Scan barcode
A review by thebetterstory
Jagannath by Karin Tidbeck
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a strange and occasionally beautiful collection of stories. Some of them are likely to stick with me for a good long time due to their sheer originality.
My favourites were generally the ones that were a bit tenderer and more human, with the standout for me being the bittersweet story of a woman returning to the house her abandoned, alcoholic father owned after his death and reflecting on the bygone days when he and her mother had been part of a group of artistic, hippie communists who all lived and dreamed together there. (There's a supernatural twist, of course.)
In general, short story collections aren't my favourite format, as I often end up wishing I could see what the author does when their characters and narratives are given more room to expand. Here, at least, the stories all felt complete in and of themselves. I would definitely love to see Tidbeck's blend of creepiness, domesticity and nostalgia in a longer story some day in the future.
My favourites were generally the ones that were a bit tenderer and more human, with the standout for me being the bittersweet story of a woman returning to the house her abandoned, alcoholic father owned after his death and reflecting on the bygone days when he and her mother had been part of a group of artistic, hippie communists who all lived and dreamed together there. (There's a supernatural twist, of course.)
In general, short story collections aren't my favourite format, as I often end up wishing I could see what the author does when their characters and narratives are given more room to expand. Here, at least, the stories all felt complete in and of themselves. I would definitely love to see Tidbeck's blend of creepiness, domesticity and nostalgia in a longer story some day in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Body horror
Moderate: Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Incest
Minor: Bullying and Fatphobia