bremblebee's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

Honestly for a collection of short stories, I wasn't expecting to have e so many wtf and ph np not this moments which was very cool to see. However the book deals with some heavy themes and is not suitable for everyone

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

booksnbrooches's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark slow-paced
  • Loveable characters? No

1.0

Based on for my personal enjoyment and rating of these stories, I hated it. 

This book is filled with incomplete stories and trauma porn (specifically of women and children ). I guess if you want a really bad time, go ahead and read it.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

oliviagarby's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

smithreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hannahsfictionlibrary's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective relaxing tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mermaidsherbet's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

minimicropup's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Ruthless, pensive, uneasy. 

So I don't spoil these layered, symbolic, and sometimes bizarre stories, I'm going to reduce them to their most literal base note:
1-An upstairs neighbour commits suicide 
2-A teacher takes an unhealthy interest in a young girl’s bunny 
3-Does a taxi driver with perfect nails hide a dirty secret? 
4-The five destructive final stages of break-up grief 
5-An alien or denial? 
6-A NY transplant worries the city has infiltrated her brain 
7-A child just wants to be close to their parents 
8-The last act before joining the twenty-seven club 
9-The subtly of the wolf 
10-Literary cat vengeance 
11-The danger of neglecting a grieving child planning a trip to the moon 
12-Celebrity obsession takes a toll 
13-Sitting on a bench observing a painting 
14-A family tradition must never be tainted with tears 
15-Circular aspirations 
16-A sick abused teen under a hole in the roof 
17-Torturing a caged bird while feeding those in the park 
18-An examination of stained glass 
19-A double-date to see a band in an undisclosed location
20-Being forced to work late puts a woman in danger

🐺🐕Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags: 
🤔 I think these are meaningful but varied stories, so I doubt they will all be impactful or even understandable for all readers. I enjoyed the ones that had more of a direct plot (6, 15, 19, and 20), but I also didn't mind reading ones with a style or themes I would normally dislike (9, 13, 17, and 18). They're all short so even if you don't resonate with some, it's not a huge time investment. 

👍 Metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, irony, and allegory abound. None of the tales (even those that went right over my head) felt pretentious, weird for the sake of weird, forced edgy, or word salad. It was that I didn't have the education or life experience (thankfully?) to "get" it. Most of the stories were subjective so the reader and their interpretation can be a vital part of the experience. 

🥺 These are not like Tender is the Flesh. Any commonalities are in writing style and the ability of the author to make familiar unsettling feelings emerge from seemingly absurd unfamiliar moments. I would guess that even if you loved Tender is the Flesh, you won't necessarily not enjoy this. But if you enjoyed this, you will likely enjoy Tender is the Flesh too. 

😟 I read these all in one sitting without breaks and felt a little low-key anxious after, but very happy to be back in my world. Check the content warnings and be in the mental space for it going in. 

Mood Reading Match Up: 
  • Highly symbolic, layered stories
  • Themes and commentary about assumption, retribution, and abuse from (and abuse of) friends, family, acquaintances, strangers, society, and values. 
  • Bizarro fiction involving elements of absurdism, satire, and the grotesque
  • Deep, dark, confusing, unsettling, cathartic tales

Content Heads-Up: Suicide. Child abuse (sexual; insinuated on page or described via symbolism). Rape. Murder. Suicidal ideation and planning. Death of a spouse. Grief. Alcohol use (self-medication). Body shaming. Body horror (self-mutilation). Termination of pregnancy (involuntary). Animal cruelty and death (bird). Misogyny.

Format: Scribd Digital

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ukponge's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mynameisrebecca's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

juffnstuff's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings