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Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah
3 reviews
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.
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
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,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and War
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
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