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janinagnes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
colemanwarnerwriter's review
4.0
4.5
This is one of the first books that’s managed to bring a collection of tears to my eyes in some time. It is touching in the simplicity of its language that elevates the complex characters in these stories. They’re all about tales of family and friendship and romance, yet finds ways to explore the strangers and strangeness in the acceptance of our lives.
Perhaps the only qualm I have with these stories is they follow much of the same themes very closely, and sometimes the characters aren’t as memorable because you’ve just read a story very similar to it a few pages ago. I don’t blame the author for this, but it did distract from the reading experience of this book.
Nonetheless, this book was still very moving, and is a definite recommendation for me.
This is one of the first books that’s managed to bring a collection of tears to my eyes in some time. It is touching in the simplicity of its language that elevates the complex characters in these stories. They’re all about tales of family and friendship and romance, yet finds ways to explore the strangers and strangeness in the acceptance of our lives.
Perhaps the only qualm I have with these stories is they follow much of the same themes very closely, and sometimes the characters aren’t as memorable because you’ve just read a story very similar to it a few pages ago. I don’t blame the author for this, but it did distract from the reading experience of this book.
Nonetheless, this book was still very moving, and is a definite recommendation for me.
briaraq's review
4.0
I didn't read the blurb and thought this would be a lighter read, but it was really good!
zellm's review
5.0
I loved these stories! Ohlin has such a confident, vivid narrative voice, and her characters are unique and relatable. I felt drawn into their world, which can be difficult to do in this format. Nothing negative to say!
micki138's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
chasingholden's review
3.0
We Want What We Want is an interesting collection of short stories. Alix Ohlin is a wonderful author, and I jumped at the chance to read the latest. The stories in this volume are all darkly hilarious, expecially if you have a bit of a twisted sense of humor and a love of irony, such as myself. All centered around the recurring theme of unfufilled desire leadng to pain and ruined lives, with each story featuring one character who wants one thing such as love but failing miserably, meanwhile we hear about a semi-close character whom has actually acheived the original desire, inspiring more pain and jealousy and hatred than what was there before.
This theme is an every day thing for the majority of society, we can't get everything we want so theres always some desire or dream that remains unfulfilled; Meanwhile we are bombarded with social media profiles full of people living our dream. While thats not a great feeling, this collection proves that if you step far enough back there is something funny about how things turned out.
I had very high hopes for this collection and while all the stories were decent, none of them really jumped out or imprinted in my thoughts, making We Want What We Want a decent read, but nothing to write home about either.
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for providing a digital copy of this book in exhcange for my honest opinion.
This theme is an every day thing for the majority of society, we can't get everything we want so theres always some desire or dream that remains unfulfilled; Meanwhile we are bombarded with social media profiles full of people living our dream. While thats not a great feeling, this collection proves that if you step far enough back there is something funny about how things turned out.
I had very high hopes for this collection and while all the stories were decent, none of them really jumped out or imprinted in my thoughts, making We Want What We Want a decent read, but nothing to write home about either.
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for providing a digital copy of this book in exhcange for my honest opinion.
madlovetofuries's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kristinah's review
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
bertharochestergraduates_8's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5