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_ximini_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Gran manera de contar relatos cortos, muy descriptiva y emotiva. Siento que la conocí y me duele que ya no esté.
eunicek82's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
5.0
What an amazing collection of short stories. To be honest, I had a false start with this. I tried reading this cover to cover a few years ago, got stuck and ultimately put it aside. I had to opportunity to buddy read this with a friend, taking it 1 story/week and that was definitely the way to do it. Over nearly 9 months, we made our way through this collection, laughing and crying together with these characters, many that seem plucked out of Berlin’s own life. These are raw and honest stories full of grit and life. I’m sad that it’s over.
sarahwalton429's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
enue's review against another edition
5.0
¿Donde uno tiene que estar o vivir, o sentir para escribir cómo Lucía? Es cierto que no todos los cuentos me engancharon pero esa manera muy suya de hacerse de palabras que tienen un ritmo impecable.
Me encantó la manera de narrar la muerte de una manera poética – creo yo. De hacerte sentir con hechos sencillos, lo que es el duelo, la perdida.
Me encantó la manera de narrar la muerte de una manera poética – creo yo. De hacerte sentir con hechos sencillos, lo que es el duelo, la perdida.
julianananana's review against another edition
3.5
This is a collection of overlapping stories written and seemingly re-written over 30 years of Berlin's life. She writes from her own experiences as a struggling writer, living in various Latin American and US cities, fighting alcoholism, and single motherhood. Some stories appear autobiographical, while others are fictionalized but still draw from her experiences. In these ways, the stories are visceral – dark themes of struggle, poverty, and alcoholism weave in and out of each other and completely captured my attention while exposing the ugly things people go through. This book forced me to confront my privilege as I consumed these themes from so afar.
One thing that tripped me up about this book is that some characters seem to be recurring in different stories, but after vigorous dog-earing and comparisons it looks more like Berlin simply wrote over and over about the same stories with different angles, names, variables. She even re-uses the same names a lot. Once I realized that, I felt even more like I was trapped in her mind, or my perception of it – frantically writing and re-writing through the same stories to process, process, process. The mania! The obsession! The questions! I have no idea if that was merely my perception, but that's what it felt like.
This book will force you to look at what you don't always want to see.
One thing that tripped me up about this book is that some characters seem to be recurring in different stories, but after vigorous dog-earing and comparisons it looks more like Berlin simply wrote over and over about the same stories with different angles, names, variables. She even re-uses the same names a lot. Once I realized that, I felt even more like I was trapped in her mind, or my perception of it – frantically writing and re-writing through the same stories to process, process, process. The mania! The obsession! The questions! I have no idea if that was merely my perception, but that's what it felt like.
This book will force you to look at what you don't always want to see.
joanapimenta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
beaatrizreis's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 ⭐️
Short stories não são mesmo a minha praia mas UAU, que livro este…
Grande parte das histórias são tão pesadas, focadas na temática do vício, da morte, do luto… mas é verdadeiramente fascinante a maneira como a Lucia nos consegue fazer sentir tudo o que as personagens sentem e vivem. Foi o facto de conseguirmos retirar ao longo de todas as histórias as porções autobiográficas que me fez apaixonar por esta leitura. O saber que todas as histórias são independentes mas, ao mesmo tempo, têm um fio que as conecta - e o fio é a vida da própria Lucia.
As minhas favoritas, para que possa rever esta review no futuro e lembrar-me:
Phantom Pain
Emergency Room Notebook
Friends
Melina
Mourning
Let me see you smile
Mijito (esta
Short stories não são mesmo a minha praia mas UAU, que livro este…
Grande parte das histórias são tão pesadas, focadas na temática do vício, da morte, do luto… mas é verdadeiramente fascinante a maneira como a Lucia nos consegue fazer sentir tudo o que as personagens sentem e vivem. Foi o facto de conseguirmos retirar ao longo de todas as histórias as porções autobiográficas que me fez apaixonar por esta leitura. O saber que todas as histórias são independentes mas, ao mesmo tempo, têm um fio que as conecta - e o fio é a vida da própria Lucia.
As minhas favoritas, para que possa rever esta review no futuro e lembrar-me:
Phantom Pain
Emergency Room Notebook
Friends
Melina
Mourning
Let me see you smile
Mijito (esta
jennieleigh's review against another edition
4.0
These are absolutely brilliant and lovely. What a talent. However - stopped about 50% of the way through because I just struggle with short stories. It takes me so long to get into a story that they often ended before I did and I was ultimately left feeling very unsatisfied. Moved on to a bigger novel.
bridgemc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0