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lakserk's review
4.0
Ostermeier's second collection is thematically tighter than A Trick of the Shadow. Where the latter's mortar was mostly geographical (in all the multiple levels that are contained within that term), Therapeutic Tales remain in the space of the Peninsula yet focus, as the title suggests, on psychological therapy - the unnamed protagonist is a therapist working in the Peninsula and the stories concern cases, patients, and anecdotes of his practice.
I'll admit that, although I enjoyed the book, I found it somewhat less than his amazing debut. This may have to do with the thickening of the prose and the intensification of the whimsiness (the author has been evidently influenced by the other names/personas in the Broodcomb arsenal), as well as with the overt emphasis on the human psyche which I felt subtracted something both the intensity and atmosphere of the plots. I also found several parts way too long-winded, especially in the Ulfsson Chapel novella.
Still, there are amazing stories in here: the first three are exceptional (Skin and Grief, especially, is utterly weird, in the best of ways) and the last one, Delight, despite being weighed down by its first third, has some imagery that will long stay with me. The central ideas in each story are highly original, and the prose is gleefully original (despite my aforementioned objections); the way the writer slots words and assembles metaphors and images is phenomenal.
Very solid work. Undoubtedly, Ostermeier remains one of the best things to come out of the contemporary weird scene.
I'll admit that, although I enjoyed the book, I found it somewhat less than his amazing debut. This may have to do with the thickening of the prose and the intensification of the whimsiness (the author has been evidently influenced by the other names/personas in the Broodcomb arsenal), as well as with the overt emphasis on the human psyche which I felt subtracted something both the intensity and atmosphere of the plots. I also found several parts way too long-winded, especially in the Ulfsson Chapel novella.
Still, there are amazing stories in here: the first three are exceptional (Skin and Grief, especially, is utterly weird, in the best of ways) and the last one, Delight, despite being weighed down by its first third, has some imagery that will long stay with me. The central ideas in each story are highly original, and the prose is gleefully original (despite my aforementioned objections); the way the writer slots words and assembles metaphors and images is phenomenal.
Very solid work. Undoubtedly, Ostermeier remains one of the best things to come out of the contemporary weird scene.
bodyslam9000's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
vaudevillianveteran's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rubyhosh's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Medical trauma
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