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A review by nakedsteve
The Ape's Wife and Other Stories by Caitlín R. Kiernan
3.0
A collection of Kiernan's shorts, this book is ... interesting.
Some of the shorts are excellent, and some confusing. It seems to me that the stories at the start of the book are generally better than those toward the end, which has the odd effect of making you want to read more, but disappointed in the quality by the end.
And "quality" is the wrong word. Kiernan writes in a dense style that's a slap in the face to those who enjoy reading straightforward things. A few of the stories I immediately started over when I finished, because I just didn't feel like I got it the first time around. So were the things I didn't like low in "quality"? I suspect not. I suspect I just didn't want to spend the brainpower to give them the treatment that Kiernan expected me to.
Ultimately, most of the stories weren't my cup of tea, but it's clear Kiernan has talent for what she does.
3 of 5 stars.
Some of the shorts are excellent, and some confusing. It seems to me that the stories at the start of the book are generally better than those toward the end, which has the odd effect of making you want to read more, but disappointed in the quality by the end.
And "quality" is the wrong word. Kiernan writes in a dense style that's a slap in the face to those who enjoy reading straightforward things. A few of the stories I immediately started over when I finished, because I just didn't feel like I got it the first time around. So were the things I didn't like low in "quality"? I suspect not. I suspect I just didn't want to spend the brainpower to give them the treatment that Kiernan expected me to.
Ultimately, most of the stories weren't my cup of tea, but it's clear Kiernan has talent for what she does.
3 of 5 stars.