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kellyisntcool's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
The first two stories were really special, but I lost touch with the writing moving forward. There were some really beautiful worded lines scattered about that I took note of. Edie would be my favorite of this collection. I thought I’d connect more with the final story Dead Girls but it didn’t hit affect me in the way I thought it would, even if some of the scenarios were relatable.
sunrays118's review against another edition
3.0
This book probably is a 3.5.
Short stories are my absolute favorite to read. I love how much can be conveyed in so little. I love the challenge of what can go unsaid and still create a full world. So when I entered this collection, starting off with such a strong first short story, I was hooked. The writing was beautiful and lyrical. The main character instantly came alive for me. The choice of details was enticing as the work truly drew me in and made me want to be there, be with the girl. The story was a bit long and meandered at times but I was smitten.
Then as I moved to the next short story, I was entranced. The words still floated around making me feel like there was some mystery all around. It was captivating! I was hoping the pace and the beauty could survive the whole book.
Somewhere along the way, it didn't though. The words and the pace and the sentences stayed a bit too much the same. One of the things I hope to find in a short story collection is a chance to see a breadth of talent; show me how you can bounce between narrators, how you can use tempo to create a new feel, let me see you explore and manipulate the language. This fell quite shy of that. The stories were all exceptionally biographical which dragged on far too long. There was nothing new in any of the stories and it became a bit slow death.
As the book continued, there is nothing new, there is nothing building. It is simply the same girl, the same trauma, the same story over and over and over. I understand authors writing to work their way through a trauma but that should have ended with two short stories, not this entire book.
Short stories are my absolute favorite to read. I love how much can be conveyed in so little. I love the challenge of what can go unsaid and still create a full world. So when I entered this collection, starting off with such a strong first short story, I was hooked. The writing was beautiful and lyrical. The main character instantly came alive for me. The choice of details was enticing as the work truly drew me in and made me want to be there, be with the girl. The story was a bit long and meandered at times but I was smitten.
Then as I moved to the next short story, I was entranced. The words still floated around making me feel like there was some mystery all around. It was captivating! I was hoping the pace and the beauty could survive the whole book.
Somewhere along the way, it didn't though. The words and the pace and the sentences stayed a bit too much the same. One of the things I hope to find in a short story collection is a chance to see a breadth of talent; show me how you can bounce between narrators, how you can use tempo to create a new feel, let me see you explore and manipulate the language. This fell quite shy of that. The stories were all exceptionally biographical which dragged on far too long. There was nothing new in any of the stories and it became a bit slow death.
As the book continued, there is nothing new, there is nothing building. It is simply the same girl, the same trauma, the same story over and over and over. I understand authors writing to work their way through a trauma but that should have ended with two short stories, not this entire book.
jtaylor97's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
reasie's review against another edition
5.0
Geminder's prose is lyric and at times breathtaking. Each story feels half a poem, digging deep into human nature, the beauty of the everyday and the way tragedy feels prosaic from too close.
"1-800-Fat-Girl" is as surreal and delightful as the title made me hope it would be, and really about female friendship, which is a consistent theme throughout the collection.
"Edie" is the story that most closely examines friendship, following two girls through playground best-friendship through troubled high school years, with threat and disfunction simmering on the edges of reality like Edie's insistence that she's an alien. (Obviously, you're always going to get me with the promise of an alien best friend.)
"Your Village Has Been Bombed" was haunting with its absurdity and meta-fictive feel.
"Choreograph" ties a story of a sister struggling with mental illness with the history of a famous dancer, and this blend of interesting fact and present fiction works throughout the collection.
I especially loved the relationship with a distant mentor in "Nausicaa" and now I want to read Ulysses for the first time.
"1-800-Fat-Girl" is as surreal and delightful as the title made me hope it would be, and really about female friendship, which is a consistent theme throughout the collection.
"Edie" is the story that most closely examines friendship, following two girls through playground best-friendship through troubled high school years, with threat and disfunction simmering on the edges of reality like Edie's insistence that she's an alien. (Obviously, you're always going to get me with the promise of an alien best friend.)
"Your Village Has Been Bombed" was haunting with its absurdity and meta-fictive feel.
"Choreograph" ties a story of a sister struggling with mental illness with the history of a famous dancer, and this blend of interesting fact and present fiction works throughout the collection.
I especially loved the relationship with a distant mentor in "Nausicaa" and now I want to read Ulysses for the first time.
gondorgirl's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Classism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Rape, Death, Emotional abuse, War, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Sexism, and Suicide attempt
lake's review
2.0
2.5? 2.75?
When I found this book at my library, I was pleasantly surprised. The title was interesting, I like to support new authors, and I love short story collections (which I don't feel that I see many of nowadays).
I will say that there was obvious effort put into "Dead Girls." There was a lot of research done here: quotes, works reminiscent of each other, winding timelines and much to keep track of.
However, having death feature so often in each story made the book grow monotonous. In the literary world, death is best when it's shocking, when it hurts. And maybe I wasn't expecting what should have been expected from a book literally titled "Dead Girls and Other Stories" but. It just all melded together.
I'm also into stories about ghosts, but now I might have to rescind that. There were times that ghosts were mentioned so often that the word "ghost" stopped becoming a word.
I found Geminder's writing style repetitive and heavyhanded. There were many statements that seemed as though they were trying to mean something, but fell short to me.
There was a lot of effort put into this book, though, and I kinda feel bad about writing this review. "Your Village Has Been Bombed" was my favourite story. I wouldn't recommend this book, but I'm sure some will enjoy it.
When I found this book at my library, I was pleasantly surprised. The title was interesting, I like to support new authors, and I love short story collections (which I don't feel that I see many of nowadays).
I will say that there was obvious effort put into "Dead Girls." There was a lot of research done here: quotes, works reminiscent of each other, winding timelines and much to keep track of.
However, having death feature so often in each story made the book grow monotonous. In the literary world, death is best when it's shocking, when it hurts. And maybe I wasn't expecting what should have been expected from a book literally titled "Dead Girls and Other Stories" but. It just all melded together.
I'm also into stories about ghosts, but now I might have to rescind that. There were times that ghosts were mentioned so often that the word "ghost" stopped becoming a word.
I found Geminder's writing style repetitive and heavyhanded. There were many statements that seemed as though they were trying to mean something, but fell short to me.
There was a lot of effort put into this book, though, and I kinda feel bad about writing this review. "Your Village Has Been Bombed" was my favourite story. I wouldn't recommend this book, but I'm sure some will enjoy it.
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