A review by friedbooks
Man V. Nature by Diane Cook

4.0

I have been trying to find a short story collection that utilized both themes of nature and oppression based on gender. This collection delivered both. The purpose of this was for a class I teach, but the overall effect was quite enjoyable. The only reason I take one star away is that the book got rather heavy at points, with no stories to really let you take a breath. I understand wanting each story to hit heavily, and this collection not being meant for happy endings, and the characters were interesting ...but you can’t root for them. And, when you can, the story reveals more and more of them until you can’t. For that, the book stays true, and the book wins. But, if you were looking for a little hope amongst the pain, I guess you’re looking in the wrong place, or you have to look harder than I did.