real and fantastical at the same time, it is a beautiful read.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love this book so much! I seriously recommend this to anyone who loves stories centered around the female experience, folklore, magic, and the fantastical.