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tonyk's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
maddydaisy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
wafareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
katydidinoz's review against another edition
5.0
This collection of short stories is an overview of the many varied, beautiful, ugly, painful, joyful ways there are to love each other. Each story is a description and reflection of one love - its colour and taste and sound and feel - and how it can be a force of good or a force of destruction. Even though a number (I'd say the majority) of these stories are heart-breakingly, gut-punchingly sad, there is still the underlying belief that to love is a good thing, even as it takes the characters down.
Not a book to be rushed through (though the strength of the writing will encourage you to), but one to dip into and out of.
Not a book to be rushed through (though the strength of the writing will encourage you to), but one to dip into and out of.
gisellenguyen's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful collection of short stories that contain complete worlds. Down has a knack for evoking a lot of emotion in few words, and capturing realistic moments in people’s lives. These stories don’t always wrap up neatly, but nor does life itself. They showcase the loveliest and ugliest parts of humanity, and are sketched carefully and with utmost precision. Some of these stories worked better for me than others, but overall this is a mature, assured collection with a wisdom beyond the author’s twenty something years – she writes just as well about teenagers as she does about middle aged parents, and it all feels painfully real.
wtb_michael's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautiful collection of stories, capturing precise moments of sadness, fear and loss. The title story and Aokigahara are probably my favourites, but there are moments in each of them that grab you by the heart.
angiex's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this collection. The stories are raw and real. Jennifer Down has a wonderful ability to turn the single moment into something profound and heartfelt. Favourites included the award winning 'Aokigahara' and the collection's namesake 'Pulse points', along with 'Dogs' and 'We got used to here fast'. I haven' read any of Jennifer Down's previous work, but I'm now looking forward to reading [b:Our Magic Hour|28509532|Our Magic Hour|Jennifer Down|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1452491723s/28509532.jpg|48665783]
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