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francosteen's review against another edition
5.0
This might be the most intense and thrilling book (no matter that they’re four short novels) I have ever read.
I’m already a big fan of his, and I’ve been doing my creepy/spooky reading for October, but this was an unexpectedly insane way to end the month.
In his afterword, Hill writes “short novels are all killer, no filler,” and that could not be more true of this collection. And literally, killer. I couldn’t put this book down, even though all the stories were immensely sad and depressing in very different ways. HOWEVER, he writes the (good guy) characters with such detail and incredibly sweet, sincere relationships, that you immediately FEEL for these characters. I loved the kind relationships he wrote about, amid all the death and destruction.
“Loaded” was incredible, but the scariest and saddest because, unfortunately, it’s happened and is still happening. Prepare yourself.
Related note: I read this after reading his dad’s latest, You Like It Darker, and wheeeww two incredibly short story collections that I tore right through and am astounded by how fantastic they are.
Now I need a complete palate cleanser after my October reads. Something happy and charming 😁.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Murder
pinkalpaca's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and War
lancemama'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
biobeetle's review against another edition
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
delaneybull's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Strange weather is strong for its four tightly-plotted works, weaker for its thoughtful ties between the natural and supernatural. His characters sometimes emerge with needful growth, but sometimes they just emerge. This is realistic, but--as too often with his works--not as satisfying to a reader. It forces readers to find the joy of the tale elsewhere, and here--because the stories are so brief--there is too little time to allow the terror to fully develop.
Most unsettling for me was the work "Loaded," which is better described as political horror than supernatural. "Aloft" and "Rain" do better in character development, though the conceit of the horror premise is too obscure or too neat. Short fiction is hard, and maybe Hill requires more space to flesh out his stories suitably (i.e. Horns or Heart-Shaped Box or The Fireman). So while this read was satisfying, each story left me wanting more.
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Dementia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
alysson's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gun violence
mondovertigo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Dementia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Addiction and Car accident
socialpsysteph'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book counts for Popsugar 2021 for a book seen on someone else's shelf.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, and Murder