Reviews

Alligator and other stories by Dima Alzayat

lilanye's review against another edition

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.

lindseyzank's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

annetjeberg's review against another edition

4.0

Great collection of short stories, that were very different, but very impactful in their own way. Loved that the writing style between the stories differed.

Looking forward to reading more by this author

zellm's review against another edition

4.0

Such an interesting and compelling collection of stories. Alzayat writes in such a unique style, and her talent is evident here. Some of the stories hit me harder than others, but all of them were at least good. I really enjoyed the statements made here, and the culture that is woven through it all.

savvylit's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

The connecting thread throughout the stories in Alligator is one of disconnection. Whether disconnected by grief, gender, or outsider status, each character in this collection is singular and affecting. Ultimately, the most powerful of all these stories is the titular one, "Alligator." In it, Alzayat mixes form, featuring newspaper clippings and first-person perspectives from multiple members of the same grieving family. As the story progresses, the racial tensions of rural Florida in the mid-20th century gradually reveal themselves with stark and disturbing clarity. In the aftermath of a lynching, the characters of Alligator are forced to reckon with their loss.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Murder, and War

dallin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

parano's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

3.5

alenezela99's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

nyne's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.5

obsessioncollector's review against another edition

emotional reflective

5.0

"Watching the assistant, Lina’s fretfulness dissipated, and she began to see that she was not intended to succeed on terms other than the ones now spread out before her. She wondered if perhaps this path had been, despite her oblivion, clearly signposted, and whether if she had only looked down and around, instead of directly ahead, she might have seen the signs. Of this, however, she was to remain unconvinced, and she became increasingly sure the signs, while present, were never meant to be seen."