You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
fast-paced
#StoryGraph: fiction short stories emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced family magic short-story
32 pages • first pub 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️
DESCRIPTION
Life is hard enough for a teenage girl in 1950s suburbia without having a mother who may—or may not—be a witch. A single mother at that. Sure, she fits in with her starched dresses, string of pearls, and floral aprons. Then there are the hushed and mystical consultations with neighborhood women in distress. The unsavory, mysterious plants in the flower beds. The divined warning to steer clear of a boyfriend whose fate is certainly doomed. But as the daughter of this bewitching homemaker comes of age and her mother’s claims become more and more outlandish, she begins to question everything she once took for granted.
32 pages • first pub 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️
DESCRIPTION
Life is hard enough for a teenage girl in 1950s suburbia without having a mother who may—or may not—be a witch. A single mother at that. Sure, she fits in with her starched dresses, string of pearls, and floral aprons. Then there are the hushed and mystical consultations with neighborhood women in distress. The unsavory, mysterious plants in the flower beds. The divined warning to steer clear of a boyfriend whose fate is certainly doomed. But as the daughter of this bewitching homemaker comes of age and her mother’s claims become more and more outlandish, she begins to question everything she once took for granted.
O primeiro de 2023 foi bem curtinho, mas poderoso - perturbador e viciante na medida certa (amei!).
is it obvious i’m trying to get to my reading goal…
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a delightfully, sweet, filling short story about a mother, who may or may not be a witch, and her daughter, who may or may not believe her mother is a witch.
There were so many wonderful things in this. It's the type of short story you'd be happy to have as a full book but are equally happy with it just as it is. That's talent, folks.
There's talk of stolen penises (collected much like stamps and kept in a cedar box...obviously) and of not being able to date certain boys because of tarot card readings and the Universe's predictions (gonna be sure to use that one when my daughter turns 15 in a few years...). Talk that kept me thoroughly entertained.
And then there are lines like this that made my throat do that weird chokey pre-cry thing as I thought about my own mother and my own daughters:
I kissed her forehead, a skull with a very thin covering of skin. The protector was her, the greater power was her, the Universe that took an interest was her as well; always her.
4 Stars
There were so many wonderful things in this. It's the type of short story you'd be happy to have as a full book but are equally happy with it just as it is. That's talent, folks.
There's talk of stolen penises (collected much like stamps and kept in a cedar box...obviously) and of not being able to date certain boys because of tarot card readings and the Universe's predictions (gonna be sure to use that one when my daughter turns 15 in a few years...). Talk that kept me thoroughly entertained.
And then there are lines like this that made my throat do that weird chokey pre-cry thing as I thought about my own mother and my own daughters:
I kissed her forehead, a skull with a very thin covering of skin. The protector was her, the greater power was her, the Universe that took an interest was her as well; always her.
4 Stars
4-4.25 stars
Great example of what a short story should be. Clever story telling. Great ending. No need to recap premise, and I don’t want to include spoilers. Definitely recommend reading this one.
Great example of what a short story should be. Clever story telling. Great ending. No need to recap premise, and I don’t want to include spoilers. Definitely recommend reading this one.
I really enjoyed this short story. I feel like it was captivating, and I enjoyed the storyline. I also love anything to do with fantasy so it was expected for me to enjoy this. I would recommend this! And I will definitely read more of Atwood’s books.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes