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A review by tits_mcgee
Liberation Day by George Saunders
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
George Saunders creates likeable characters and punishes them with his dystopian, claustrophobic worlds. Thank you George, for the delicious cruelty that I loved consuming.
As with all short story collections, there are stronger ones and weaker ones, but what I will say is that although the topics vary from love and tenderness to brutality and abuse, there is a consistency of weirdness that I really enjoyed. My favourite stories, by the way, were 'Liberation Day' and 'Ghoul'.
Another consistency throughout this collection was a sense of paranoia and anxiety. The writing style was rapid and often avoided explaining the world and plot in favour of creating a feeling of empathy for the protagonist, all the while you're left to think about what kind of absurd cruelty is going on in the background. It is only later on in the stories that you get to see the final piece of the puzzle fit into place with a moment of bitter sweet clarity. The plots lean towards themes of justice, despair, oppression, and although the world's are dark there is also plenty of tenderness and even humour.
What a fantastic writer.
I think 8/10 is fair, though there were definitely 10/10 stories in there.
As with all short story collections, there are stronger ones and weaker ones, but what I will say is that although the topics vary from love and tenderness to brutality and abuse, there is a consistency of weirdness that I really enjoyed. My favourite stories, by the way, were 'Liberation Day' and 'Ghoul'.
Another consistency throughout this collection was a sense of paranoia and anxiety. The writing style was rapid and often avoided explaining the world and plot in favour of creating a feeling of empathy for the protagonist, all the while you're left to think about what kind of absurd cruelty is going on in the background. It is only later on in the stories that you get to see the final piece of the puzzle fit into place with a moment of bitter sweet clarity. The plots lean towards themes of justice, despair, oppression, and although the world's are dark there is also plenty of tenderness and even humour.
What a fantastic writer.
I think 8/10 is fair, though there were definitely 10/10 stories in there.