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marjoleinvanderspoel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
What a strange little collection! Some of these stories were wonderful, others definitely not my cup of tea. The take away is that Daisy Johnson is a great writer, but I'm not a fan of sexual horror if that's even a genre? I just don't think we need to be demonising female desire :/ in general the stories about relationships were not my faves but I loved the stories about the fen and turning into fish and being made of mud, that's the good stuff!!
orangeoverload's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lou_ise_alexander's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
laurientroch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I adored this book. Dark, enthralling and beautifully written. I loved the magical realism, though it did leave me feeling confused at times. (And that’s probably the point) Would highly recommend.
perjacxis's review against another edition
2.0
This seems to a case of "it's me not you". I'm not sure what's going on with me and short story collections, but they usually fail to impress me. I really want to like them, but reading them leaves me feeling detached and indifferent. I loved the sound of this one with magical realism and a focus on nature, but I didn't care about the stories for the most part (I liked two of them I think). If you have any tips or short story collections to recommend please tell me.
daftplum's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful story about breaking apart from what is expected of you because of how you were born in the world. Absolutely loved it, and loved hearing LeVar Burton read it.
veecaswell's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know how to feel about this book. It sort of hits you in waves.
rj_readsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This one was loaned to me by my amazing friend :)
I’m not often drawn to short stories/short story collections but this was very very good. I read it while my dad and I were opening up the family cottage so that my friends and I could go up a month later (a week, now), and though the story is set in England the atmosphere felt relatable to the Northern Ontario woods.
And ‘atmosphere’ really was the strong point of this collection. There was a strong energy that held the stories together in a shared reality. This is definitely an anthology for anyone who’s experienced small town life and the ways in which your stories are intertwined forever.
I’m not often drawn to short stories/short story collections but this was very very good. I read it while my dad and I were opening up the family cottage so that my friends and I could go up a month later (a week, now), and though the story is set in England the atmosphere felt relatable to the Northern Ontario woods.
And ‘atmosphere’ really was the strong point of this collection. There was a strong energy that held the stories together in a shared reality. This is definitely an anthology for anyone who’s experienced small town life and the ways in which your stories are intertwined forever.
skyliner's review
3.0
The first story is great but found from a third into the book I was finding it a bit confusing and unsatisfy