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katie_baker's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
elfs29's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
2.0
I appreciate the intentions and atmosphere of this short story anthology, and I feel that Adaui’s longer prose may be more compelling - unfortunately, as short stories, these tiny snippets of writing failed to garner much feeling or evoke much thought since they were just too fleeting. Ten pages is not enough to delve into an entire family’s history, and whilst the content was interesting, the execution just left me feeling that what Adaui was exploring was not, in this medium, as profound as intended.
ciarafrances's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
alexture's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Incest, and Sexual assault
adamjensen's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bricharis's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hazioli's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very varied selection of short stories. Some it felt, had such a commitment to a lyrical or poetic prose that they became hard to follow. Though because of the short story nature, this was not immediately unlikable as a short story conveys emotion in a similar way to poetry when short enough even if the narrative is weak or blurry. I found the translators note at the end of the English edition very interesting in this respect as it reflected on how the jagged and unfinished sentences were somewhat aimed to represent the way we recall memories - especially on early memories like those of our families. Still I found the jagged and somewhat challenging nature of the prose made it a little hard to read several in row. But I still thoroughly enjoyed the stories and their wide ranging topics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual violence
ruthie_'s review
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
georgina27's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0