hibatheescapeartist's review
4.0
So, I took a LitLovers online course and was given this book to read as an example of “Imaginative Literature”. This was the most exciting 20 minutes of my day.
Reading all these 400+ paged books all the time has made me forget the power of short stories. Their pacing, the silent and unexpected pounce of a plot twist that we never expect--or, at least, not consciously--their concise and sharp writing styles, this was all so abundant in Chopin’s short stories. I am thoroughly impressed--and a little tickled, I mean the ending of the story was humorous--that an author could direct such a blow in such a minimal amount of words.
It had a clear underlying message (one of feminism) and a sort of irony that you can only find in short stories--perhaps because it is read in one sitting? Because our feeble human brains can quickly process and analyse and understand it? I don’t know. All I know is that I need to start reading more short stories, and I’m not talking about [b:Stars Above|25689074|Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles, #4.5)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1472473049l/25689074._SY75_.jpg|45517469] by Marissa Meyer...
Reading all these 400+ paged books all the time has made me forget the power of short stories. Their pacing, the silent and unexpected pounce of a plot twist that we never expect--or, at least, not consciously--their concise and sharp writing styles, this was all so abundant in Chopin’s short stories. I am thoroughly impressed--and a little tickled, I mean the ending of the story was humorous--that an author could direct such a blow in such a minimal amount of words.
It had a clear underlying message (one of feminism) and a sort of irony that you can only find in short stories--perhaps because it is read in one sitting? Because our feeble human brains can quickly process and analyse and understand it? I don’t know. All I know is that I need to start reading more short stories, and I’m not talking about [b:Stars Above|25689074|Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles, #4.5)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1472473049l/25689074._SY75_.jpg|45517469] by Marissa Meyer...
lilymaymellark's review
5.0
Poignant and inventive -- a short story that leaves a lot to think about.
meredithmc's review against another edition
5.0
my favorite short story encapsulated in a lovely little to-go book with illustrations from gemma correll!
shaimaa's review against another edition
4.0
This is the type of stories which leaves the reader with the task of filling the gaps and imagining the possible scenarios. It's an enjoyable story about a woman, who was grieving her husband's supposed death until she realised that this "death" could give her so much- the greatest of all was freedom: freedom from the duties of a wife in a male-dominated society; freedom from the chains of the society. She was taking it all...joyfully, but at the end of the story, her husband showed up, and the joy died.
souma1999's review
4.0
A very short story but with a very unexpected ending. I highly recommend it, it barely takes five minutes to read.
gryze's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
i read this last sept 27 bcs of booktok, this is the only book I've finished this 2022 and it's a short story😭 the story was chaotic and powerful and i like the writing style. but I'm feeling sad for the mc because she doesn't deserve what she's been through