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emory's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a unique collection. I've had it on my radar since reading Fever Dream and absolutely adoring it. This is such a haunting writing style. Schweblin's characters all exist in the perfect space between realistic enough not to break the reader's suspension of disbelief yet odd enough to consistently intrigue and unsettle. The mood drives the stories, and close to all of them left me with a disquietting and moved feeling at their conclusion with only a few pages each. Some are allegorical--and I find these ones particularly strong--some are simply about the feelings they evoke, and some I haven't figured out yet. But if you are also looking for stories in which the author is setting you up with something to think about rather than giving you all the answers, I think this is an excellent short story collection. I especially loved her exploration of depression and hopelessness, parent and child relationships, and the nature of violence in art. There were a couple of stories that did not work for me, and sometimes i found the pacing challenging, but overall I found this a very good read.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse
One story (Heads Against Concrete) is written from the POV of a violent racist attempting to justify himself. He is explicitly racist against specifically Korean people and others of Asian descent. Includes mention of physical assault against these groups, as well as others throughout the narrator's life including a girlfriend. Another story (The Test) is about a person who must kill a dog in order to prove themselves to a group of people. Graphic and upsetting.heidishartrandnewell'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
jtkerlin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
0.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Majority of stories simply endlain_darko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Ableism
horizonous's review against another edition
- Headlights - ⭐️⭐️
- Preserves - ⭐️
- Butterflies - ⭐️⭐️
- Mouthful of Birds - ⭐️⭐️
- Santa Claus Sleeps at Our House - ⭐️
- The Digger - ⭐️
- Irman - ⭐️
- The Test - ⭐️
- Toward Happy Civilization - ⭐️⭐️
- Olingiris -❌(DNF)
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Abortion
Minor: Infidelity, Blood, and Vomit
◦ Mental illness = Depressionmarywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Misogyny
kelseyland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity