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carladelgado's review
5.0
This book is amazing! The description really intrigued me, but it didn’t prepare me for how well-written and brilliant it is. Each story is so unnervingly good! I didn’t think I would like the book so much because it’s not usually what I read, but Diane Cook is so good that even if it’s not your cup of tea, you’ll be hooked. It’s REALLY good. The stories are unique and they do tell you a lot about human nature. It’s very interesting. I am pleasantly surprised and in awe of this book, and I do recommend it for anyone, no matter the reading preferences.
doctorshanhattan's review
4.0
Couple of stinkers and ocassionally an uncomfortable read - but on balance four out of 5 is about right.
phage90's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mannis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ktmacrchr's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sangxia's review
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A wild, quirky, imaginative exploration of man’s nature
ecleirs23's review
5.0
This book is the perfect example of how short stories should be written! All the stories are crisp and punch yuh in your gut. The stories are surreal, have got dream-like qualities. At times, I felt, if Diane has written these stories while living those in her dreams or what :)
All the stories are straight forward and brutal to the extremes. In simple words, those are all raw, raw plots, raw emotions, the conversations are honest. Some of the stories were a cultural shock to me.
All stories explore human nature, human interactions, our struggle against nature. In many of these stories, Diane has explored sexuality pretty boldly.
1. Moving on - it can be categorized as speculative fiction. After her husband's death, the widow is isolated in a shelter like-facility to 'move On' and to get prepared for the next partner. The end is going to shock yuh!
2. The Way End of days should be - It's about drowned world and two neighbors. Yuh are going to remember your interactions with your neighbor while reading this one. Be prepared to get punched in your guts!
3. Somebody's baby - Frankly speaking, I could not decipher this story... Somebody, please help me.
The story was scary.
4. Girl on Girl - Can anyone please explain this story to me?
5. Man V. Nature - It's about 3 close-knit friends are lost in the lake (impossible but well, let's take it as an allusion) and how they fall apart.
6. Marrying Up - aptly pictures about how women generally submit to their partners, may those be good or bad. How women justify being with them and how everything changes, when the baby is born. This story boldly explores the blindness in relationships.
7. It's coming - This is a perfect example of dark humor. It is about, how important it is to live our present no matter what the situation around you is.
8. Meteorologist Dave Santana - About an insatiable, nymphomaniac woman. The end of the story is devastating!
9. The Mast Year - Reveals, how things can turn in seconds and how one should not take the life granted.
10. The Not-Needed Forest - This reminded me of Lord of Flies. :)
So, if yuh want to get a crash course in human interactions and also want to get battered, bruised while learning it, then dive in this book :)
All the stories are straight forward and brutal to the extremes. In simple words, those are all raw, raw plots, raw emotions, the conversations are honest. Some of the stories were a cultural shock to me.
All stories explore human nature, human interactions, our struggle against nature. In many of these stories, Diane has explored sexuality pretty boldly.
1. Moving on - it can be categorized as speculative fiction. After her husband's death, the widow is isolated in a shelter like-facility to 'move On' and to get prepared for the next partner. The end is going to shock yuh!
2. The Way End of days should be - It's about drowned world and two neighbors. Yuh are going to remember your interactions with your neighbor while reading this one. Be prepared to get punched in your guts!
3. Somebody's baby - Frankly speaking, I could not decipher this story... Somebody, please help me.
The story was scary.
4. Girl on Girl - Can anyone please explain this story to me?
5. Man V. Nature - It's about 3 close-knit friends are lost in the lake (impossible but well, let's take it as an allusion) and how they fall apart.
6. Marrying Up - aptly pictures about how women generally submit to their partners, may those be good or bad. How women justify being with them and how everything changes, when the baby is born. This story boldly explores the blindness in relationships.
7. It's coming - This is a perfect example of dark humor. It is about, how important it is to live our present no matter what the situation around you is.
8. Meteorologist Dave Santana - About an insatiable, nymphomaniac woman. The end of the story is devastating!
9. The Mast Year - Reveals, how things can turn in seconds and how one should not take the life granted.
10. The Not-Needed Forest - This reminded me of Lord of Flies. :)
So, if yuh want to get a crash course in human interactions and also want to get battered, bruised while learning it, then dive in this book :)
slpugs's review
5.0
Bro, I read this so fast. I'm not usually a fan of short stories but this really hit the spot. Some of these were truly excellent reads, my favorite story in the anthology being the title's namesake Man v. Nature. There were only one or two stories that I didn't connect with. I read this in entirety on a 5 hour flight and it was well worth my time.
m_egg_o's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death