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jessicaisanerd's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up this book from Pitchfork music festival, where they were selling a few extra advance review copies that they had. It was a total bargain and the book looked intriguing, and I was on a book-buying-kick that day, so I got it. I do not regret this decision one bit. The short stories in this book are a lot like chips - they are small, and very good, and you will sit down and read one and then read another and another and before you know it you've read half the book. However, even though most of the stories are very short, each one tells so much more than the small number of pages they are confined to. For example, one of Amber's stories, "Vesuvius", is less than a page long; but, left to the imagination, it speaks novels. I've read so many books with predictably twisting plots, an almost textbook sort of rise, climax, and fall and then end. This book breaks conformity, and gives you all of the imaginative little anecdotes I had been longing to read. The language was intricate and flowing, and the prose was beautiful. Perfect.
kiramke's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
Interesting and I'm glad I read the collection. I found the effectiveness of the story-telling varied quite a bit, which is not uncommon. The other 5* reviews articulate the best parts better than I could.
szeglin's review against another edition
5.0
Copy received through the Goodreads First Reads program.
"There were no books in the Afterwards, which the people thought was some serious bullshit." I fell in love with that line instantly, and it's only 3 pages into the book!
What an odd little collection of short stories. I don't mean that in a disparaging way at all--I think there was only one story in here that didn't really work for me. Several stories toy with experimental story structure, which often puts me off. Here, though, it works. The overarching tone of these tales makes any sort of deviation from the standard seem like a completely natural fit.
Amber Sparks has written diverse set of extremely short, off-kilter, whimsical tales. Many of the stories in this collection are inspired by fairy tales, either directly or in flavor. They are quite short, too. The longest is 12 pages, but there are many that are only a page or two long.
The thing that strikes me most about these stories is how much Sparks says by NOT saying it. One of my literature professors explaining the “iceberg theory” and Hemingway’s writing style. The most important elements of the story lie in what is NOT said. 90 percent of an iceberg is below the water’s surface, and 90 percent of the meaning of a story lies below the surface, too. The stories in May We Shed These Human Bodies take up a lot more space than the slim volume would indicate.
This is a solid literary effort. I’m looking forward to reading more from Sparks.
"There were no books in the Afterwards, which the people thought was some serious bullshit." I fell in love with that line instantly, and it's only 3 pages into the book!
What an odd little collection of short stories. I don't mean that in a disparaging way at all--I think there was only one story in here that didn't really work for me. Several stories toy with experimental story structure, which often puts me off. Here, though, it works. The overarching tone of these tales makes any sort of deviation from the standard seem like a completely natural fit.
Amber Sparks has written diverse set of extremely short, off-kilter, whimsical tales. Many of the stories in this collection are inspired by fairy tales, either directly or in flavor. They are quite short, too. The longest is 12 pages, but there are many that are only a page or two long.
The thing that strikes me most about these stories is how much Sparks says by NOT saying it. One of my literature professors explaining the “iceberg theory” and Hemingway’s writing style. The most important elements of the story lie in what is NOT said. 90 percent of an iceberg is below the water’s surface, and 90 percent of the meaning of a story lies below the surface, too. The stories in May We Shed These Human Bodies take up a lot more space than the slim volume would indicate.
This is a solid literary effort. I’m looking forward to reading more from Sparks.
amaze_amaze_amaze's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
toffishay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I read this book in a creative writing course and I fell in love! Amber Sparks is an instant-buy author for me :)
lmdierker's review against another edition
4.0
Amber Spark's short stories are - *chef's kiss* - absolutely amazing. I read this collection of short stories after happening upon her most recently collection 'And I Do Not Forgive You: Stories and Other Revenges' which was published last year.
Just like her most recent collection, this was a great. The stories are weird, vague, imaginative, often dark, and quite deep and thought provoking despite their short lengths. Even when realistic, these stories often have a sense of magic or fairy tale. When asked "what are the stories about?" I just shrugged and said "I don't really know how to explain it" and frankly I still don't. All in all, I love a weird short story and I could read 100 more of Amber Spark's stories.
Just like her most recent collection, this was a great. The stories are weird, vague, imaginative, often dark, and quite deep and thought provoking despite their short lengths. Even when realistic, these stories often have a sense of magic or fairy tale. When asked "what are the stories about?" I just shrugged and said "I don't really know how to explain it" and frankly I still don't. All in all, I love a weird short story and I could read 100 more of Amber Spark's stories.
moimoi's review against another edition
4.0
Lyrical and affecting. A great volume of micro-fiction (with a few forays into prose poetry as well). Carry this around with you to look cool and intriguing.
selkelite's review against another edition
5.0
I read this in one go on my phone while in the bed of an ex. I was absolutely freezing, a bit drunk and unable to sleep. Only a collection of stories this good, this intriguing and this weird could have made the night fly by. I loved it.
Big thanks to my friend Clover for gifting the Kindle edition to me when I was at a low ; though they have no memory whatsoever of doing so.
Big thanks to my friend Clover for gifting the Kindle edition to me when I was at a low ; though they have no memory whatsoever of doing so.