herwitchiness's review
1.0
There are certain kinds of short stories that I really dislike, and most of them are ones that feel too experimental in the prose-style and that is how this collection felt to me. With the exception of the tiger short story, I really found myself checking out mentally during most of this collection. It's just my brain can't get divorce reality quite enough from the fantastical elements to really enjoy it fully. So, a case of "it's not the book, but really it's me," in terms of my dislike of this collection. I only got to about halfway through before having to just set it aside as a book I just could not get into.
pagesofmilkandhoney's review
5.0
Appleless: 4.5 stars - Only because I think they eat her? Not sure. As someone who regularly does not eat apples, I feel called out. Also fearful. Then again, the descriptions of apples do make me want to eat them. Perhaps that is the point.
The Red Ribbon: 2.5 stars - This is middle-aged white lady porn.
Tiger Mending: 4.5 stars - At this point I realised that listening to short stories is a wholly different experience than reading them. The narrator for this one was very soothing, and I think that enhanced how much I liked this story. I'm not sure I would have loved it as much while just reading it. Either way, very good.
Faces: 4.5 stars - This one was very cool.
On A Saturday Afternoon: 4.5 stars - Please don't judge me
The Fake Nazi: 4 stars
Lemonade: 4 stars
Bad Returns: 5 stars
Origin Lessons: 4.5 stars
The Doctor and the Rabbi: 5 stars
Wordkeepers: 4 stars
The Color Master: 5 stars
A State of Variance: 5 stars
Americca: 4.5 stars
The Devourings: 5 stars.
As you can see, I really enjoyed this one. Not only would I go back and reread the book itself, but I actually think I would listen to the audiobook a second time, which I have never ever done. There was just something about the way Aimee Bender crafts a story that was so whimsical and comforting but in a strange and abnormal way. The stories that stick out for me are Appleless, Tiger Mending, Faces, The Doctor and the Rabbi, and The Devourings. What a good collection. I haven't even averaged out the above individual ratings, because I know with confidence that this was 5 stars.
The Red Ribbon: 2.5 stars - This is middle-aged white lady porn.
Tiger Mending: 4.5 stars - At this point I realised that listening to short stories is a wholly different experience than reading them. The narrator for this one was very soothing, and I think that enhanced how much I liked this story. I'm not sure I would have loved it as much while just reading it. Either way, very good.
Faces: 4.5 stars - This one was very cool.
On A Saturday Afternoon: 4.5 stars - Please don't judge me
The Fake Nazi: 4 stars
Lemonade: 4 stars
Bad Returns: 5 stars
Origin Lessons: 4.5 stars
The Doctor and the Rabbi: 5 stars
Wordkeepers: 4 stars
The Color Master: 5 stars
A State of Variance: 5 stars
Americca: 4.5 stars
The Devourings: 5 stars.
As you can see, I really enjoyed this one. Not only would I go back and reread the book itself, but I actually think I would listen to the audiobook a second time, which I have never ever done. There was just something about the way Aimee Bender crafts a story that was so whimsical and comforting but in a strange and abnormal way. The stories that stick out for me are Appleless, Tiger Mending, Faces, The Doctor and the Rabbi, and The Devourings. What a good collection. I haven't even averaged out the above individual ratings, because I know with confidence that this was 5 stars.
lindsayb's review
3.0
Some stories were beautiful, some forgettable. I laughed out loud a few times, and there was a sufficient number of twisted scenarios that I've come to love about Aimee Bender. While I mostly enjoyed reading this collection when I was able to get to it, it didn't quite have the quality of insisting that I keep at it...I think mainly because there was less magical realism than her other short story collections. Still a fan though, and still looking forward to more of her work.
teamstarburger's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this collection of short stories. Most of them had elements of magic realism to them, which is one of my favorite genres. I felt like they did a good job of capturing and focusing in on a single emotion within a story.
kterbush's review
2.0
I had a really hard time getting into this book; the stories didn't really seem to have any connection or common theme or thread which made it difficult to read. I do have to say that the writing was beautiful but it didn't make up for the lack of plots/themes. I heard great things about this book but I ended up being very disappointed.
ramonamead's review
4.0
I don't read a lot of short story collections yet I love everything Aimee Bender writes. Most of her stories are set in reality and she stretches the confines just enough to make her far fetched premises believable. Her writing style is concise yet poetic and magical, she paints beautiful images without excessive, flowery wording. Her characters evoke compassion and understanding, even when they are not of this world. While I really liked Bender's novel, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, I appreciate her short stories more because the "weirdness" feels more believable in small doses. Any of these stories I enjoyed might lose their magic if drawn out into a novel. I highly recommend Bender's work for readers looking for a unique experience.
kaleidosaur's review
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
writerrhiannon's review
1.0
"In this collection, Bender’s unique talents sparkle brilliantly in stories about people searching for connection through love, sex, and family—while navigating the often painful realities of their lives. A traumatic event unfolds when a girl with flowing hair of golden wheat appears in an apple orchard, where a group of people await her. A woman plays out a prostitution fantasy with her husband and finds she cannot go back to her old sex life. An ugly woman marries an ogre and struggles to decide if she should stay with him after he mistakenly eats their children. Two sisters travel deep into Malaysia, where one learns the art of mending tigers who have been ripped to shreds."
I appreciate Bender's style and tried to keep an open mind, but I personally did not like the stories. Billed as a collection of grown-up fairy tales, I was hoping for something racy and dark but with a lesson. Like last year's release of Philip Pullman's Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm but for adults. I found the stories unsettling and vague. To be truthful, I only read the first four stories and then gave up. I love a non-conformist style (House of Leaves is one of my favorite books) but this just left me scratching my head.
I appreciate Bender's style and tried to keep an open mind, but I personally did not like the stories. Billed as a collection of grown-up fairy tales, I was hoping for something racy and dark but with a lesson. Like last year's release of Philip Pullman's Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm but for adults. I found the stories unsettling and vague. To be truthful, I only read the first four stories and then gave up. I love a non-conformist style (House of Leaves is one of my favorite books) but this just left me scratching my head.