sshabein's review against another edition
5.0
Not many short story collections are entirely wonderful. One or two stories, while not necessarily UNenjoyable, usually feel like filler. And yet, Jessica Francis Kane's new collection is quite near perfect. It left me wishing for one more story, which likely means that the length of the book is exactly right. Twelve stories, some related and some standalone, navigate the yearning for connection and the complex interior lives that we all have.
(My full review appears on Glorified Love Letters.)
(My full review appears on Glorified Love Letters.)
moreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
“And yet I think a lot about whether it would’ve been harder to lose her later. She was only a toddler. We only had a few clues about who she was. She liked ice cream and spicy sausage and lemon wedges. She moved her hands when she ate, as if she were conducting. She had a fine sense of balance and enjoyed crowds. She always moved to music. She laughed a lot. But wouldn’t it be harder to lose someone you knew better? Is losing a toddler just losing a dream?
One day I spent several hours in S’s crib. Later, when H asked if he could dismantle it, I didn’t object.”
Short stories are just so awesome when they're on, when they're done well. My graphic novel display is getting absolutely no love, so maybe I'll switch it to short story collections instead. While I'd say that two or three of the stories here don't work on a really stomach-aching level, the good ones are so gut-wrenching, particularly "Next in Line" which I quoted above, there's no sense of letdown by the end. Kane asks for your attention for one or two sentences at the start & if you give it freely, she'll suck you in & reward you well. If, you know, you think reading about bleak, lonely people is rewarding.
One day I spent several hours in S’s crib. Later, when H asked if he could dismantle it, I didn’t object.”
Short stories are just so awesome when they're on, when they're done well. My graphic novel display is getting absolutely no love, so maybe I'll switch it to short story collections instead. While I'd say that two or three of the stories here don't work on a really stomach-aching level, the good ones are so gut-wrenching, particularly "Next in Line" which I quoted above, there's no sense of letdown by the end. Kane asks for your attention for one or two sentences at the start & if you give it freely, she'll suck you in & reward you well. If, you know, you think reading about bleak, lonely people is rewarding.
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