Reviews

Bloody Summer by Carmen Maria Machado

sshabein's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

amberlea_s's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

hannahgorner's review

fast-paced

3.0

jenhurst's review

5.0

4.5. Definitely the best horror story in the collection and one of my favourite short stories that I’ve read.
I keep thinking about this and clapping games since. I was really impressed with this book

anaccfarinha's review

4.0

4

jaide_monroe's review

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

3.5 stars rounded up. I was kind of bored at the beginning because I didn’t know that this was written in essay/newspaper style, but then the story transformed into heartbreaking tragedy. 

This is my first Machado and I’m not disappointed. Just wish that Bloody Summer had built up to the actual event that took place on July 13, 1999. Perhaps make the narrator have skin in the game instead of just a spectator. 

Nevertheless, a great short story. 

direton1's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

vampire_burrito's review

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

youraveragedave's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

An anthropologist in the future studies the unique hand clapping games of kids from the small town of Never-Again PA.  They all involve tigers and kids disappearing.  There are elements of folklore horror, which I love.  Really enjoyed the premise as a research paper and interview with the love survivor of the massacre that took place way back in 1999.

juwaria's review

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0