Scan barcode
daynpitseleh's review against another edition
4.0
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really interesting collection, full of surrealism and magic realism, but at the same time being poignant and relatable and so present in the current moment. Highly recommended.
This was a really interesting collection, full of surrealism and magic realism, but at the same time being poignant and relatable and so present in the current moment. Highly recommended.
liacooper's review against another edition
3.0
Average rating 3.33
Overall, not something I would read for entertainment. I found most of the stories well written for what they were (kind of surreal, somewhat stark, often bordering on the edges of magical realism) but they weren't quite to my taste. I did like how several of them had endings that made me recoil and go WHAT? But I often found myself completely disconnected from the female voices in this and their choices (ex. Outtakes), so that really distanced me from the work.
Nadine was definitely my favorite, probably because I could most connect with the narrator of that story. Animal Parts is one that will stick with me. Most of the rest are rated 3/3.5 because I think the writing quality is definitely there even if the subjects weren't my cup of tea.
(I feel like I should say I go by the Goodreads "ratings" eg 3 stars means I liked it, it just didn't thrill me)
Individual Story Ratings:
Gunk 3.5
Animal Parts 4
Outtakes 2.5
Fractures 3.5
Walk with Sleep 4
Why is Pepe Canary Yellow? 4
Footer 2
Nadine 4
Poko, Poko 3
Please Feed Motion 3
Anonymous Jones 3.5
The Thumbnail Interruptions 3
The Arrangement of Skin 3.5
Snapper 3
Jody 3.5
Following 3.5
Mammoth 3
Vegas 3.5
Overall, not something I would read for entertainment. I found most of the stories well written for what they were (kind of surreal, somewhat stark, often bordering on the edges of magical realism) but they weren't quite to my taste. I did like how several of them had endings that made me recoil and go WHAT? But I often found myself completely disconnected from the female voices in this and their choices (ex. Outtakes), so that really distanced me from the work.
Nadine was definitely my favorite, probably because I could most connect with the narrator of that story. Animal Parts is one that will stick with me. Most of the rest are rated 3/3.5 because I think the writing quality is definitely there even if the subjects weren't my cup of tea.
(I feel like I should say I go by the Goodreads "ratings" eg 3 stars means I liked it, it just didn't thrill me)
Individual Story Ratings:
Gunk 3.5
Animal Parts 4
Outtakes 2.5
Fractures 3.5
Walk with Sleep 4
Why is Pepe Canary Yellow? 4
Footer 2
Nadine 4
Poko, Poko 3
Please Feed Motion 3
Anonymous Jones 3.5
The Thumbnail Interruptions 3
The Arrangement of Skin 3.5
Snapper 3
Jody 3.5
Following 3.5
Mammoth 3
Vegas 3.5
swarley's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
saorosco's review against another edition
3.0
I've never read anything like this. New to the author and new to reading collections of short stories, this book haunts me. Especially the last story Vegas. I had so many questions about Mammoth but the most gut wrenching story was Animal Parts, which gives us a peek into Henri a boy with a tail.
The first story Gunk... I can't say say I enjoyed this collection but j most definitely will remember all of them.
The first story Gunk... I can't say say I enjoyed this collection but j most definitely will remember all of them.
libraryfiend21's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
kathyxtran's review against another edition
3.0
A really great collection of weird short stories (the best kind). I definitely prefer the longer stories, maybe because they take more time and space to let characters stretch out, whereas the shorter ones feel like they start and end in the same breaths.
My favourites:
"Outtakes"
"Fractures"
"Walk With Sleep"
My favourites:
"Outtakes"
"Fractures"
"Walk With Sleep"
anatomydetective's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting collection of short stories. The author's use of language and vivid imagination drew me in, but some of the stories were lacking. I look forward to reading more of her work.
lottpoet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? Yes
4.0
alisha94's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.75