Reviews

Something Strange, Like Hunger: Short Stories, by Malika Moustadraf

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laindarko2's review against another edition

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challenging dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.25

casanovamacleod's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

gpears1's review against another edition

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4.0

visceral short stories about life in Casablanca and the unrelenting trauma of living under the patriarchy..the character depth and complexity Moustadraf achieves in these really brief stories is astounding…the translators note about MM’s life and legacy was a great addition to the collection..stand out stories include Just Different, Claustrophobia, and Housefly

guylikenimi's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

gypsynyx91's review against another edition

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reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

a good collection of short stories that never fails to make one once again enraged at sexism and misogyny under the patriarchy. some of the stories in blood feast are better than others, w/ "just different" and "briwat" being some of my favorites.

i also like the intersectionality that moustradaf shows here, where the female characters who suffer under the patriarchy nevertheless engage in homophobia or some other form of discrimination. theyre thus illustrated as full, imperfect and multidimensional humans instead of merely empty vessels in which to reiterate the book's msg and themes.

moustradaf unflinchingly tells the stories and that inevitably involves some triggering content. moreover, some of the stories can be forgettable, either from their very short length or an unclear direction.

Content Warnings