A review by mayastone
The Decapitated Chicken and Other Stories by Horacio Quiroga

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

 
Introduction: There is a heavy theme of death due to personal tragedies. Heavily inspired by Poe. 

The Feather Pillow: I thought a vampire, I was wrong. Eerie and sad. 3/5 

Sunstroke: Safeguard that which you depend on, death cannot be escaped. 4/5 Poor dogs. 

The Pursued: Mental illness and the effects on those who are ill and those who observe the illness. 4/5 

The Decapitated Chicken: Four abandoned children, a golden child and red flowing freely. 3/5 

Drifting: Fate and a slow drifting towards death. 3.5/5 

A Slap in the Face: Revenge. 3/5 

In the Middle of the Night: Survival and determination, love and the strength to overcome and endure. 3/5 

Juan Darien: Folkloric story. I wanted bloodshed instead of what I ended up getting. 4/5 

The Dead Man: Another theme of death. 4/5 

Anaconda: A tale of snakes and antivenom. 4/5 

The Incense Tree Roof: An odd story of a determined man, living a simple life that’s inconvenienced with bureaucracy. 3.5/5 

The Son: Tragic. 4/5 

Overall Score: 3.5/5 – An interesting mixture of stories.  Not exactly Poe, but still worth reading.