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alexandriaslibrary's reviews
219 reviews
Seven Empty Houses by Samanta Schweblin
adventurous
dark
4.0
Unsettling, unusual, and crisp stories! Things aren't what they seem, or they are what they seem and what they are is freaky
Girlfriends by Emily Zhou
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Short stories about trans women having crushes, smoking weed, and considering their relationships. Relatable, tender, and bittersweet
It Lasts Forever and Then It's Over by Anne de Marcken
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Is it really a favorite for me if it isn't described as "haunting"? Wow! A story of a zombie mourning her former lover and their quiet, beautiful life together before the end of the world. The monster-trope is so well-utilized here. The narration and world is heightened just so that is really draws out the grief, heartache, and struggle with morality. For fans of Carmen Maria Machado, Julia Armfield, and the 2013 classic 'Warm Bodies!'
Jackal by Erin E. Adams
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
A well-written & well-paced thriller about Black girls being hunted in a small Appalachian town. It really balanced interpersonal dynamics and the larger societal horror and was a true page turner
Vita Nova by Louise Glück
reflective
Masterclass poetry. Spring, rebirth, mythos and life after love
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Some funky short stories for fans of Her Body & Other Parties or Kelly Link. Lots of monsters and things that go bump in the night
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
What a romp! A great mix of plot-driven and character-driven, these 350+ pages breeze by. A bit outside my typical genre, but I thought the sci-fi and romantic themes were engaging and earned. As a true compliment, it reminded me of staying up all night to read a 100,000+ word fanfic on AO3 (given hurt/comfort and secret love)
Valentino and Sagittarius by Natalia Ginzburg
dark
reflective
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My Italian queen <3
Valentino was my preferred story of the two. A golden son (who is actually kind of a dud) shocks his family when he marries an older, ugly woman. Ginzburg hits this perfect pitch of dysfunction, love, and dark humor.
In Sagittarius, a mother who is bored with her life befriends a larger than life woman and they plot to open an art gallery. This one was slower, but still ended with an umph
Valentino was my preferred story of the two. A golden son (who is actually kind of a dud) shocks his family when he marries an older, ugly woman. Ginzburg hits this perfect pitch of dysfunction, love, and dark humor.
In Sagittarius, a mother who is bored with her life befriends a larger than life woman and they plot to open an art gallery. This one was slower, but still ended with an umph
The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexiévich
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
“Another one, if he died on the battlefield, at least he was looking to the sky.“
“How was it possible to survive amid this endless experience of dying? To look at it day after day. To think. To try it on despite yourself.
“How was it possible to survive amid this endless experience of dying? To look at it day after day. To think. To try it on despite yourself.
Is it possible to talk about it? What lends itself to words and to our feelings? And what is ineffable?”
A heartbreaking collection of personal accounts from the Soviet women of World War 2. Over 200 women from every side of the war (snipers, sappers, nurses, surgeons, laundresses, partisans, etc) tell their stories, some for the first time ever. They are grouped thematically (how they joined the war, first time seeing death, love on the front, reuniting with their children). But the stories are all hopeful and tragic, full of life and so much death.
It would be a great read for anyone interested in the human condition, World War 2 buffs, or those wanting to learn more about Soviet history. Really remarkable and will stay with my for a long time
A heartbreaking collection of personal accounts from the Soviet women of World War 2. Over 200 women from every side of the war (snipers, sappers, nurses, surgeons, laundresses, partisans, etc) tell their stories, some for the first time ever. They are grouped thematically (how they joined the war, first time seeing death, love on the front, reuniting with their children). But the stories are all hopeful and tragic, full of life and so much death.
It would be a great read for anyone interested in the human condition, World War 2 buffs, or those wanting to learn more about Soviet history. Really remarkable and will stay with my for a long time
The Theme Park of Women's Bodies by Maggie Cooper
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Micro story collection about women through many lenses. The titular story is a tour through a theme park designed after women's bodies & plights. Another story is about female pirate, and another about a group of lesbian cave explorers. Very easy and a good afternoon read. A good rec for someone looking to get back into reading