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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Very interesting read, this Claire Vaye Watkins' Battleborn. It's imaginative in its realism, and that 🏜 and ⛰ sadness that's so common in the West. Beautiful in a isolated type of way - maybe that's the beauty of the West, both geographically and culturally?? Im left comforted and content, the way a good book can leave you.
really really good, what all short story collections should aspire to
I wrote a little review of Battleborn at The Female Gaze.
All I can say is Claire Watkins is amazing! I read this after reading Gold Fame Citrus and this collection of short stories has the same feel. To me, Watkins is just an amazing writer and I can't wait to see what she will come out with next.
This was Nevada. I definitely liked some of these short stories better than others. The author seems to have a very specific view of romantic hetero relationships, and it got quite old as it was rinsed and repeated. But the opening story was fantastic, as were a few of of the stories set in the past.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't know why I picked up this collection. I never enjoy short story collections the way I enjoy novels/nonfiction (not memoirs...I rarely enjoy those). No surprise then that I found Watkins' tales to be a bit disappointing. This is more a reflection on me than the author.
Watkins spills ten stories set around the West. They are good and simple and sad, born of a wanting so genuine it's bound to go awry. These characters are scrub pines whose roots are gnarled in their search for water in this wretched desert Watkins evokes so eloquently.