melanieapril's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent and Infertility
misterkyle1901's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
megbklyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“Orange World” is captivating and memorable, I found myself turning the stories over in my head long after finishing them. Russell writes with such a mesmerizing blend of familiarity and foreignness that each story feels like a dream remembered from childhood.
abe389's review
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Had a hard time connecting with the writing but I think it might be a me problem?
agingerg's review against another edition
4.0
I could get lost in her short-story-worlds all day. But am grateful and relieved that I can't; what a frightening place it would be to live. I love her mind.
I listened to this one as an audiobook and one of the cast members was amazing. But I can't find anywhere the names of the cast members!
I listened to this one as an audiobook and one of the cast members was amazing. But I can't find anywhere the names of the cast members!
lizzie24601's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Karen Russell's stories never disappoint (although some of these were too unnerving for my taste, lol). My favorites were:
The Gondoliers
The Prospectors
The Bad Graft
Orange World
The Gondoliers
The Prospectors
The Bad Graft
Orange World
reading_rainbow_with_chris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
“Orange World and Other Stories” by Karen Russell
Two women attend a ski lodge party which isn’t what it seems. A boy falls in love with a petrified girl. A widower invests everything to raise one last storm. A new mother makes a difficult bargain to protect her child. In these stories and others, Karen Russel dazzles and once again proves herself a modern master of short fiction.
I had been in something of a short story rut lately, with the last two collections I read failing to capture my imagination. Returning to Russell was like a breath of fresh air, despite the fact that her stories often rely on darkness, stagnation, a person place or thing suspended in time. What I love most about Russell’s writing is her ability to make her worlds recognizable, even as she introduces a new element of horror or speculation. Her settings are immersive, pulling readers in and allowing us to really feel. No other author in my memory makes me feel suspense, longing, and fear quite like Russell.
Having read much of Russell’s previous work, I can confidently say this feels like her most uniformly excellent book I have encountered, even if some of the stories in “Vampires in the Lemon Grove” left a deeper impact. This was an exceptional read and one I will treasure. The collection has no weak stories (with only eight stories, Russell focused on quality over quantity), but personal favorites include “The Bad Graft,” “Bog Girl: A Romance,” “The Tornado Auction,” and “Black Corfu.” This is a collection for all short story readers, but for those interested in horror and speculative fiction it is a must read.
Two women attend a ski lodge party which isn’t what it seems. A boy falls in love with a petrified girl. A widower invests everything to raise one last storm. A new mother makes a difficult bargain to protect her child. In these stories and others, Karen Russel dazzles and once again proves herself a modern master of short fiction.
I had been in something of a short story rut lately, with the last two collections I read failing to capture my imagination. Returning to Russell was like a breath of fresh air, despite the fact that her stories often rely on darkness, stagnation, a person place or thing suspended in time. What I love most about Russell’s writing is her ability to make her worlds recognizable, even as she introduces a new element of horror or speculation. Her settings are immersive, pulling readers in and allowing us to really feel. No other author in my memory makes me feel suspense, longing, and fear quite like Russell.
Having read much of Russell’s previous work, I can confidently say this feels like her most uniformly excellent book I have encountered, even if some of the stories in “Vampires in the Lemon Grove” left a deeper impact. This was an exceptional read and one I will treasure. The collection has no weak stories (with only eight stories, Russell focused on quality over quantity), but personal favorites include “The Bad Graft,” “Bog Girl: A Romance,” “The Tornado Auction,” and “Black Corfu.” This is a collection for all short story readers, but for those interested in horror and speculative fiction it is a must read.
kelleykamanda's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Such a bizarre and fascinating group of stories. I loved the fact that each one had a bend in reality, a sort of magical realism/ horror. Such a fun read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, and Death