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A review by sidekicksam
Games and Rituals by Katherine Heiny
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
w o w. Katherine Heiny really knows how to write intricate, detailed characters in just a few pages. Reading these stories is like opening a window in the mind of your fellow train passengers, and you get a glimpse of their daily lives outside of that train. Incredibly vivid, credible stories of actual people.
There were more depictions of infedelity in here than I am comfortable reading about, but even those are written with a nuance from several perspectives that it is nothing short of (pun intended) a great collection of stories.
Here are some thoughts on the individual stories:
Chicken-Flavored and Lemon-Scented
I swear my driving instructor also always let me drive through the McDrive for a coffee and a McEgg!!! Incredibly realistic.
Damascus
A tale as old as Damascus, of parent trying to prevent kid from making the same mistakes as her.
Twist and Shout
Buckets of tears. Incredible writing, and an incredibly painful but all too recognizable depiction of a father-daughter relationship.
Turn Back, Turn Back
Hauntingly depressing. A fairytale nightmare I felt chilled by.
Games and Rituals
I love how life actually is a series of games and rituals, and this was the 'holding up a painfully accurate mirror game'.
CobRa
Probably my favourite tale, as this is exactly what I hope the love of my life will come to realize after a marriage that long too!! (Though I hope not to be as sexless OR ever threaten to get rid of books. Horrible perimenopausal woman.)
561
ANOTHER FUCKING NIGHTMARE, but then from the perspective of the nightmare herself. I never hope to be such a vindictive bitch but I can totally see why Barbara sticks to the 561 nickname.
Pandemic Behaviour
A relatable fucking pandamic tale if I ever saw one.
Bridesmaid, Revisited
This might be my favourite too. She did Rhonda dirty but I am here for it. Hilarious.
King Midas
Ugh, Oscar is the worst.
Sky Bar
Surprisingly funny with a hint of desperation. Enjoyable story to conclude the collection!
There were more depictions of infedelity in here than I am comfortable reading about, but even those are written with a nuance from several perspectives that it is nothing short of (pun intended) a great collection of stories.
Here are some thoughts on the individual stories:
Chicken-Flavored and Lemon-Scented
I swear my driving instructor also always let me drive through the McDrive for a coffee and a McEgg!!! Incredibly realistic.
Damascus
A tale as old as Damascus, of parent trying to prevent kid from making the same mistakes as her.
Twist and Shout
Buckets of tears. Incredible writing, and an incredibly painful but all too recognizable depiction of a father-daughter relationship.
Turn Back, Turn Back
Hauntingly depressing. A fairytale nightmare I felt chilled by.
Games and Rituals
I love how life actually is a series of games and rituals, and this was the 'holding up a painfully accurate mirror game'.
CobRa
Probably my favourite tale, as this is exactly what I hope the love of my life will come to realize after a marriage that long too!! (Though I hope not to be as sexless OR ever threaten to get rid of books. Horrible perimenopausal woman.)
561
ANOTHER FUCKING NIGHTMARE, but then from the perspective of the nightmare herself. I never hope to be such a vindictive bitch but I can totally see why Barbara sticks to the 561 nickname.
Pandemic Behaviour
A relatable fucking pandamic tale if I ever saw one.
Bridesmaid, Revisited
This might be my favourite too. She did Rhonda dirty but I am here for it. Hilarious.
King Midas
Ugh, Oscar is the worst.
Sky Bar
Surprisingly funny with a hint of desperation. Enjoyable story to conclude the collection!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity