acinthedc's review against another edition
3.0
An odd assortment of microstories. It's fascinating how much you can get out some of these ultra-short stories - character, emotion, theme. For the most part, every word matters and informs. Overall, this collection of stories is a little uneven.
middle_name_joy's review against another edition
2.0
The title initially caught my attention. You Do Understand. It can be said so many ways, in relief or desperation, as a question even, depending on where the inflection falls. Sadly, the collection of 50 super-short stories, ranging in length of two sentences to three pages, on the human condition, essentially, failed to meet the expectations set forth by the title. Some of the stories felt overworked, some were predictable and/or preachy, and others were just odd (see: "One"). The single short that stood out, that was genuine to my heart, was "Coming." The collection wasn't terrible, but I didn't connect with it as a whole, and maybe that had something to do with the brevity of the stories themselves. There was so little time to make that necessary investment, which is ironic since these fictions were all about human connection and fracture.
starnosedmole's review against another edition
4.0
This set of short stories centers on moments recognizing that connection is no longer possible. Each page is like a quiet sigh or an averted glance before somber decisions are made. The tales seldom feel mopey or bitter, perhaps due to the brevity of the stories; all fall between one paragraph and three pages in length. There are many "should have" moments, characters acknowledging that things could have gone differently, but it's too late. It's not so much about failures in communication so much as concluding communication may fail whether or not an effort to express oneself is made.
dadoodoflow's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
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