j0rdan0fjupit3r's review
4.0
3.5 stars. a charming collection of microfiction that really picks up in the second half.
delkowolfe's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mayyabu's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This was probably one of my favorite short story collections. I would love to re-read this. A lot of them touched on loneliness and death but in a sort of abstract way.
dillarhonda's review
If you’re into short, and I mean really short, stories, you’ll love Nicolette Polek’s Imaginary Museums. Each tiny world she creates is full of its own unique strain of strangeness. A woman carries a velvet rope everywhere she goes, a mathematician discovers a grey lump of brain matter on her pillow, two feuding families settle their differences by owl battle, you know, that sort of strangeness. Many of these vignettes are so compressed that you’re left wanting more – a whiff of narrative, a dash of conflict – when what you’re presented is a single, searing image. My favorites were the recursive “Sabbatical” where a host giving a tour trains his guest how to host, and the more contemplative “Field Notes” in which a woman tries to remain in the present while on a nature walk. In these stories, Polek’s sense of humor comes through in gentle waves sadly absent from others.
wynnebirchmaple's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Quirky short story collection demonstrating how narrative and metaphor can dance, play, delight and terrify.
shireybear09's review
4.0
I didn’t know what I was getting in when I started reading this. I quite enjoyed it! Some story are dark, similar to the Roald Dahl storied for grown ups. and some really sad and beautiful.
The story that resonate with me the most is Field Work. Erica, I feel you.
The story that resonate with me the most is Field Work. Erica, I feel you.
dadoodoflow's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Veering between prose poems and the Ben Marcus/ Diane Williams approach to narrative surrealism these are often arresting and clever. The shorter pieces are far more successful than when she tries to stretch out. Some great writing, hopefully this is more of an exorcism than a boxing in.
edzee_lcnm's review
2.0
Total impulse purchase based off seeing an enthusiastic review on social media -- and maybe I should learn my lesson that my typical due diligence is by far a better predictor of whether I would like a book or not. Not that there is any terrible about this collection of short stories -- or should I say, "flash" or "micro" fiction as it's 26 stories in ~120 pages that typically take only a few minutes each to read -- but it just wasn't my thing. The stories are often random, odd, and surreal -- so while often have a problem with short stories collections and their often abrupt ends, here --and especially given the brevity of each - it was exponentially amplified and, every 5-10 minutes was a rinse-and-repeat cycle of Hmmm? Oooo0-kay! Whaaat? nose-crinkling and eye-rolling reactions.
The (only?) standout story for me was 'The Dance' (perhaps unsurprisingly, as it is one of the stories most grounded in reality), a wonderful internal/psychological study of a married couple trying to satisfy their own and their partner's need and failing at both.
There is immense creativity here from Polek and certainly writing skill, but the stories rarely elicited the smile or Aha! that I am guessing was the intention. I am sure others will (and already do!) find this collection very clever - but again, just not anywhere near enough personal Venn Diagram overlap of content/execution and enjoyment.
g_treads's review
3.0
this is a book of some of the shortest stories I have ever read, and some slightly longer, at most five or six pages it seems. the main complaint is that they aren't memorable - they have interesting components, good writing, but go right through you once you turn the page. the only one I can think of off the top of my head, having finished it two hours ago is the one about the falconer which is laugh out loud funny in a quiet coffee shop. I feel like this is the kind of book you have to have a physical copy of, highlight and mark up to get much out of it and that just wasn't the format in which I read it - disappointing. in that format, I'm sure it speaks much more for itself.
sadmou's review
3.0
Like other reviewers have said, it's enjoyable enough to read the short stories but I think only 2 out of the entire set really stood out as exceptional.