Reviews

After a Dance by Bridget O'Connor

lawriebooklist's review

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After reading half of the stories, the humour just wasn't clicking with me. One or two might've got a smirk from me at one point, but most were falling flat. Maybe I'm the wrong audience.

rachelemm's review

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challenging funny sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

timitsut's review

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

fell super flat for me. Seemed to mostly trying to be subversive. Nothing much to the stories, didn't get what most of them were trying to say. Hollow Characters. 

sunflowersandpomegranates's review

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dark emotional funny reflective 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? N/A

4.0


This collection of short stories feels as if they are suspended in midair, all angles exposed, for our inspection. Full of creatures and monsters trying to hide in the depths of normality. An eclectic collection full of sacred goldfish, one night stands, broken limbs, dysfunctional families, death celebrities, sacrificial drownings….This collection feels both reflective and brand new. 

Bridget O’Connor’s After A Dance is a striking and witty display of genius. Chopped prose sells streams of grotesque melancholy and compelling insanity. 

I am an avid reader of short stories and have a lot of favoured authors in this medium, and I think O’Connors collection is something I will come back to time and time again.

Thank you to Camilla at Picador for the advanced proof copy! It’s publish 15/02
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