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A review by kateflood
Games and Rituals by Katherine Heiny
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Having read both of her short story collections I’d say it’s clear that Katherine Heiny has a talent for capturing relationships, both romantic and familial, in snapshots. I definitely enjoyed this collection, and though I wasn’t a massive fan of all of the stories I really adored some of them, specifically Twist and Shout, 561, and Turn Back, Turn Back. These stories all delivered such a gut punch that I felt like I was left reeling after reading them (in a good way).
I do feel like Heiny seems to have a tendency to focus her short stories on tales of WASP-y families and affairs so her writing can sometimes begin to feel a bit one-note, but then again she is so good at writing this sort of story that I can understand why she stays in this vein.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Death of parent