ricksilva's review
2.0
Collection of stories that skirt the line between (very) dark humor and horror, loaded with very disturbing and graphic subject matter, but also with some powerful and compelling characters.
The one story involving supernatural elements was the most interesting here, with its examination of the tragic existence of a ghost who doesn't want to let go.
This had a high-degree of squick-factor for me (major trigger warning on this one for depictions of child sexual assault, animal abuse, and torture), which I realize is part of the point, but still made for an uncomfortable reading experience. Everything here is pretty bleak, with the author's sharp command of detail serving to bring out the nihilism of it all.
The one story involving supernatural elements was the most interesting here, with its examination of the tragic existence of a ghost who doesn't want to let go.
This had a high-degree of squick-factor for me (major trigger warning on this one for depictions of child sexual assault, animal abuse, and torture), which I realize is part of the point, but still made for an uncomfortable reading experience. Everything here is pretty bleak, with the author's sharp command of detail serving to bring out the nihilism of it all.
offmessage's review
4.0
Like [book:The Acid House] this is a mixed bag, but some of them are fantastic. A real landmark in that brief moment where gritty Scottish writers ruled the world (and before Canongate got lucky with [book:Life of Pi]).
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