A review by amberreadsitall
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I’m not typically a short story reader, but this was recommended by my B&N Horror Bookclub so I gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised.

Carmen’s has a poetic and haunting way of writing that brings out the best, & worst, elements of these psychologically thrilling short stories. There is a feminist undertone that is overlayed with haunting stories and perspectives. These aren’t your standard Edgar Alan Poe or Campfire Ghost Story. These stories include various twists and plays on sanity, the fragility of the human mind, morality, and the paranormal.

It was one of those books that took me much longer to get through because each story left my mind reeling & needing time to recover. However, there were some stories that just weren’t for me due to their graphic nature, or other oddities that made this not quite a 4 star for me. 

If you’re looking for a thrilling yet disturbing mind twister, this one is for you. Enjoy!