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lylyan_aki's review against another edition
5.0
I can't even explain how good Saenz's writing is. It's "soft", beautiful and painful. Life as he sees it will always hurt.
susannah_n's review against another edition
3.0
I was really looking forward to Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club after reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe last year. These stories weren't bad at all, but there were only a couple of them that I thought as moving as that novel. Regardless, Benjamin Alire Sáenz is a wonderful writer who uses language as beautifully as any I've read.
krtfkurnick's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
cipactl1's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
quintos's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bg_oseman_fan's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
i really liked how cohesive this short story collection. each story was its own world, but roughly in the same geographic area and time period. Benjamin has a talent for making beautiful prose even when describing perilous moments or tense scenes. the only thing keeping me from rating 5 stars is that the themes of the story repeat so much it becomes hard to keep the stories distinct, which may have been an intentional choice on his part. Benjamin gives such life to his characters, though, no matter what situation they are living in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Violence, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
paiki's review against another edition
4.0
There is a lot of similarity between all of Sáenz characters but I am still in love with them, and his writing style and his stories captivate me in a way I can't explain.