A review by jcpdiesel21
Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell

4.0

Every bit as odd and enjoyable as I have come to expect a short story collection by Russell to be. This book starts with a superb trio, culminating in the excellently weird "Bog Girl: A Romance." After the peak of those three, there is a bit of a valley: I didn't find much to recommend in "Madame Bovary's Greyhound," "The Tornado Auction" has some interesting ideas but doesn't do much with them, and "Black Corfu" feels far too long but has a perfect ending that made me chuckle aloud. Thankfully, the collection rebounds by finishing strong with the final two tales, and while "Orange World" ends abruptly, it left me with much vivid imagery and a unique take on motherhood.