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A review by shrimpseas
Eyes Guts Throat Bones by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
4.0
lesbian magical realism (mostly) at the end of the world. there's ~15 stories, with varying styles and designs. some stories were a bit confusing for me to follow, others a bit flat. i think the first two were a bit too abstract for me, so it took a while for me to get into it. once i did, though, i really enjoyed reading this collection. rating this way because i don't think there was any one story that will be long-time memorable (like in "dangers of smoking in bed"), but the collection was overall solid. would recommend!
what would you give for a treat like me - interesting aesthetically but practically confusing. i enjoyed the underlying conflict between the main couple wrt having children.
flowers - i didn't really get it, i ended up skimming/skipping.
nature morte - fun! not sure if my interpretation is as intended, but whatever. gave a sense of wonder that i didn't get from the first two.
such a pretty face - i've read a few bodysnatching/face-stealing stories before, but it's a trope i absolutely adore, so no complaints here. a new approach with the love interest.
only corpses stay - the setting seemed a bit too cliche compared to the other apocalyptical/"end of the world" settings she'd done so far, and it wasn't a particularly new take on it. wasn't an outstanding story.
the summoning - one of my favourites from the collection. complete 180 from the type of writing style, humorous, and it went perfectly with the story.
rath - one of the longer ones. not sure how this was the end of the world tbh. banger story. i wasn't sold on the two timelines at the start, but the story mixes them together well enough by the end.
interlude: sad straight sex at the end of the world - i enjoyed the screenplay-esque style. other than that, i don't know how i feel about it.
the carrier - i don't think i have ever read a pregnancy story that made it sound appealing LOL. reminds me a bit of the lesson of the moth by don marquis, and hiromi goto's work generally. <- my notes after i read the story. i had to double check cause i completely forgot what the story was about when i read the first couple pages again. i think i enjoyed reading it, though.
big round ball of light and the water - i love the concept in this one. i also love how the women on the island decided to leave, who cares about the consequences and fuck the rest of the world. go them.
saying its name breaks it - i think i would have enjoyed this more if i were better at riddles. i didn't know wtf was going on.
a different beat - this one was fine. also not particularly "end of the world" esque, unless you maybe count stephen gately's ghost?
break-up poem recited knee-deep in bog water - very experimental. i didn't particularly care for it.
two truths and a lie - absolutely crazy concept. girl learns bdsm with three friends and her mildly sentient doll. not very "end of the world". was not expecting that.
playing house - pretty simple conceptually but i really liked the execution. beautiful prose. gave me a little bit of "le petit prince" vibes (in a good way). a really strong ending to the story.
what would you give for a treat like me - interesting aesthetically but practically confusing. i enjoyed the underlying conflict between the main couple wrt having children.
flowers - i didn't really get it, i ended up skimming/skipping.
nature morte - fun! not sure if my interpretation is as intended, but whatever. gave a sense of wonder that i didn't get from the first two.
such a pretty face - i've read a few bodysnatching/face-stealing stories before, but it's a trope i absolutely adore, so no complaints here. a new approach with the love interest.
only corpses stay - the setting seemed a bit too cliche compared to the other apocalyptical/"end of the world" settings she'd done so far, and it wasn't a particularly new take on it. wasn't an outstanding story.
the summoning - one of my favourites from the collection. complete 180 from the type of writing style, humorous, and it went perfectly with the story.
rath - one of the longer ones. not sure how this was the end of the world tbh. banger story. i wasn't sold on the two timelines at the start, but the story mixes them together well enough by the end.
interlude: sad straight sex at the end of the world - i enjoyed the screenplay-esque style. other than that, i don't know how i feel about it.
the carrier - i don't think i have ever read a pregnancy story that made it sound appealing LOL. reminds me a bit of the lesson of the moth by don marquis, and hiromi goto's work generally. <- my notes after i read the story. i had to double check cause i completely forgot what the story was about when i read the first couple pages again. i think i enjoyed reading it, though.
big round ball of light and the water - i love the concept in this one. i also love how the women on the island decided to leave, who cares about the consequences and fuck the rest of the world. go them.
saying its name breaks it - i think i would have enjoyed this more if i were better at riddles. i didn't know wtf was going on.
a different beat - this one was fine. also not particularly "end of the world" esque, unless you maybe count stephen gately's ghost?
break-up poem recited knee-deep in bog water - very experimental. i didn't particularly care for it.
two truths and a lie - absolutely crazy concept. girl learns bdsm with three friends and her mildly sentient doll. not very "end of the world". was not expecting that.
playing house - pretty simple conceptually but i really liked the execution. beautiful prose. gave me a little bit of "le petit prince" vibes (in a good way). a really strong ending to the story.