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lit_laugh_luv's review against another edition
5.0
[4.5 stars] Dare I say this is my favourite short story collection ever? While I don't think any short story collection could ever get a perfect rating from me (a couple will inevitably miss the mark), this is as close to perfect as it will get. All of these stories are tied together with a loose string that strikes the balance of making the collection feel cohesive without being too literal or repetitive in its messaging. The stories are classified within four sections: birth, gestation, conception & love and do a great job incorporating those broader themes.
The prose in this is very matter-of-fact and blunt which I appreciated amidst the very abstract and surrealist events of the stories. The majority of the stories are very weird - incorporating aspects of death, body horror, sexism, dark comedy, grief and autonomy in varying capacities.
While I rarely individually rate short stories in a collection, virtually all of these made a lasting impact on me in their endings and I can't help but briefly summarize some thoughts on each. I adored Safe Passage, Poppyseed, The Ages and Tributaries and cannot recommend them enough if you're only willing to read a chunk of this collection.
- Safe Passage : 5/5 stars. Beautiful reflections on our final days of life with stellar imagery and metaphors.
- Poppyseed: 5/5 stars. Probably my favourite short story I've ever read; this is told in alternating vignettes of two parents as they deal with the moral and ethical considerations of providing for their disabled daughter.
- Atria : 3/5 stars. I appreciated some of the themes in this (notably the final years of adolescence where you feel lost between childhood and adulthood), but it didn't fully resonate with me.
- Chest of Drawers : 4/5 stars. This is the start of the stories taking a more humorous and witty tone, which may not work for everyone. A husband develops drawers on his chest, and we see how his experiences parallel with his pregnant wife (and how little men consider how transformative pregnancy is on women's bodies).
- Welcome to Your Life & Congratulations : 4/5 stars. A family grieves their dead cat and hosts several ceremonies to honour both his life and death. Definitely the most deadpan delivery of all the stories, and I'm not sure I really "got" some aspects of this, but I liked it!
- Catch & Release : 3/5 stars. I didn't fully understand this one - there was a lot going on, and while it was ambitious, it didn't tie together for me by the conclusion.
- Saver : 4/5 stars. This one is weird because it's arguably the most profound story of the bunch (I adore the ending), yet also the most lighthearted and comedic in its delivery.
- Snow Remote : 4/5 stars. Another kooky one that centres on the void that death creates and how grief can manifest itself at the worst of times.
- The Ages : 5/5 stars. I will be thinking about this one for ages - it questions how unique our lives and experiences are, and focuses on how mundane the process of getting old and dying are. Takes a different approach to the concept of sonder than what I've read before.
- Magniloquence : 4/5 stars. This felt the most 'out of place' of the stories - it still focuses on grief and disillusionment but pivots to more of a focus on academia. While this will likely resonate with a more niche audience, I appreciated how this interrogates how we and why we pursue our ambitions.
- Tributaries : 5/5 stars. What would happen if our capacity to love manifests itself in a physical form? A stellar ending that re-visits the differing expectations between men and women when it comes to love, and the many different forms love can take on.
The prose in this is very matter-of-fact and blunt which I appreciated amidst the very abstract and surrealist events of the stories. The majority of the stories are very weird - incorporating aspects of death, body horror, sexism, dark comedy, grief and autonomy in varying capacities.
While I rarely individually rate short stories in a collection, virtually all of these made a lasting impact on me in their endings and I can't help but briefly summarize some thoughts on each. I adored Safe Passage, Poppyseed, The Ages and Tributaries and cannot recommend them enough if you're only willing to read a chunk of this collection.
- Safe Passage : 5/5 stars. Beautiful reflections on our final days of life with stellar imagery and metaphors.
- Poppyseed: 5/5 stars. Probably my favourite short story I've ever read; this is told in alternating vignettes of two parents as they deal with the moral and ethical considerations of providing for their disabled daughter.
- Atria : 3/5 stars. I appreciated some of the themes in this (notably the final years of adolescence where you feel lost between childhood and adulthood), but it didn't fully resonate with me.
- Chest of Drawers : 4/5 stars. This is the start of the stories taking a more humorous and witty tone, which may not work for everyone. A husband develops drawers on his chest, and we see how his experiences parallel with his pregnant wife (and how little men consider how transformative pregnancy is on women's bodies).
- Welcome to Your Life & Congratulations : 4/5 stars. A family grieves their dead cat and hosts several ceremonies to honour both his life and death. Definitely the most deadpan delivery of all the stories, and I'm not sure I really "got" some aspects of this, but I liked it!
- Catch & Release : 3/5 stars. I didn't fully understand this one - there was a lot going on, and while it was ambitious, it didn't tie together for me by the conclusion.
- Saver : 4/5 stars. This one is weird because it's arguably the most profound story of the bunch (I adore the ending), yet also the most lighthearted and comedic in its delivery.
- Snow Remote : 4/5 stars. Another kooky one that centres on the void that death creates and how grief can manifest itself at the worst of times.
- The Ages : 5/5 stars. I will be thinking about this one for ages - it questions how unique our lives and experiences are, and focuses on how mundane the process of getting old and dying are. Takes a different approach to the concept of sonder than what I've read before.
- Magniloquence : 4/5 stars. This felt the most 'out of place' of the stories - it still focuses on grief and disillusionment but pivots to more of a focus on academia. While this will likely resonate with a more niche audience, I appreciated how this interrogates how we and why we pursue our ambitions.
- Tributaries : 5/5 stars. What would happen if our capacity to love manifests itself in a physical form? A stellar ending that re-visits the differing expectations between men and women when it comes to love, and the many different forms love can take on.
lbeckworth's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
pazfauxster's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
2.5
The first story in the book, called <i>Safe Passage</i>, was so strong that I really got my hopes up. It was moving, mysterious, and I loved how the first part of the book, titled <i>Birth</i>, began with a story (ostensibly) about death. <i>"What an inventive decision!"</i> I thought. Unfortunately, I was in for a disappointment after that.
Overall, I found several stories rather compelling. Those were, apart from the first one, <i>Atria</i>, <i>The Ages</i> and <i>Tributaries</i>. I didn't exactly love them, but they were rather interesting in both premise and execution.
The rest I either found undercooked (what was it about? did the author want to make a statement or was it just a vignette?) or downright disturbing with no particular reason to be so. <i>Poppyseed</i> was the second story in the collection and it already made me want to close the book and forget it ever existed. Not cool. But maybe I'm overreacting.
Anyway, if you're into bizarre stuff about love, life, and family where everything is kinda normal on the surface and not so normal underneath, this is your jam. Unfortunately, it wasn't mine.
Overall, I found several stories rather compelling. Those were, apart from the first one, <i>Atria</i>, <i>The Ages</i> and <i>Tributaries</i>. I didn't exactly love them, but they were rather interesting in both premise and execution.
The rest I either found undercooked (what was it about? did the author want to make a statement or was it just a vignette?) or downright disturbing with no particular reason to be so. <i>Poppyseed</i> was the second story in the collection and it already made me want to close the book and forget it ever existed. Not cool. But maybe I'm overreacting.
Anyway, if you're into bizarre stuff about love, life, and family where everything is kinda normal on the surface and not so normal underneath, this is your jam. Unfortunately, it wasn't mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Pregnancy, Grief, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Animal death, and Death
pallotj's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
samneat's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
2.0
smay's review against another edition
4.0
I figured I would like Ausubel's work and now my suspicions are confirmed. My favorite stories were the weird ones where shit like will you still love me if I'm a chest of drawers happened, but I also really enjoyed the small emotional moments in many of the stories. Will look out more of her work after this!
aleesagammy's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0