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yinflower's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Death, and Racism
deedireads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- 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
4.0
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Maria, Maria is a playful, witchy collection of short stories written in different experimental formats. While I didn’t fall head over heels, I had a lot of fun reading this one.
For you if: You like short (occasionally really short!) stories steeped in metaphor and magic.
FULL REVIEW:
Longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction, Maria, Maria and Other Stories is a playful, witchy collection that experiments with form and steeps itself in metaphor and Latine culture. As anyone who even loosely follows my reviews will know, this kind of thing is extremely my sh*t. And while I didn’t fall head over heels in love, I definitely had a lot of fun reading it.
These stories, set mostly in Latin-American cities, take all different shapes. We have a teacher conducting a class on witchcraft, an art exhibit showcasing art by animals, a woman who travels to Brazil to plant her deceased husband’s head in the earth, a dystopian future described in location-specific vignettes, and more. The last story is a novella and shares a title with the book.
In many ways, this is a collection of opposing forces: levity and darkness, life and death, love and grief, magic and the mundane. Rubio explores them all in ways that can be either enjoyed quickly or contemplated more deeply — which one depends on the reader. I found myself drawn to linger on the metaphors in some stories and happy to read and then move on from others. I thought the opening story was one of the strongest. I also really loved “Paint by Numbers,” which is practically microfiction and almost more like narrative poetry than a story.
If you’re open to experimental formats and love a witchy vibe, pick this one up.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Maria, Maria is a playful, witchy collection of short stories written in different experimental formats. While I didn’t fall head over heels, I had a lot of fun reading this one.
For you if: You like short (occasionally really short!) stories steeped in metaphor and magic.
FULL REVIEW:
Longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction, Maria, Maria and Other Stories is a playful, witchy collection that experiments with form and steeps itself in metaphor and Latine culture. As anyone who even loosely follows my reviews will know, this kind of thing is extremely my sh*t. And while I didn’t fall head over heels in love, I definitely had a lot of fun reading it.
These stories, set mostly in Latin-American cities, take all different shapes. We have a teacher conducting a class on witchcraft, an art exhibit showcasing art by animals, a woman who travels to Brazil to plant her deceased husband’s head in the earth, a dystopian future described in location-specific vignettes, and more. The last story is a novella and shares a title with the book.
In many ways, this is a collection of opposing forces: levity and darkness, life and death, love and grief, magic and the mundane. Rubio explores them all in ways that can be either enjoyed quickly or contemplated more deeply — which one depends on the reader. I found myself drawn to linger on the metaphors in some stories and happy to read and then move on from others. I thought the opening story was one of the strongest. I also really loved “Paint by Numbers,” which is practically microfiction and almost more like narrative poetry than a story.
If you’re open to experimental formats and love a witchy vibe, pick this one up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual violence and Kidnapping
readingsofaslinky's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Colonisation, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Confinement, and Slavery
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