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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
My favorite stories from this short story collection were “Sisters” and “Remedies”. It is not lost on me that I chose the two stories where siblinghood was most salient 🥹
In “Sisters,” we are given a slice of life of Doty and Tina’s current situations, as Tina is dedicated to finding a life partner. Doty is questioning what she wants for herself (and seemingly her own sexual orientation👀), but mostly, her mind is occupied by thinking about a missing young woman from their hometown, Filipina-American Lucia. It’s clear that Tina and Doty’s priorities are on opposite ends of the spectrum during this story, and this felt like a commentary on and allegory for sexual misconduct and unwanted attention or advances. I related to Doty’s consumption of worrying over Lucia’s whereabouts and then resignation to how cishet men get to act towards women.
In “Remedies,” Clarisa’s mom tries to develop a relationship with Clarisa’s half brother, Harrison. Clarisa and Harrison’s dad abandoned them both, but they’re around the same age and Clarisa’s mom wants them to have a relationship. She picks him up from a seemingly poverty-stricken area and the entire household contracts lice! It’s interesting, because Clarisa had lice before Harrison came over, and she noted how “dirty” Harrison and his house were. Their story made me feel sad, but Grandma Estrella was there to clean everything up for the most part!
Overall, I thought some stories were just fine and that’s pretty par for the course when you read a short story collection. I appreciated reading about these women from Northern Colorado, and would seek our KFA’s work in the future!
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
livcab's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Violence, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault
gabbygarcia's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
generational trauma, gentrificationgarynoplastie's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Abortion
mscalls's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail