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v_verdesoto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Excrement, and Pregnancy
fox_at_the_circus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
The different stories all adress and discuss trauma each in their own way and metaphors and within their genre, it was a really good read. I also appreciate, that in "Reunion" the narrator actually mentions trauma and what it does/can do to people. I don't see this direct mention a lot in horror stories, and it was a nice surprise while fitting into that story well. It also was a nice conclusion to the book, summarising the theme of this book at the end.
My favourite stories of this collection are "The Frozen Finger" for it's pure horror vibes that unfold throught the story, and "Scars" for main character and the growth he goes through.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Incest, Dementia, Car accident, and Death of parent
niamphoone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Pregnancy
thomasdingemanse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
astrangewind'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
4.25
The first two stories are the extremes of horror - the gross, the bloody, the fucked up. The rest of the stories are a bit more mellow, which is more suited to my tastes, but I found that I didn't really click with most of them, or understand the ending. (Although I have been known in the past to miss some crucial detail or other. Short stories aren't generally my thing.) Either way, it was a decently quick read, and I did enjoy it, although not to the extent that others have, although I don't think that's the fault of either the author or the translator.
I dunno, I just feel like horror story collections feel the need to cram in every possible trigger they possibly can, every possible gross or bloody thing, to make a compelling story. And that is frankly untrue, and it feels a lot like shock value when it does happen.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Slavery, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Incest, Rape, Colonisation, and War
kaimju'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death and Gore
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Excrement
Minor: Car accident
emk5's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and Pregnancy
Minor: Incest
perfectcupoftea'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Genocide, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, and War
sauvageloup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
pros:
- they're definitely gripping, and the writing style is sparse but clear and evocative, with the descriptions being vivid.
- the stories felt self contained and satisfying overall, even as many ended in tragedy.
- the last book of short stories I read, i struggled to jump from one story to another, maybe because they were so different and by different people. this one wasnt like that at all, and i had no problem reading straight through, pretty much.
- i liked the variety in length and themes of the stories, from birth horror, to supernatural, to fantasy fairy tale and modern criticisms on feminism and capitalism. i think i mainly read very on the surface and didnt look hard at metaphors and such, a reread might help me see this more.
- I liked the sheer imagination though and how Chung makes you care for characters who often arent even given a name.
cons:
- the first two stories especially, but a lot of them overall, were pretty horrible and graphic. they did their job in making you feel things! but it reminded me too much of just horrible nightmares and intrusive thoughts and I wouldnt read those two again.
- I also felt there was generally a lack of hope in the stories, but that's personal taste I guess.
overall, well written and gripping but too horror for me and dont think I'll seek out more of her work, but I might reread this in time.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
dalstellar's review against another edition
3.0
impossible to rate altogether some real hits and misses
fav story: the embodiment
least fav: scars
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Ableism, Incest, Dementia, and Car accident