Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

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

7 reviews

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!!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: War

moonlitemuseum's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

The platter of misery served up by Lesley Nneka Arimah is so potent and rich that I could barely stomach it. It took me two tries to get through this anthology of short stories in full, but what a range! So many left me feeling haunted, empty, gnawing, but thoroughly sustained in spite of that.

I originally heard the titular "What It Means When A Man Falls from the Sky" on Levar Burton's podcast and it shook me to the core. A world where math=empathy, where our current climate troubles turn global politics inside-out, where grief is empirically indigestible—i loved everything about the anxious world she wove in this story. It hits like a bullet every time.

Most of the stories take a grain of sadness in the lives of women and inspect it under a microscope. How do they fail themselves? How are they failed by the societies around them? How do they continue on? I often dreaded the pause that signaled the end of the story, knowing its characters would be left there, suspended in their grief. It's incredibly effective work. I can't wait to read more from this author.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Death, Sexism, Grief, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Abandonment, Violence, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Child death, Body shaming, Blood, and Bullying

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

---

Content Warnings

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

a2_rache11's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

3.5⭐

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Murder, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

emilyeehaw's review

dark reflective

4.0

OPRAAHHHHHHH that was a good collection of short stories! i feel like recently i’ve been struggling with short story collections and it’s seemed like a lot of them are forgettable. but this had BANGER AFTER BANGER. so many of these made me go “….now HOLD ON A MINUTE :O” 

some of my favorites include: the future looks good, second chances, and what is a volcano?

i was really impressed with this author’s ability to write such unique stories that still felt cohesive to one another. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault and Miscarriage

etosaurus's review

dark sad

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Pedophilia, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Child death

Minor: Infidelity

franklybookish's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt