mcglassa's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lilanye's review
4.0
I really loved this collection of stories. Each of these short stories are so powerful, each of them a unique piece of their own world. I enjoyed how the prose and the genre seemed fluid in these stories: Alzayat explores beautifully what language can do and build in words. Every story is world of its own, with its own history, moment in time, and so full of life. It never fails to amaze me, how a good short story author can make you feel with the characters in such a brief moment; I felt wronged and angry with Lina, frustrated with Girl, ached for Ralph.
I especially enjoyed the title story Alligator and the exciting way it was narrated, but honestly all of the stories were very strong. It was a slow read for me only because after each story I needed time to recollect myself, as the individual stories were so complete and I was so invested, it was as though starting altogether a new book with every story. This is definitely a collection to read and to re-visit.
I especially enjoyed the title story Alligator and the exciting way it was narrated, but honestly all of the stories were very strong. It was a slow read for me only because after each story I needed time to recollect myself, as the individual stories were so complete and I was so invested, it was as though starting altogether a new book with every story. This is definitely a collection to read and to re-visit.
moumita's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.0
This was okay.
shonatiger's review
4.0
3.5, rounding up.
Stories and mini reviews:
Ghusl
Incredibly hard read. A woman washes her dead brother. Was hard for me to stomach.
Daughters of Manāt
Cw Suicide.
Disappearance
A very moving story about a boy and his younger brother with special needs, set when Etan Patz disappeared. (I nearly cried.) A beautiful portrayal of the confusion and innocence of childhood.
Only Those Who Struggle Succeed
(Spoiler) A #MeToo story. Took a few minutes to gel for me, but I got so involved and so mad and then really truly incensed, and I’m so glad there was resolution.
But more than that, she longed to tell the young woman to carry fire, soon and often, to tell the others, and to set alight everything she saw, to waste no time burning all her bridges down.
In the Land of Kan’an
…
Alligator
I watched an interview with the author where she talked about the construction of Whiteness by Arab Americans, and also about the structure of this story (unusual in that it feels like collected archival material). That makes it interesting.
Summer of the Shark
(spoiler) … is about 9/11.
Once We Were Syrians
Had a hard time with this, which story was actually the reason I moved the book up my tbr list, as it was featured in Week 3 of the course I’m on. The course says this is dialogue, but it reads like a slightly confusing monologue (which is good writing, actually, because old ladies can seem confusing when they talk to their grandkids).
A Girl in Three Acts
is about a girl, is lonely, and is beautiful.
Conclusion: Gut-churning start to the anthology, bumpy in parts, but ends beautifully.
Stories and mini reviews:
Ghusl
Incredibly hard read. A woman washes her dead brother. Was hard for me to stomach.
Daughters of Manāt
Cw Suicide.
Disappearance
A very moving story about a boy and his younger brother with special needs, set when Etan Patz disappeared. (I nearly cried.) A beautiful portrayal of the confusion and innocence of childhood.
Only Those Who Struggle Succeed
(Spoiler) A #MeToo story. Took a few minutes to gel for me, but I got so involved and so mad and then really truly incensed, and I’m so glad there was resolution.
But more than that, she longed to tell the young woman to carry fire, soon and often, to tell the others, and to set alight everything she saw, to waste no time burning all her bridges down.
In the Land of Kan’an
…
Alligator
I watched an interview with the author where she talked about the construction of Whiteness by Arab Americans, and also about the structure of this story (unusual in that it feels like collected archival material). That makes it interesting.
Summer of the Shark
(spoiler) … is about 9/11.
Once We Were Syrians
Had a hard time with this, which story was actually the reason I moved the book up my tbr list, as it was featured in Week 3 of the course I’m on. The course says this is dialogue, but it reads like a slightly confusing monologue (which is good writing, actually, because old ladies can seem confusing when they talk to their grandkids).
A Girl in Three Acts
is about a girl, is lonely, and is beautiful.
Conclusion: Gut-churning start to the anthology, bumpy in parts, but ends beautifully.
lauren_endnotes's review
4.0
An inventive and exciting debut story collection. Each one is told in a different style and tone. I appreciated Alzayat's pacing and slow reveals - it really added to the gravity of the work.
Stories vary in time and place, but two that will stay with me are office/workplace stories ("Only Those Who Struggle Succeed" and "Summer of the Shark") interestingly enough. A seemingly mundane place that many of us spend our lives, but Alzayat twists and turns in some intriguing ways.
The "Alligator" title story is told with mixed media and oral histories, and a long-view look at Indigenous and immigrant lives and violence in south Florida over centuries.
Stories vary in time and place, but two that will stay with me are office/workplace stories ("Only Those Who Struggle Succeed" and "Summer of the Shark") interestingly enough. A seemingly mundane place that many of us spend our lives, but Alzayat twists and turns in some intriguing ways.
The "Alligator" title story is told with mixed media and oral histories, and a long-view look at Indigenous and immigrant lives and violence in south Florida over centuries.
bookeared's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
paintedverse's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
jmbz38's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Ghusl = 1 / 5
Daughters of Manat = 5 / 5
Disappearance = 4 / 5
Only Those Who Struggle Succeed =
2.5 / 5
In the Land of Kann'an = 3 / 5
Alligator = 1.5 / 5
Summer of the Shark = 2 / 5
Once We Were Syrians = 1.5 / 5
A Girl in Three Acts = 5 / 5
TOTAL = 2.75 / 5
Daughters of Manat = 5 / 5
Disappearance = 4 / 5
Only Those Who Struggle Succeed =
2.5 / 5
In the Land of Kann'an = 3 / 5
Alligator = 1.5 / 5
Summer of the Shark = 2 / 5
Once We Were Syrians = 1.5 / 5
A Girl in Three Acts = 5 / 5
TOTAL = 2.75 / 5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Xenophobia, and Racism
Minor: Rape and Pregnancy