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A review by everythingeatsandiseaten
Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory: Stories by Raphael Bob-Waksberg
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
it was so interesting to see how the author took the short story and turned it from its traditional form into something so much more radical and new!
there is a fine line for me when it comes to bending a genre, and i will say that i felt the more traditional stories were stronger and had more to them in this collection. however, the way bob-waksberg chooses to narrate and invents a premise is more than astounding. the way he brings you into his completely insane scenarios is so weird and abrupt and truly stretches my understanding of the vastness of fiction. it takes you both back to the basics and also ignores convention so blatantly it's appalling.
i really wanted to read this especially because of the author's work as seen in bojack horseman, which is such a personal and iconic show. of course, this book is nothing like bojack horseman when it comes to wackiness and also like depression, because the backdrops of the stories are much more unique and immersive, and it deals with its sensitive themes in a more subtle and metaphorical manner. also the pieces more concern self in relation to others (relationships, love, family) as opposed to self alone. which is not a bad thing at all! just to keep in mind to alter any expectations, because i think bojack has a good balance of both and this book tips the scale further.
'Move across the country', 'Rules for Taboo', and 'We will be close on Friday 18 July' were definitely my favorite pieces in this collection. (can you tell i like prose poetry?) i really enjoyed the anonymity and lack of characterization, or, perhaps, presence of it. the range of themes and how bob-waksberg observes love through different lenses is so impressive and large. it was pretty big journey to get through, but one that i thoroughly enjoyed! i never knew how absurd or normal the next happening would be, which was so refreshing compared to a lot of popular fiction that feels so recycled.
i will say the stories that took a more absurdist or outlandish path were more out of my comfort zone, and harder for me to enjoy. but that doesn't mean they weren't really really beautiful! this is a great collection on love coming from a brilliant mind. and the title is so ♡
there is a fine line for me when it comes to bending a genre, and i will say that i felt the more traditional stories were stronger and had more to them in this collection. however, the way bob-waksberg chooses to narrate and invents a premise is more than astounding. the way he brings you into his completely insane scenarios is so weird and abrupt and truly stretches my understanding of the vastness of fiction. it takes you both back to the basics and also ignores convention so blatantly it's appalling.
i really wanted to read this especially because of the author's work as seen in bojack horseman, which is such a personal and iconic show. of course, this book is nothing like bojack horseman when it comes to wackiness and also like depression, because the backdrops of the stories are much more unique and immersive, and it deals with its sensitive themes in a more subtle and metaphorical manner. also the pieces more concern self in relation to others (relationships, love, family) as opposed to self alone. which is not a bad thing at all! just to keep in mind to alter any expectations, because i think bojack has a good balance of both and this book tips the scale further.
'Move across the country', 'Rules for Taboo', and 'We will be close on Friday 18 July' were definitely my favorite pieces in this collection. (can you tell i like prose poetry?) i really enjoyed the anonymity and lack of characterization, or, perhaps, presence of it. the range of themes and how bob-waksberg observes love through different lenses is so impressive and large. it was pretty big journey to get through, but one that i thoroughly enjoyed! i never knew how absurd or normal the next happening would be, which was so refreshing compared to a lot of popular fiction that feels so recycled.
i will say the stories that took a more absurdist or outlandish path were more out of my comfort zone, and harder for me to enjoy. but that doesn't mean they weren't really really beautiful! this is a great collection on love coming from a brilliant mind. and the title is so ♡
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Toxic friendship
Minor: Incest