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A review by iamrainbou
Both Sides: Stories From the Border by Gabino Iglesias
2.0
When I was offered an eARC of this anthology, I was excited. Fifteen different stories all about borders, their violence, and suffering. I was, sadly, very disappointed. I found these stories upsetting, not for their themes exactly, but for their unchallenged misogyny and homophobia. There's an incredible amount of violence against women and homophobic slurs. Its promotion led me to believe this was a Latinx anthology, which was confusing and not great, as this is an overwhelming white collection. I also don't understand the decision to include a federal agent when talking about borders, specifically the Mexico and United States border.
Overall, these stories felt insensitive, unnecessarily cruel, and gave me nothing but disgust. Although I enjoyed some stories like Rio de Luz's The Letters and David Bowles's El Sombreron and I liked what Sandra Jackson-Opoku's She Loved Trouble and Isaac Kirkman's Grotesque Caberet did, I don't think Both Sides adds nothing new to the countess books about the violence of the border. There's a disconnected between the stories that frustrated me; we have authors calling out racism while also authors perpetuating Indigenous stereotypes for a white hero. It doesn't feel like all these stories can belong in the same collection. Or better said, I don't want these stories belonging in the same place. I closed this book with a feeling of exhaustion and anger, I may have enjoyed some of these authors but the overall feeling is underwhelmed.
an earc was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Overall, these stories felt insensitive, unnecessarily cruel, and gave me nothing but disgust. Although I enjoyed some stories like Rio de Luz's The Letters and David Bowles's El Sombreron and I liked what Sandra Jackson-Opoku's She Loved Trouble and Isaac Kirkman's Grotesque Caberet did, I don't think Both Sides adds nothing new to the countess books about the violence of the border. There's a disconnected between the stories that frustrated me; we have authors calling out racism while also authors perpetuating Indigenous stereotypes for a white hero. It doesn't feel like all these stories can belong in the same collection. Or better said, I don't want these stories belonging in the same place. I closed this book with a feeling of exhaustion and anger, I may have enjoyed some of these authors but the overall feeling is underwhelmed.
an earc was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review