nmirra's review
challenging
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
winterbee's review
3.0
I am torn, with probably all collections of short stories. I liked some of the stories, some touched me, some spoke to me, and some were just not approachable for me.
literatehedgehog's review
3.0
A collection of bizarre and more bizarre shirt stories. Sometimes, the bizarre aspect was slight - a family undergoes trauma, because they happen to have pumpkin heads and one child happens to have an iron head, or a man gets a new pet of a very small human man. Other times, the bizarre aspect was monumental and contorted my sense of the story's reality - a boy has keys for fingers, a lady has potato babies appear on her stove top. However, I most enjoyed the stories with no particular weirdness or magic, just people being a bit odd or out of place, like the ladies man and the starlet, or the two girl friends in the music store, or even the fruit and words store.
I could imagine Bender thinking, 'this type of story, but what if...' for many of these. I can admire that creativity, but sometimes it gets in the way of the emotions, or the symbolism becomes overpowering, and thus the story is only a vessel for the bizarre "what if" idea.
Bizarre (word of the day, apparently), unsettling, fascinating. I'd read other things by her, after a bit of a brain cleansing break.
I could imagine Bender thinking, 'this type of story, but what if...' for many of these. I can admire that creativity, but sometimes it gets in the way of the emotions, or the symbolism becomes overpowering, and thus the story is only a vessel for the bizarre "what if" idea.
Bizarre (word of the day, apparently), unsettling, fascinating. I'd read other things by her, after a bit of a brain cleansing break.
electramourning's review
5.0
I went in to this collection of short stories with very few expectations. If I'd had any, Aimee Bender would have exceeded them all. Her work is not for everyone, you must have a strong liking for Magical Realism to enjoy these stories. If, however, that is of interest to you the way in which Bender uses this device to create strong connections to her characters is striking.
adriana21's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death and Sexual harassment
limdz's review
5.0
Aimee Bender is a genius and no one knows it. Shame. I love her quirky stories that always make fantastic sense.
magwelch's review
5.0
Aimee Bender seriously changes the game for contemporary short storytelling. Her fiction is experimental, surprising, and deeply complex. Her style, much like the style of Kafka, pulls you into absurd realities within the confines of the short story (almost flash fiction?) mode with beautiful and emotional prose that brings light to darker social realities and morals. This will be on my list of books to reread, not only because they are easy reads, but because they made a lasting impression on me emotionally.
Some of my favorites: Dearth, I Will Pick Out Your Ribs (from my teeth), End of the Line, Motherfucker, and The Case of the Salt and Pepper Shakers.
Some of my favorites: Dearth, I Will Pick Out Your Ribs (from my teeth), End of the Line, Motherfucker, and The Case of the Salt and Pepper Shakers.
madelyn91's review
5.0
This is my second work of Aimee Bender, I adored The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. I figured since I enjoyed that much I would give one a try and I ate it up. Finished it in one sitting!
Willful Creatures is one of the books that you read that will stick with you, like a cough in your lungs that you will always have. Ranging from the bizarre, to tragically heartbreaking. I haven't found many others that I feel that they wrote a book just for me, this one is it. Bender spoke to my dreams and my demons. She has the talent to break you in half within 5 pages and leaving you feeling shallow, only to fill your soul again in the next story. I cannot praise Aimee Bender's work enough, in my book is literary royalty!
Willful Creatures is one of the books that you read that will stick with you, like a cough in your lungs that you will always have. Ranging from the bizarre, to tragically heartbreaking. I haven't found many others that I feel that they wrote a book just for me, this one is it. Bender spoke to my dreams and my demons. She has the talent to break you in half within 5 pages and leaving you feeling shallow, only to fill your soul again in the next story. I cannot praise Aimee Bender's work enough, in my book is literary royalty!