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A review by mariekejee
You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a gift it is to be able to write with such empathy about such complex issues. I absolutely loved this collection of short stories, exploring themes of grief, loss and mental health. It's a heavy collection, and every story demands attention.
My favourite by far is Devotion, though I loved Notes to my Biographer and really liked The Volunteer as well. One of the book's strengths is how easy it is to empathise with the characters; Haslett has a talent for writing about the mentally ill. There is no romanticisation of mental health, but neither is there a sense of pity, or of hopelessness. His characters are the driving force in their own story, not whatever issue they are struggling with. They have autonomy, even if they behave in imperfect or even harmful ways.
What I will take from this book is how powerful it is to be able to share our grief, however heavy or depressing it may be. Hard times do not make us stronger. But the human connections we form, do.
My favourite by far is Devotion, though I loved Notes to my Biographer and really liked The Volunteer as well. One of the book's strengths is how easy it is to empathise with the characters; Haslett has a talent for writing about the mentally ill. There is no romanticisation of mental health, but neither is there a sense of pity, or of hopelessness. His characters are the driving force in their own story, not whatever issue they are struggling with. They have autonomy, even if they behave in imperfect or even harmful ways.
What I will take from this book is how powerful it is to be able to share our grief, however heavy or depressing it may be. Hard times do not make us stronger. But the human connections we form, do.