Reviews - The Consequences: Stories

81 reviews for:

The Consequences: Stories

Manuel Muñoz

4.1 AVERAGE

jayisreading's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 29%

I would like to revisit this collection. The general vibe of the book just isn't working for me right now.

toddm_lcnm's review

4.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

elsayles's review

4.5

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

edzee_lcnm's review

4.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

If you are following my reviews, it will come as no surprise that I read this one as I had the chance to see Manuel Munoz at the 2023 Santa Fe International Literary Festival. I was not familiar with him, and only peripherally aware of this book (it had some buzz in my literary social media circles), but I was excited to see an LGBTQ author at this year's festival. One thing of about attending the festival and then reading the books by the author's I had seen, particularly ones that I was not familiar with before the festival, I have been really struck by how much of the author's personality and temperament come through in their writing. I know this should be no surprise, but spending a weekend listening to a bunch of authors it's something I now kind of notice.

So anyhow, Munoz was quiet, reflective, modest, humble, and charming and that is certainly the tone of this short story collection, primarily taking place in the California's Central Valley - Munoz's early stomping grounds. The stories are often about immigrant farm workers, both "legal" and not, but a theme more of family and relationships and struggles. There are also several stories about Mexican American gay men, which felt like a fresh perspective to me and one that Munoz can speak to. As I said above, they are quiet and reflective -- so there is not a bit or flashy WOW! factor or some shocking twists and turns, but just slices of life -- with the WOW! factor being Munoz's stellar prose and ability to create characters and settings that feel very authentic.

There were some connections/ties between the stories, once I realized so I'm guessing there were probably even more, but that's never my super-strong point/skill in this type of situation. But two stories that are very much connected really was a nice surprise and made me yearn for a full novel telling more of that particular story from its various perspectives.

As is my experience with most short story collections, some work better than others but again there is no denying Munoz's skill and empathy and, once again, I am glad to have "discovered" him at this year's festival.

divyarau's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

kenz463's review

3.0

2.5 -Started off quite strongly for me and then started waning..ended up DNF at about 70% mark. Probably won’t buy this one for the shelves but I would recommend others to read it and see what they think!