A review by happi_mess
Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman

3.0

“What we read as adults should be read, I think, with no warnings or alerts beyond, perhaps: enter at your own risk. We need to find out what fiction is, what it means, to us, an experience that is going to be unlike anyone else’s experience of the story.”

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This is a short story collection mainly focusing on what might be trigger warnings, literally or figuratively. Hence, the title.

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Rating: ★★★

There were some great stories here, but among the rest, only a few stood out to me and hit me square in the chest.

All characters have their distinct voices. I must say that I like the shorter stories better than, the longer ones. I also loved the variety of the formats. There were poems, prose, longer short stories, and even a police questionnaire. Some of the stories are forgettable, which was a shame because Neil Gaiman was one of my favourite writers since I read American Gods.

I know that he would be able to spin great short stories as I have found many of them in his novels and loved them instantly. I do think that he came short on some of them in this collection.

Still, here are some of the best stories that I found here:

Down to a Sunless Sea
Orange
September Tale
October Tale (my ultimate favourite of all)
November Tale
Click-Clack the Rattlebag (2nd fave!!

October Tale managed a sweet concise, and (I can’t believe I’m saying this) believable romance. It made me root for the characters. It did a lot more than the other romance novels that I read in just four pages.

Click-Clack the Rattlebag is a short, very creepy horror story. It would remind you of your childhood fears of the monsters under your bed and in your closet waiting for you to fall asleep so they could chew on your toes. Fast-paced and exciting!

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In sum:

If you’re into short stories, I recommend this book. People will have different opinions on the various stories here, and you might find ones that you would hate and bore you, but I also know that you’re going to find stories that you will fall in love with.

Give it a shot.

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p.s.:

This is the first physical book that I’ve read in a while. Thank you, NBS, for the sale event. I bought this paperback for $2. Massive thank you to the woman who helped me obtain this book and for carrying out her services so bookish people like me can find happy endings.