heybrownberry's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Suicide, Child abuse, Death, Racism, Ableism, and Gun violence
alexwatsonreads's review against another edition
5.0
A master class in short story craft - the stories treat mundane moments, like waiting in frustration at the DMV, as opportunities for revelations about pain and identity. It takes a deft hand to use humor while also treating seriously issues of mental health, grief, and black trauma in particular. I especially liked the stories that clustered around a set of characters, like Fatima, who is one of two black girls at her high school and who is deeply self conscious about what it means to be black and (upper) middle class in the contemporary U.S. It was intriguing to follow the bread crumbs to see how different characters fit together - I would have been happy with even more of that overlap. It makes me excited to read more fiction from the author.
enidkeaner's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carrienation76's review against another edition
5.0
This collection is absolutely amazing! I could not put this book down. Brilliantly written with interesting turns of phrase. All the endings hit like a stab wound you knew was about to land, yet managed to hit you in the softest part of you that you forgot to protect. Much in the style of Paul Beatty, Thompson-Spires takes you right up to the edge, where the hairs on your arms stand up over the complexity and depth of the satirical narrative - and just when you think you cannot stand it any longer, a twist ending pops up to leave you stunned, leaning back in the aftermath of the story, leaving you no option but to dive into the next.
I highly recommend this collection - not only for the deeply entertaining ride the stories take you on, but for the jarring reflection each story provokes.
I highly recommend this collection - not only for the deeply entertaining ride the stories take you on, but for the jarring reflection each story provokes.
silodear's review against another edition
3.0
Favorites: The Subject of Consumption, and Wash Clean the Bones
SPL 2019 book bingo: published when author was under 35
SPL 2019 book bingo: published when author was under 35
stitching_ghost's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard for me to rate this book, part of me feels like I might have missed something about it, like I can't get the whole picture or like I'm lacking something to really GET it.
darahsspine_'s review
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
krissyronan's review against another edition
4.0
Whoa. Some of these stories will be sitting with me for a while. Powerful stories, fascinating characters, unique perspectives. Lots for me to learn and consider.