A review by jessicarosee
The Doll's Alphabet by Camilla Grudova

4.0

4.5. Camilla Grudova suceeds in creating twelve short (spanning at times only a single page) stories that capture grotesquely feminine experiences that are both infinitely imaginative and disgusting. (aka my fav literary genre) Recurring motifs and themes, such as sewing machines, bodily deformities, gelatinous substances ranging from the sticky residue on infant fingers after handling old fruit jam to the sickly-sweetness of golden syrup, insects, Uncommon sex, and the contrasting naïvety and eroticism of the Feminine, form throughlines across The Doll’s Alphabet. I enjoyed most of the stories, only one or two not resonating with myself. Surprisingly, I enjoyed this more the Grudova’s novel I read earlier this year, Children of Paradise, which I rated three stars. I think, however, upon a reread I could now more fully appreciate the influences in her later work. My favourite stories were Waxy, Agata’s Machine, and The Mouse Queen.