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eprieto's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
sarabz's review
4.0
A beautiful collection of stories. I love the ways that physicality is captured in her writing. "Drift" epitomized that for me with the descriptions of hiking through the snow and falling in the snow drifts. And the relationships - the families described here are often full of aggravations and anger but a desire for connections and inter-generational care are always there. "Camp Americana" displays these relationships vividly. The hopeful monsters of the collection are often the central characters of the stories, as in the title story and "Stinky Girl." And I loved that their hope comes from a place of seeing who they are and deciding to love and celebrate, and sometimes fight for, that true self.
chirson's review
3.0
The stories are such a mixed bag - I really enjoyed some of them (including the title one) and others left me completely unimpressed.
sonofthe's review
4.0
Most of the stories in this collection stick in the mind. Goto creates strong characters, places, and situations. The horror she finds in some common parts of life becomes that much more visceral for it.
"Tales from the Breast" was the closest to a twist-ending story here, but it was a great one. Funny and a bit terrifying at the same time. Sometimes a person's body can become alien to them, and the portrayal of just how difficult breast-feeding might be worked to heighten that sense.
"Drift" wasn't as much a story as it was a snapshot. It brought Kawabata to mind. The trudge through the snow and the subsequent rest in the hot-spring made me long for winter.
"From Across a River" and "Camp Americana" were the creepiest stories here. "River" had a woman going mad from the loss of a child, trying to deal with life through the murk of that aftermath, and "Americana" had a judgmental old man having his fears realized. With both, Goto connects to real life in such a way to enhance the effect of the surreal.
"Stinky Girl" had the most distinctive voice in the whole collection, and, to me the most unreliable narrator. After discussion with another reader who took everything as straight-forward, I found that the story was effective both ways.
The shortest stories in the collection worked the least for me. I just couldn't quite understand them.
"Tales from the Breast" was the closest to a twist-ending story here, but it was a great one. Funny and a bit terrifying at the same time. Sometimes a person's body can become alien to them, and the portrayal of just how difficult breast-feeding might be worked to heighten that sense.
"Drift" wasn't as much a story as it was a snapshot. It brought Kawabata to mind. The trudge through the snow and the subsequent rest in the hot-spring made me long for winter.
"From Across a River" and "Camp Americana" were the creepiest stories here. "River" had a woman going mad from the loss of a child, trying to deal with life through the murk of that aftermath, and "Americana" had a judgmental old man having his fears realized. With both, Goto connects to real life in such a way to enhance the effect of the surreal.
"Stinky Girl" had the most distinctive voice in the whole collection, and, to me the most unreliable narrator. After discussion with another reader who took everything as straight-forward, I found that the story was effective both ways.
The shortest stories in the collection worked the least for me. I just couldn't quite understand them.
historyh22's review
4.0
A bizarre set of short stories that steadily drew me in as the book progressed. I particularly enjoyed “Camp Americana” and the title story. Very well done.
kell_xavi's review
3.0
Mixed collection, with some quite lyrical pieces (like Osmosis and Night), some speculative fiction (the title story and both succeed), and some realist works (including Tilting and Drift).
Of each type, some were enjoyable and had meaning for me, and other fell short. Many stories were about marriage and motherhood, family, all were about women, and that thread joined them all together nicely.
Night - 5
Osmosis - 5
Tilting - 2
-
Tales from the Breast - 4
Drift - 3
Home Stay - 2
From Across a River - 3
-
Hopeful Monsters - 4
All Possible Moments - 3
Of each type, some were enjoyable and had meaning for me, and other fell short. Many stories were about marriage and motherhood, family, all were about women, and that thread joined them all together nicely.
Night - 5
Osmosis - 5
Tilting - 2
-
Tales from the Breast - 4
Drift - 3
Home Stay - 2
From Across a River - 3
-
Hopeful Monsters - 4
All Possible Moments - 3
shrimpseas's review
5.0
also really good!!! the author writes such creative and visceral description & similes wow!! some of the stories didn’t make much sense to me or weren’t quite to my taste but the ones that were were so so good
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