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sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
5.0
Most of these short stories have a sort of nightmarish qualities about them, much like another Intentional Booker nominee from author, Fever Dreams (but 'Fever Dreams' had a far better execution IMO and, to be honest, should have won International Booker that year). Sometimes the nightmarish quality is due to environment or because of the perspective of a child narrator while others really have a somewhat Kafka-like dream-realism (unpredictable sequence of surreal events) with an which is the thing I enjoy most about this author. The unease one feels during a nightmare is common to the narrators of all the good stories in here. 'Headlights', 'Butterflies', 'Preserves", 'toward the civilization' etc are some of the best ones.
There a few less enjoyable stories (the titular story, incidentally, was one of those I enjoyed less), but the 5-star ones are too difficult to ignore.
A bad sample, bad not because it is a bad story, but because it doesn't have this nightmarish quality, can be read here.
There a few less enjoyable stories (the titular story, incidentally, was one of those I enjoyed less), but the 5-star ones are too difficult to ignore.
A bad sample, bad not because it is a bad story, but because it doesn't have this nightmarish quality, can be read here.
emorm's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
rosielazar1's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sentetia's review against another edition
3.0
3,5/5 stars
A mixed bunch, but overall very enjoyable.
My favorites: Preserves, Butterflies, Santa Claus Sleeps at Out House, My Brother Walter, The Size of Things, and The Heavy Suitcase of Benavides.
A mixed bunch, but overall very enjoyable.
My favorites: Preserves, Butterflies, Santa Claus Sleeps at Out House, My Brother Walter, The Size of Things, and The Heavy Suitcase of Benavides.
sabrinaliterary's review against another edition
4.0
Five stars for "Headlights," seven stars for "Preserves."
lapeladaesa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
thesearethebooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
booksamongstfriends's review against another edition
4.0
If you're into stories that give you chills and make you think, "Mouthful of Birds" by Samanta Schweblin is a wild ride. Seriously, some of these tales will stick with you like a haunting melody you can't shake.
I can't stop thinking about "Headlights," where Schweblin taps into the weird things we do when we think no one's watching. And "Mouthful of Birds"? It's like a twisted family drama that blurs the line between reality and nightmare.
There's something about "Preserves," "The Heavy Suitcase of Benavides," and "Heads Against Concrete" that leaves you feeling uneasy—in a good way. Schweblin has this knack for exploring human nature's darker corners without holding back.
Sure, not every story hit me the same way, but that's the beauty of a collection like this. Each piece is its own trip into the strange and unsettling. Schweblin's writing pulls you in and keeps you guessing until the end.
If you're up for a read that's equal parts creepy and thought-provoking, give "Mouthful of Birds" a shot. Just be prepared to have some seriously haunting stories on your mind afterward.
I can't stop thinking about "Headlights," where Schweblin taps into the weird things we do when we think no one's watching. And "Mouthful of Birds"? It's like a twisted family drama that blurs the line between reality and nightmare.
There's something about "Preserves," "The Heavy Suitcase of Benavides," and "Heads Against Concrete" that leaves you feeling uneasy—in a good way. Schweblin has this knack for exploring human nature's darker corners without holding back.
Sure, not every story hit me the same way, but that's the beauty of a collection like this. Each piece is its own trip into the strange and unsettling. Schweblin's writing pulls you in and keeps you guessing until the end.
If you're up for a read that's equal parts creepy and thought-provoking, give "Mouthful of Birds" a shot. Just be prepared to have some seriously haunting stories on your mind afterward.
jadekake's review against another edition
5.0
Schweblin's command of the short story genre is masterful. Astonishing, unsettling writing.