A review by thewordsdevourer
The Dreaming by Andre Bagoo

emotional funny reflective medium-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? Yes

3.5

the dreaming is a great collection of short stories featuring mostly gay and queer men in trinidad, and characters who are all surprisingly connected to each other. the stories are all different, unpredictable and often veering from expectations, keeping the reader on their toes.

tho some stories are more memorable than others, and overall the whole work's impact isnt as visceral as i think it could be, bagoo's writing nevertheless flows rly well, and rings true for both sth universal and personal. i also enjoy how the crux of each story - be it the theme, main conflict or the characters' circumstances - varies. the most T&T setting can be immersive as well, and im grateful to get to learn more abt the caribbean country and its ppl - esp those who are LGBTQ+ - in various ways thru bagoo's first collection of fiction. 
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