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mythrawife's review
4.0
I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this short story collection. Though I'm not typically one for short stories, something about this collection truly spoke to me. The stories are connected by the loose thread of loss; each story centers around loss in some way, with loss of sisters, sons, daughters, unborn children, grandchildren, etc. Many of the stories involve some sort of supernatural element - the first story opens with a walking, talking corpse.
I felt this was a beautiful collection. Quick and easy to read, but still wonderfully crafted and meaningful. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a nice, quick read.
I loved this short story collection. Though I'm not typically one for short stories, something about this collection truly spoke to me. The stories are connected by the loose thread of loss; each story centers around loss in some way, with loss of sisters, sons, daughters, unborn children, grandchildren, etc. Many of the stories involve some sort of supernatural element - the first story opens with a walking, talking corpse.
I felt this was a beautiful collection. Quick and easy to read, but still wonderfully crafted and meaningful. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a nice, quick read.
shainaseideneck's review
3.0
Unaccustomed to Grace by Lesley Bannatyne is a short story collection commenting on the human condition when faced with tragedy and other extraordinary circumstances. Each story seemed to focus on what decisions could be made in a particular situation and how to handle the consequences of that decision.. I did appreciate the uniqueness in the themes of the stories and some of the supernatural elements that really made the character's stories fade into the grey area when choices were made, rather than being totally cut and dry. I feel that this also made the characters more relatable and sucked me into their stories.
This is the first short story collection that I have read and for a debut I feel as though this author did very well. However, overall I gave the book a 3 star rating. Although I was connected to the characters in most of the stories I found myself either wanting more or wanting some kind of twist to the story or more of an impactful statement at the end of these stories. Its hard for me to pinpoint exactly what was missing, though I do feel that my novice in reading such collections as this has impacted my experience. I would recommend this book to lovers of short story collections and the paranormal as well as those who enjoy character study as each character could be analyzed further than can be done in a review.
Content warnings for loss of an infant/child, mentions of child abuse, loss of a limb.
This is the first short story collection that I have read and for a debut I feel as though this author did very well. However, overall I gave the book a 3 star rating. Although I was connected to the characters in most of the stories I found myself either wanting more or wanting some kind of twist to the story or more of an impactful statement at the end of these stories. Its hard for me to pinpoint exactly what was missing, though I do feel that my novice in reading such collections as this has impacted my experience. I would recommend this book to lovers of short story collections and the paranormal as well as those who enjoy character study as each character could be analyzed further than can be done in a review.
Content warnings for loss of an infant/child, mentions of child abuse, loss of a limb.
kristianamr's review
5.0
Unaccustomed to Grace by lesley bannatyne is a superb collection of short stories which are beautifully human, dark and complex. As stated in the blurb, bannatyne presents the reader, each time, with a slant reality in which we can recognise ourselves and our ordinary lives alongside the darkest thoughts, feelings and sometimes our perverse desires. At no point does bannatyne shy away from exposing what it means to be human - to be gloriously forward-thinking and yet animalistic and base in the same breath.
In particular, I enjoyed the anonymity of the narrators in the majority of the stories. We might be given a name but these narrators were ours to imagine and to become. That was the sheer joy of reading this; bannatyne makes you the narrator, you do not sit in the role of the observer, you become the very human bannatyne seeks to explore, celebrate and question.
bannatyne also demonstrates a stunning talent for creating atmosphere; surroundings which are both alive and frighteningly devoid which encapsulate the bare bones of trauma, family, love, grief and death. bannatyne's characters embody us as a race and as individuals - a balance kept perfectly by bannatyne's pace and sharp use of imagery and dialogue.
These stories are easy to devour as each story is unique, traversing gritty realities, the ethereal and the quiet of existence. The collection itself is structured brilliantly; nothing felt repetitive or as if stories grew in intensity, instead everything felt balanced - a harmony found in the discordance of humanity.
Ultimately, Unaccustomed to Grace is a collection I would highly recommend. I thoroughly enjoyed both the content and bannatyne's style. It was the first I've read of bannatyne but it will not be the last - I was left wholly impressed and I continue to ruminate over the people I met through bannatyne's words along the way.
In particular, I enjoyed the anonymity of the narrators in the majority of the stories. We might be given a name but these narrators were ours to imagine and to become. That was the sheer joy of reading this; bannatyne makes you the narrator, you do not sit in the role of the observer, you become the very human bannatyne seeks to explore, celebrate and question.
bannatyne also demonstrates a stunning talent for creating atmosphere; surroundings which are both alive and frighteningly devoid which encapsulate the bare bones of trauma, family, love, grief and death. bannatyne's characters embody us as a race and as individuals - a balance kept perfectly by bannatyne's pace and sharp use of imagery and dialogue.
These stories are easy to devour as each story is unique, traversing gritty realities, the ethereal and the quiet of existence. The collection itself is structured brilliantly; nothing felt repetitive or as if stories grew in intensity, instead everything felt balanced - a harmony found in the discordance of humanity.
Ultimately, Unaccustomed to Grace is a collection I would highly recommend. I thoroughly enjoyed both the content and bannatyne's style. It was the first I've read of bannatyne but it will not be the last - I was left wholly impressed and I continue to ruminate over the people I met through bannatyne's words along the way.
auntieyorgareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I received an advance review copy of this eBook for free from the author and BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily as a courtesy.
Although I am not generally a reader of short story collections, this was one that certainly made me wonder why that is! Unaccustomed to Grace by Leslie Pratt Bannatyne is a fantastic example of how the ordinary and mundane can converge with the extraordinary and unusual to create tales that are engaging enough that you invest fully until the very last word. Bannatyne's characters are real and so relatable that you forget that some of the things they are experiencing can't really be happening... or can they? I highly recommend picking up this excellent assemblage of short stories!
Although I am not generally a reader of short story collections, this was one that certainly made me wonder why that is! Unaccustomed to Grace by Leslie Pratt Bannatyne is a fantastic example of how the ordinary and mundane can converge with the extraordinary and unusual to create tales that are engaging enough that you invest fully until the very last word. Bannatyne's characters are real and so relatable that you forget that some of the things they are experiencing can't really be happening... or can they? I highly recommend picking up this excellent assemblage of short stories!
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