Reviews tagging 'War'

What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah

7 reviews

kananineko's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Death, Grief, Blood, Classism, Violence, Abandonment, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicide attempt, War, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Gun violence

ka_cam's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

4.75

Once I started reading this short story collection it was hard to stop! Quite varied in types but themes of connection, family, diaspora, and women’s relationships/desires (incl some casual queerness love 2 see it). Some of the stories read more like teasers or brainstorms for a longer story/novel, rather than complete short stories. All in all really enjoyed and am excited to read more by this author! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Gun violence, Colonisation, Murder, Racism, War, Body horror, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Body shaming, Car accident, and Blood

mc235's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a phenomenal collection of short stories. Almost every single story in this is a winner, which I almost never find in short story collections. Stylistically varied with excellent writing throughout, thematically focused on family relationships in most, particularly parent & child/generational. I think about several stories from this regularly. It's pretty dark and at times pessimistic, but such a wonderful read. I absolutely cannot wait to read whatever Arimah does next. Read this book!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: War

kaizw's review

dark emotional sad fast-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and War

davisbb's review

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, War, Gore, Suicide, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Death, and Child death

calybe's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-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

5.0

I first heard the title story on the Le Var Burton Reads podcast and knew I had to read more of Lesley Nneka Arimah's work. This collection of short stories interweaves generational trauma, girlhood, familial expectations with magical realism and human stories that make you reflect about the world. These are not stories that pulsate and stay with you long after you are done reading. There were quite a few stories that I read with tears in my eyes. All the characters feel real, and whether likable or unlikable, you understand why they are the way they are and you can't help but wish for the best outcome. More than one stories ending has left me in emotional turmoil. A fantastic collection of short stories that I devoured and will be a piece of me for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

princeofthefleshprison's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

Dark, poignant, and melancholy all throughout, What It Means When A Man Falls From the Sky is an accomplished collection. Grief and generational trauma haunt all of the eclectic characters, whether that be a pregnant teenage con artist or a goddess searching for her children. Spanning across the diverse settings its protagonists find themselves in —from modern-day US to futuristic Lagos —  each story is written with noteworthy wit and simplicity, just before the final, gut-wrenching end. Highly recommend, 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Child death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and War