owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I keep changing my mind but I think my favourite read of this year is a tie between this collection of short stories and Alexander Chee's most recent essay collection.
Whilst some of Berlin's attitudes and language, particularly around race and orientation, can be hard to read, the stories in this collection are so moving and profound. She's not afraid to write about people often overlooked and marginalised, using truth and keen observation to draw out both the moments of beauty and ugliness in everyday life. Her imagery and use of little details create really evocative episodes. The insight into grief and addiction is incredible. My favourite stories were probably Strays, for its eerie and truthful portrayal of an early rehab programme, So Long, for its very painful portrait of grief and Let Me See You Smile for its stark depiction of addiction, police brutality and love. Berlin has an excellent knack for dialogue which makes her relationships feel organic and gripping - particularly in the titular story A Manual for Cleaning Women, all of her conversations with her husband ("I'll do macrame, punk!") are exquisitely funny and romantic. I'll forever be heartbroken by "Once he told me he loved me because I was like San Pablo Avenue." What a line. What a voice!
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Classism, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Abortion, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Car accident, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia and War
sharon_s's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Pregnancy, Drug use, Child death, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Abortion, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Pedophilia