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hazazel's review
1.0
I semi-liked Sweet Nothing, with its brutal reality and gutty characters, stuck in the middle between right and wrong like we really are, not like those fictitious, flawless protagonists. The writing was all right, I suppose, lyrical sometimes and staccato at others but nothing remarkably beautiful.
These short stories, however, did not strike me as anything special. I got bored during some of them; they were all too similar and it's almost like you read one and you've read them all. I guess another issue I had with this book is simply that the endings didn't hit me. Nor did the middle, or beginnings. It's more or less just a general reflection on life in the slums of L.A., offering a realistic portrayal of those who haven't done much good in their lives.
I wasn't ecstatic over this book, but it appears I am in the minority. So give it a shot, but if you're interested in short stories, there's plenty of better ones out there.
2 stars | 9 Mar. 2015
These short stories, however, did not strike me as anything special. I got bored during some of them; they were all too similar and it's almost like you read one and you've read them all. I guess another issue I had with this book is simply that the endings didn't hit me. Nor did the middle, or beginnings. It's more or less just a general reflection on life in the slums of L.A., offering a realistic portrayal of those who haven't done much good in their lives.
I wasn't ecstatic over this book, but it appears I am in the minority. So give it a shot, but if you're interested in short stories, there's plenty of better ones out there.
2 stars | 9 Mar. 2015
citrusandcinnamon's review
5.0
Beautifully written stories of people dealing with struggle and tough decisions. Every story pulled me in after only a few pages. Highly recommend.
heatherreadsbooks's review
3.0
Sweet Nothing is deceptive. A heart on the cover, but really dark and twisted on the inside. Set on the dark side of Los Angeles, his collection of short stories refuse to shy away from that which is gritty and uncomfortable.
The characters you meet and the kind of people you'd usually empathise with or root for in text, but that's probably why this collection is a little bit different. By the time you get some grip on knowing them, you're moved onto the next, gaining only a brief snapshot into their respective lives.
From a man who cheated on his wife and got someone else pregnant and a recovering addict, to a guard dealing with his life alongside child killers, there's a diverse and dark mix to enjoy or (more accurately) get temporary caught up in, since enjoyment from such dark material seems a bit unusual.
The characters you meet and the kind of people you'd usually empathise with or root for in text, but that's probably why this collection is a little bit different. By the time you get some grip on knowing them, you're moved onto the next, gaining only a brief snapshot into their respective lives.
From a man who cheated on his wife and got someone else pregnant and a recovering addict, to a guard dealing with his life alongside child killers, there's a diverse and dark mix to enjoy or (more accurately) get temporary caught up in, since enjoyment from such dark material seems a bit unusual.
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