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jasonsweirdreads's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I was given a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Chad Lutzke is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine. This is the third book of his that I’ve read and I only want to gobble up more. His stories and writing style has a way of resonating with me. They’re emotional without being sappy or sentimental. They’re often brutal in the way that real life can be. And the characters just try and survive in a universe that is continuously working against them.
These stories are no different. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began reading Spicy Constellations. Short stories are a different art than novellas. However, I knew that I was getting into some interesting territory with the very first story, The One Who Took.
This story also suggested that I was being led to an even darker version of Chad Lutzke’s work than I was used to. There’s a coldness to this one, and that coldness comes again a few times later within the collection. Especially in the title story, a crazed drug-fueled murder spree, and the story When It Rains.
One cannot discuss this collection, though, without mentioning the final story, Catch Him. This is by far my favourite. It is a very touching story about loss and overcoming grief that nearly had me in tears.
There are some negatives to cover, as well. The stories Four Finger Discount and The Secret fell flat for me. The characters within these two stories made odd choices that I couldn’t really buy into.
Having said that, this is a fantastic collection regardless. If you’re a fan of Lutzke’s, I think that you’ll find yourself at home here. If you’re just starting to read Lutzke’s work, then I would suggest maybe starting with The Same Deep Water As You and then read Spicy Constellations. You won’t be sorry.
Chad Lutzke is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine. This is the third book of his that I’ve read and I only want to gobble up more. His stories and writing style has a way of resonating with me. They’re emotional without being sappy or sentimental. They’re often brutal in the way that real life can be. And the characters just try and survive in a universe that is continuously working against them.
These stories are no different. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began reading Spicy Constellations. Short stories are a different art than novellas. However, I knew that I was getting into some interesting territory with the very first story, The One Who Took.
This story also suggested that I was being led to an even darker version of Chad Lutzke’s work than I was used to. There’s a coldness to this one, and that coldness comes again a few times later within the collection. Especially in the title story, a crazed drug-fueled murder spree, and the story When It Rains.
One cannot discuss this collection, though, without mentioning the final story, Catch Him. This is by far my favourite. It is a very touching story about loss and overcoming grief that nearly had me in tears.
There are some negatives to cover, as well. The stories Four Finger Discount and The Secret fell flat for me. The characters within these two stories made odd choices that I couldn’t really buy into.
Having said that, this is a fantastic collection regardless. If you’re a fan of Lutzke’s, I think that you’ll find yourself at home here. If you’re just starting to read Lutzke’s work, then I would suggest maybe starting with The Same Deep Water As You and then read Spicy Constellations. You won’t be sorry.
rock_n_reads's review
5.0
I became a patron of Chad Lutzke on Patreon shortly after reading just a couple of his books. His writing is wonderful, and this special collection dedicated to his patrons did not disappoint! Lutzke excels in writing what has been deemed "horror with heart", and the stories in this collection are further proof of that skill. There is plenty of creepiness among these pages, but there are also humorous moments, and bits that made me tear up. With story collections, I like to choose a "Top 5". Here are my favorites from this book, in no particular order:
-The One Who Took (left me looking like the emoji with an open mouth)
-A Stranger Dream (this one is what I'd call creeptastic)
-A Weekend Tradition (love the twist on a beloved horror trope)
-What I Wouldn't Give (I love any stories related to rock n' roll)
-TV Casualty (see my comment on the story above)
I absolutely love books that make me feel, and this book deserves a place on that list. Do you ever go through a box of old belongings from childhood and reminisce? I have done this with dolls, stuffed animals, and other memorabilia. I think one day I'll be doing this with my books, only pulling them from a shelf that I have set aside for "Books that make me feel". All of Chad Lutzke's books will be on that shelf.
-The One Who Took (left me looking like the emoji with an open mouth)
-A Stranger Dream (this one is what I'd call creeptastic)
-A Weekend Tradition (love the twist on a beloved horror trope)
-What I Wouldn't Give (I love any stories related to rock n' roll)
-TV Casualty (see my comment on the story above)
I absolutely love books that make me feel, and this book deserves a place on that list. Do you ever go through a box of old belongings from childhood and reminisce? I have done this with dolls, stuffed animals, and other memorabilia. I think one day I'll be doing this with my books, only pulling them from a shelf that I have set aside for "Books that make me feel". All of Chad Lutzke's books will be on that shelf.
5hadow_girl's review
5.0
This is another lost review - missing from Amazon and Goodreads.
I'm hoping to be able to make my highlights visible, because I took notes on each story.
I'm hoping to be able to make my highlights visible, because I took notes on each story.
theboldbookworm's review
4.0
I have been pining for this book ever since I saw Chad's Patrons getting it. I'm so happy I finally got it and in hardcover no less! These stories are short and sweet, which I love. Like everything he writes, there is so much packed into these little stories. There's a little bit of everything here and there wasn't one single story that I didn't like. My absolute favorites in this collection were The One Who Took, A Stranger Dream, a Weekend Tradition, and Catch Him. After realizing that I will never not love what Lutzke writes, I'm heading over to become a Patron myself!
bloodinthesigil's review
5.0
I could not have loved this more! His style shines through these stories in so many ways! Favorites are the one who took, spicy constellation, reaching people, four finger discount and chocolate milk mistake.
motherhorror's review
4.0
My friend Frank Errington said in a review of this book, "Lutzke is one of the most comfortable reads for me. If you read a lot, you know what I mean."
I know what Frank means.
I've been a big Chad Lutzke fan since about this time last year when I read OF FOSTER HOMES AND FLIES (if you haven't read that book please do yourself a solid and buy it today). Lutzke's storytelling voice is easy, comfortable (like Frank said), skillful and intentional. I know that no matter how few pages the story is from start to finish, there will be something tucked away in there that will cause me to feel *something*.
SPICY CONSTELLATION & OTHER RECIPES is a short story collection of 12 brand new stories. The dedication reads, "Dedicated to my patrons. Your support and readership made these stories worth writing." If you're not familiar with how Patreon works, Google it and see if sponsoring different artists would be worth your while. Chad offers some pretty cool stuff at different tiers of sponsorship.
One of which is that a bunch of us all got this book before anyone else could buy it and several of his patron's names are in the stories which is like a little Easter Egg hunt for those who are part of the "Lutzkepalooza".
All of the stories in here are entertaining. As with any collection, some stand out among the others as favorites. Mine are:
THE ONE WHO TOOK- Chad does an excellent job setting the scene: a casual gathering of friends who get to talking about some controversial subjects and then the whole thing gets pretty intense.
A STRANGER DREAM- This was fun because of the nods to a friend and her business.
THE SECRET- Chad has this thing about dead bodies and his characters choosing to ignore them. It's always successful in a weird, sweet way.
WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE- This was hilarious. I might read it out loud to my husband. We've all heard stories about the crossroads and selling one's soul (I just read another book, THE BOTTOMS by Joe R. Lansdale that mentions it) but this one was funny and reminded me almost of an SNL skit (but with way better writing)
CATCH HIM- Classic Chad Lutzke. Beautiful poignant writing.
I'm also a huge fan of author's notes and this collection has them! So those are especially worth reading--like a little extra treat at the end of a good book.
Just another memorable and enjoyable reading experience gifted to us from a man who truly loves the craft of writing and it shows on every page. He never disappoints.
I know what Frank means.
I've been a big Chad Lutzke fan since about this time last year when I read OF FOSTER HOMES AND FLIES (if you haven't read that book please do yourself a solid and buy it today). Lutzke's storytelling voice is easy, comfortable (like Frank said), skillful and intentional. I know that no matter how few pages the story is from start to finish, there will be something tucked away in there that will cause me to feel *something*.
SPICY CONSTELLATION & OTHER RECIPES is a short story collection of 12 brand new stories. The dedication reads, "Dedicated to my patrons. Your support and readership made these stories worth writing." If you're not familiar with how Patreon works, Google it and see if sponsoring different artists would be worth your while. Chad offers some pretty cool stuff at different tiers of sponsorship.
One of which is that a bunch of us all got this book before anyone else could buy it and several of his patron's names are in the stories which is like a little Easter Egg hunt for those who are part of the "Lutzkepalooza".
All of the stories in here are entertaining. As with any collection, some stand out among the others as favorites. Mine are:
THE ONE WHO TOOK- Chad does an excellent job setting the scene: a casual gathering of friends who get to talking about some controversial subjects and then the whole thing gets pretty intense.
A STRANGER DREAM- This was fun because of the nods to a friend and her business.
THE SECRET- Chad has this thing about dead bodies and his characters choosing to ignore them. It's always successful in a weird, sweet way.
WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE- This was hilarious. I might read it out loud to my husband. We've all heard stories about the crossroads and selling one's soul (I just read another book, THE BOTTOMS by Joe R. Lansdale that mentions it) but this one was funny and reminded me almost of an SNL skit (but with way better writing)
CATCH HIM- Classic Chad Lutzke. Beautiful poignant writing.
I'm also a huge fan of author's notes and this collection has them! So those are especially worth reading--like a little extra treat at the end of a good book.
Just another memorable and enjoyable reading experience gifted to us from a man who truly loves the craft of writing and it shows on every page. He never disappoints.
sjgomzi's review
5.0
Five stars to a @ChadLutzke book. What a shocker!😂 He just gets better and better. Loved every single story. The closing story “Catch Him” was a beautiful piece of writing, and a perfect end to a perfect collection.
alexanderp's review
4.0
Review originally posted here.
SPICY CONSTELLATION & OTHER RECIPES by Chad Lutzke, is a collection of shorts that press all sorts of buttons for me. There is brutal, macabre horror, quietly moving almost literary shorts, and other stories that are pure chuckles. All of this wrapped up in an overall twisted package, since Lutzke is by far an extremely accomplished horror writer and comes out in every single story.
Beginning with, "The One Who Took," offers an examination of how people deal with lying to themselves, on multiple levels. A rather benign conversation goes south quite fast and to a bleak conclusion. The rather gross and macabre twist made me actually put the book down before I dared move further into the collection. Not many stories give me that much of a visceral reaction, but Lutzke dialed it up to 11 for the first story and held nothing back.
"A Stranger Dream," follows a pair of strangers as they search for a missing girl. The quiet nature of this almost hides what the story is doing, but I really appreciated this story by the end. After such a loud and fast start, the casual, slow nature of this one was a welcome change.
Continuing this quiet trend was "The Secret," which is a story that follows a mother and a secret that she allows to fester during a party. This is such a strange situation, but to avoid spoilers, I will say that it is the first taste of how much Lutzke's writing can move you.
"What I Wouldn't Give" is one man's negotiation with a demon, as he attempts to sell his soul in order to play guitar well. His wife comes home early and throws a wrench in these plans. This one took me by surprise, since all of the stories to this point had been eerie or brutal and I spent most of the time, while reading this short, wondering when someone was going to die horribly. I won't say if it happens or not, but be ready to laugh during this one.
The story of which this collection takes it's name. "Spicy Constellation", follows a pair of young men, who go on a murderous rampage induced by drugs. It's both horrendous and humorous once you find out what the "spicy constellation" is, but all the same this was a brutal escapade to follow, right down to the last line.
Another humorous story here was "TV Casualty", which details a band's conflict with one of their members who has become increasingly insufferable and the results are quite mushy. Lutzke has a fantastic way of balancing both humor and horror all at once. Many may disagree with one cannot find humor in violence, the sheer absurdity he creates through his various scenarios, I cannot help, but literally guffaw at them. And yes, I did just use the word "guffaw" there just isn't a better word.
And it seems that Lutzke saved the best story for last here, and it is my personal favorite of the whole collection. "Catch Him," two children after the death of their father, patiently wait by his gravestone. The reason, well read the story. It must have been one of the most moving short stories I have read in a while, though I can attribute my own personal connection of my mother's death as to why this story made such an impact. Setting my own feelings aside, this story is excellent in what it sets out to do and hammers very drop of thematic tone into the ending. It was beautiful.
I hadn't read Lutzke before this collection, but it will not be my last time. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!
SPICY CONSTELLATION & OTHER RECIPES by Chad Lutzke, is a collection of shorts that press all sorts of buttons for me. There is brutal, macabre horror, quietly moving almost literary shorts, and other stories that are pure chuckles. All of this wrapped up in an overall twisted package, since Lutzke is by far an extremely accomplished horror writer and comes out in every single story.
Beginning with, "The One Who Took," offers an examination of how people deal with lying to themselves, on multiple levels. A rather benign conversation goes south quite fast and to a bleak conclusion. The rather gross and macabre twist made me actually put the book down before I dared move further into the collection. Not many stories give me that much of a visceral reaction, but Lutzke dialed it up to 11 for the first story and held nothing back.
"A Stranger Dream," follows a pair of strangers as they search for a missing girl. The quiet nature of this almost hides what the story is doing, but I really appreciated this story by the end. After such a loud and fast start, the casual, slow nature of this one was a welcome change.
Continuing this quiet trend was "The Secret," which is a story that follows a mother and a secret that she allows to fester during a party. This is such a strange situation, but to avoid spoilers, I will say that it is the first taste of how much Lutzke's writing can move you.
"What I Wouldn't Give" is one man's negotiation with a demon, as he attempts to sell his soul in order to play guitar well. His wife comes home early and throws a wrench in these plans. This one took me by surprise, since all of the stories to this point had been eerie or brutal and I spent most of the time, while reading this short, wondering when someone was going to die horribly. I won't say if it happens or not, but be ready to laugh during this one.
The story of which this collection takes it's name. "Spicy Constellation", follows a pair of young men, who go on a murderous rampage induced by drugs. It's both horrendous and humorous once you find out what the "spicy constellation" is, but all the same this was a brutal escapade to follow, right down to the last line.
Another humorous story here was "TV Casualty", which details a band's conflict with one of their members who has become increasingly insufferable and the results are quite mushy. Lutzke has a fantastic way of balancing both humor and horror all at once. Many may disagree with one cannot find humor in violence, the sheer absurdity he creates through his various scenarios, I cannot help, but literally guffaw at them. And yes, I did just use the word "guffaw" there just isn't a better word.
And it seems that Lutzke saved the best story for last here, and it is my personal favorite of the whole collection. "Catch Him," two children after the death of their father, patiently wait by his gravestone. The reason, well read the story. It must have been one of the most moving short stories I have read in a while, though I can attribute my own personal connection of my mother's death as to why this story made such an impact. Setting my own feelings aside, this story is excellent in what it sets out to do and hammers very drop of thematic tone into the ending. It was beautiful.
I hadn't read Lutzke before this collection, but it will not be my last time. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!
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