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chillcox15's review against another edition
1.0
I’m calling BS on this one. Quim Monzo’s Why, Why, Why?, freshly translated by Peter Bush and published by Open Letter, has me asking the titular series of questions. Filled with short short stories often about the nature of romantic relationships, Monzo is going for the sort of defamiliarized depiction of a commonplace occurrence within a relationship that, in the right hands, can be revealing of a deeper insight or absurdity within the mechanics of human interaction. Often in these stories, however, it just feels banal; there’s no texture here, nothing of life, and even taking the situations as Monzo presents them, there’s a nasty misanthropy that definitely gravitates towards the misogynist that makes the book less enjoyable to read. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some well-done misanthropy, but this ain’t it.
aymareta's review against another edition
4.0
Dinàmic i esclatador, n'hi ha molts contes que et fan pensar-hi molta estona. Quotidians, freudians... M'ha agradat massa!
heemeeraa's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
nadia_ramos's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
shae_316's review against another edition
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jentidders's review against another edition
3.0
Quim Monzo is one of the best known writers in Catalan but seems unknown in the English-speaking world. This short story collection was first published in 1993, and although it has been translated many times, this is its first appearance in English.
The modern fairy tales in Why, Why, Why? explore both the tragedy and absurdity of human relationships and are at turns humorous, dark or just plain surreal.
I was made a little uncomfortable by a pervading feeling of misogyny in some of the stories, but otherwise, I enjoyed the writing and translation.
The modern fairy tales in Why, Why, Why? explore both the tragedy and absurdity of human relationships and are at turns humorous, dark or just plain surreal.
I was made a little uncomfortable by a pervading feeling of misogyny in some of the stories, but otherwise, I enjoyed the writing and translation.
ireneroffs's review against another edition
3.75
és un llibre curiós x recomanar a algú pro mha agradat l'experiència de llegirlo :ppp
windspice's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
zachwerb's review against another edition
4.0
At first I was hesitant, by the end I was sold. What a book.