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krytygr's review
4.0
When we find ourselves in an unknown situation, we tend to find ways to make it work. When we feel loneliness, we tend to throw caution out the window and dove head first.
Collin finds himself in a situation he’s not sure of, yet he continues with it because in some way, it benefits him. The things we’ll put up with when faced with being alone, versus what we end up finding when we’re on our own.
Collin finds himself in a situation he’s not sure of, yet he continues with it because in some way, it benefits him. The things we’ll put up with when faced with being alone, versus what we end up finding when we’re on our own.
ogreart's review
4.0
A quick, short tale of the pandemic, quarantine, sex and the hazards f jumping too quickly into a relationship. I like the ambiguity of the story.
ratgrrrl's review
2.0
I'm Exhausted, Grossed Out, and Confused
CW: Covid, Animal Abuse (Neglect and fears of death)
I don't even know where to start with this. I nearly DNF'd early on as the protagonist's initial interaction and thoughts about the antagonist caused Lynx/ Axe Africa and Kraft Cheese to emit from my tablet. This is my biggest confusion about the story -- both main characters are awful and truly unpleasant to spend any time with (beyond human empathy for health and pandemic stuff). The protagonist has a John Green/ one of his characters energy with a really creepy and kinda pathetic vibe (I get that he's been through a lot, but the Nice Guy creep baby boy energy is palpable) and the antagonist is pretty much manic pixie dream-come-nightmare girl. It's either brilliant or awful characterisation, but I can't tell. Regardless, peering into this window into their lives left me knackered and uncomfortable, so good job? Maybe?
Stories don't always have to have a political or philosophical perspective, but writing about Covid during the height of the pandemic about people flaunting the rules and an immuno-compromised person seemingly being portrayed as hysterical for being concerned doesn't feel great. Honestly, as someone whose partner and herself are both immuno-compromised and forced to maintain a certain level of eternal lockdown, this also hits different.
I have seen other reviews complain about threads not tied off and this is something I consistently see with short stories. Sometimes I agree, but more often than not and I this case the unanswered questions and ambiguity the reader is left with are the same as the protagonist. They are the narrator and sometimes it's effective to have the reader not know more than the narrator and/ or protagonist. In this case, without really spoilering anything, there is a level of mystery, confusion, and simple lack of information about a character that makes not knowing their actions. Actions, which can be plausibly denied by mundane means.
This was an unpleasant story and I don't know if I hated it or simply didn't enjoy it, so I can't recommend it. The quality of the prose and performance were both great nonetheless.
CW: Covid, Animal Abuse (Neglect and fears of death)
I don't even know where to start with this. I nearly DNF'd early on as the protagonist's initial interaction and thoughts about the antagonist caused Lynx/ Axe Africa and Kraft Cheese to emit from my tablet. This is my biggest confusion about the story -- both main characters are awful and truly unpleasant to spend any time with (beyond human empathy for health and pandemic stuff). The protagonist has a John Green/ one of his characters energy with a really creepy and kinda pathetic vibe (I get that he's been through a lot, but the Nice Guy creep baby boy energy is palpable) and the antagonist is pretty much manic pixie dream-come-nightmare girl. It's either brilliant or awful characterisation, but I can't tell. Regardless, peering into this window into their lives left me knackered and uncomfortable, so good job? Maybe?
Stories don't always have to have a political or philosophical perspective, but writing about Covid during the height of the pandemic about people flaunting the rules and an immuno-compromised person seemingly being portrayed as hysterical for being concerned doesn't feel great. Honestly, as someone whose partner and herself are both immuno-compromised and forced to maintain a certain level of eternal lockdown, this also hits different.
I have seen other reviews complain about threads not tied off and this is something I consistently see with short stories. Sometimes I agree, but more often than not and I this case the unanswered questions and ambiguity the reader is left with are the same as the protagonist. They are the narrator and sometimes it's effective to have the reader not know more than the narrator and/ or protagonist. In this case, without really spoilering anything, there is a level of mystery, confusion, and simple lack of information about a character that makes not knowing their actions. Actions, which can be plausibly denied by mundane means.
This was an unpleasant story and I don't know if I hated it or simply didn't enjoy it, so I can't recommend it. The quality of the prose and performance were both great nonetheless.
lifeinpoetry's review
2.0
edit: I think I was too harsh on this in my first review because Covid and lockdown are too close for me to have a more balanced perspective.
It was ok.
It was ok.
bookitmik's review
1.0
The ending was exactly as expected - no problem for me there. It was the rest of the story that sucked. Awful, sleazy characters.
ellekaie's review
2.0
I don't find the story sensible. Really? An immunocompromised person letting a stranger in their house during a pandemic? Just because he's sexually deprived?