A review by rara2018
Skin Folk by Nalo Hopkinson

5.0

This is quite possibly my favorite short story collection I’ve ever read. From the first to the last story, I was utterly transfixed by Nalo Hopkinson’s voice and storytelling ability. It was thematically so powerful, and each story fit in perfectly. The first story, “Riding the Red”, was probably my least favorite of the collection. “Money Tree” was sad and beautiful at the same time and felt like a poignant warning with a glimmer of hope. The next story, “Something to Hitch Meat to” was a fascinating exploration of self and authenticity (and, to be honest, that little girl would absolutely frighten me). “Snake” was easily the most horrifying in the collection—it definitely had some competition, though—but I was glad we got a warning at the beginning of what was yet to come. The story was disgusting and cathartic and masterfully written, and I had to take a brief intermission after this story before I could continue. “Under Glass” is what I can only describe as an apocalyptic Etch A Sketch that really made me think (and now, as I think and write this, the idea almost had Horton Hears a Who vibes). The story that I believe came in second place for most horrifying, “The Glass Bottle Trick”, was an unsettling exploration of race and womanhood and childbirth that felt a little to real at times, despite its supernatural events. “Slow Cold Chick” was surprisingly endearing even with its slightly grotesque nature, though it wasn’t a favorite of mine. The next story, “Fisherman”, was basically smut, but Hopkinson’s voice managed to give the story a powerful meaning about gender and sexuality. “Tan-Tan and Dry Bone” was a deceptively simple story with deep roots in folklore and was one I think I would’ve enjoyed even more had I been familiar with the original fable. “Greedy Choke Puppy” totally got me with its twist, and it was a sad but excellent exploration of love and family. “A Habit of Waste” was both eerie and tremendously thoughtful in its discussion on the titular waste, both in terms of bodies and food, and I loved Old Man Morris’s character. I really enjoyed the real quotes that were sprinkled throughout “And the Lillies-Them A-Blow” and the message surrounding reconnecting with your heritage and it never being too late to do something different and meaningful. The shortest story in the collection, “Whose Upward Flight I Love” was an alien-like story about migratory trees, and was unexpected and lovely at the same time. Our penultimate story, “Ganger (Ball Lightning)” was one I didn’t really get at first—though I did love it’s description of fudge—but by the end, the characters fraught reconnection was so meaningful. Finally, “Precious” was a story that was deeply fairytale like and was one of my favorites in the collection, about a woman reclaiming her name and herself in the face of politeness. The collection as a whole was impactful and distinct, with Hopkinson’s Jamaican roots spilling in and adding depth to every story here. I was unnerved and moved and stressed and hopeful at different points throughout the story, and I left with a head full of thoughts and a heart swelling with emotion.