Scan barcode
kittey2ng's review
5.0
Wow! I really enjoyed this book. If I had really read description of it I don’t think I would have thought I would like it! Loved the stories especially the 1st one.
fictionista3's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
weweresotired's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
4.0
These were all so delightfully weird. There's a definite theme here of monstrous transformation, whatever that means to you. Russell's writing is witty and engaging and each short story has its own distinct voice, which you don't always see in short story collections. My favorites were The Prospectors (girls looking to survive in a run down town), The Bad Graft (girl gets real close with a tree), The Tornado Auction (guy raises a storm), and Orange World (girl makes a deal). Several of these stories were previously published online (The New Yorker had several of them) so you can search around if you want a preview.
duffychels's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely obsessed. Every single story was better than the one before it. Weird and haunting and different than anything else you'll read.
foolishwit13's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sam_hildebrandt's review
5.0
Definitely worth a second read!!! Each of the surriealist stories have a handful of common themes. The thing that kept me reading was finding out what off-kilter world Russell had built.
tess1209's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
derekmoodyrutledge's review
5.0
Karen Russell never ceases to amaze me. Over three collections of short stories and one novel, she has proven herself to be one of our most imaginative, interesting, and talented authors. My favorite stories in this collection are: “Bog Girl,” “The Tornado Auction,” “The Gondoliers,” and “Orange World.”