Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Shit Cassandra Saw: Stories

I may have been drawn to Shit Cassandra Saw by the title - apart from its obvious appeal my mother wanted to name me Cassandra so I have a bit of an affinity for the name - but I definitely stayed for the stories. They were rollicking and ferocious, overtly feminist, and a compelling mix of historical and contemporary. They not only highlighted the rough deal women have often received, but the many and varied ways, real and imaginary, they have fought back. Cassandra, justifiably peeved with men, is delighted to know the name Trojan will forever become synonymous with condoms, and at the opportunities condoms will provide for women. In another story, women, after being bitten by radioactive cockroaches, have developed a range of powers - think fangs and claws as well as a remote control to switch men off - to deal with the many aggressions both large and small that they have to contend with. I also liked the historical stories which included a prostitute in Patagonia lamenting being shamed for her work when there are really no other choices available, the first known witch hanged in Wales, and crossing dressing pirates relishing their freedom. The collection also acknowledges the ways the patriarchy can harm men. My favourite story in this category was formatted as a Yelp restaurant review but actually examined how the male narrator struggled with stereotypical roles and issues within his marriage. This wasn’t a perfect feminist collection - for instance there is a lack of intersectionality - and not all of the stories worked for me. Those that did were real standouts with pithy pointed observations, fresh and fun perspectives, and zingy prose. I enjoyed my time with these and will be on the lookout for more by their author.

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lucyshucy's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced

4.25

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jazhandz's review

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dark funny

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

As with a lot of books about women written by white cis women, this book is a little gender essentialist and doesn’t think about intersectionality. It’s good if a little basic. The titular story was a favorite.

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savvylit's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

Set in both modern times and ancient history, Kirby rewrites familiar narratives that allow her female protagonists to come out on top. Some of the strongest stories in this collection are those that are the most playful and satirical. In "A Few Normal Things that Happen a Lot," characters respond to sexual harassment with supernatural attacks. In "Midwestern Girl is Tired of Appearing in Your Short Stories," Kirby gives voice to a tired stereotype that is all too familiar in male-centered fiction.

Another major strength of this collection is Kirby's masterful utilization of dry humor during characterization. For instance, in "Jerry's Crab Shack: One Star," she immerses readers in the mind of a man in a dysfunctional marriage - to great comedic effect. Spoiler alert: it's in the format of a confessional Yelp review.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes bizarre, funny books that put fresh spins on tired tropes.

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antimony's review against another edition

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funny reflective

4.0

my favorite stories were a few normal things that happen a lot and casper! writing was really good overall but some of the more ordinary stories, like inishmore, kinda failed to capture my attention as much as the funny/weird ones. i liked for a good time, call at first because i get a lot of spam texts for some woman named monica so i felt a sort of solidarity but it turned out to be another one about relationships so it ended kinda meh.

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spw14's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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thedisabledreader's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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