Scan barcode
A review by kimberlyf
The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac: Stories by Louise Kennedy
3.0
A collection of fifteen short stories on the lives of many women, steeped in Irish culture. My average ended up below 3.0 but I’m feeling generous today so I’ll round up.
I did not connect with this. Some stories I found myself really enjoying but even then, they felt incomplete by the time I got to the end. I tried to justify it by saying that a short story will never feel as complete as a novel but that’s simply not true. Many of these stories felt like they were plucked out of the middle of an already developed novel and didn’t provide enough detail or backstory for me to feel immersed in my reading. I personally believe that this collection could have benefitted from being only 7-8 stories with each piece being twice as long to allow for a more well-rounded story.
I, unfortunately, don’t think any of these stories will stick with me for long. I did, however, enjoy Kennedy’s descriptive settings which helped create environments that you can feel.
I did not connect with this. Some stories I found myself really enjoying but even then, they felt incomplete by the time I got to the end. I tried to justify it by saying that a short story will never feel as complete as a novel but that’s simply not true. Many of these stories felt like they were plucked out of the middle of an already developed novel and didn’t provide enough detail or backstory for me to feel immersed in my reading. I personally believe that this collection could have benefitted from being only 7-8 stories with each piece being twice as long to allow for a more well-rounded story.
I, unfortunately, don’t think any of these stories will stick with me for long. I did, however, enjoy Kennedy’s descriptive settings which helped create environments that you can feel.