4/5 stars
Marshall Cavendish, 2007
64 pages
YA/MG Horror Story Collection
Source: Received a copy from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
Lately I've been really into short stories so I was excited to see this available for review. I like how there is a woman on the cover as well as mentioned in the subtitle. This is a collection of seven stories with various horror themes, intended by the author to be read aloud as I discovered when I read the author's note at the end. I only had myself so I read silently but I wonder how a crowd would respond to them especially if they were told around a campfire or on a dark and stormy night.
I'm not going to go in-depth to any of the stories as I had basically the same impression for all. This is certainly competent writing with some killer closing lines (inevitably the line I wanted to highlight for almost all of the stories was the last one.) But it wasn't very scary, if that was in fact the intention, which I assumed it was due to the creepy cover and mention of ghosts. That's why I wonder if the setting in which this was read would play a factor in how you processed it.
Of further interest was the author's note, which explains how she came to compose these stories and her purpose in reclaiming some ground for the anonymous women who populate folklore. Each of the women here do have a name and their agency is clearly revealed to the reader, if not to the other characters of the story. Inspiration for each story is also cited so the curious can research more.
Overall: A well-done short story collection-though were standouts, all were good on about the same level. Maybe a fun library read for a camping trip?
It sounds nice but I just can't seem to like short stories :-(
ReplyDeleteThese are very short stories so I can see how you wouldn't want to check these out.
DeleteScary stories? Count me in, I love them. Thanks for sharing this one, I will ahve to see if I can find it. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope they work better for you-maybe in the right situation.
Deletei like the tag line, shape shifters, ghost and spirited women. i do like horror novels but i'm not really into short stories.
ReplyDeleteThe tagline really grabbed me-I think the author had feminist intentions when undertaking this writing and it shows even there.
DeleteI'm not keen on short story collections (unless I have read and loved something by the authors before), but I'm glad you liked this one overall, despite the stories not being very scary. Great review!
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun introduction to this author-I'd give her another read.
DeleteI don't read many short story collections anymore, I just don't find enough "meat" in them to connect with the characters as I would in a novel.. it's like just as soon as I am finding that connection - it's over. It feels unsatisfying. I used to read the creepy story anthologies that our school book fairs would sell in elementary and middle school though.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks that these weren't very creepy, but I agree with you, I bet they might be more creepy in a different setting. I think that's true for almost any story! If you're in the dark and sitting around a campfire, almost anything can become scary.
It's cool the author left notes for the readers to do their own research if they wish. I always love that with books, if I'm curious I want to know where I can go to learn more! :D
Great review!
April @ My Shelf Confessions
These really don't have much meat but I thought of them sort of like fairy tales so I wasn't expecting there to be much.
DeleteI used to enjoy short stories more than I do now. This one sounds fun, though. Maybe good as a read-aloud book.
ReplyDeleteIt comes and goes-right now, I'm very interested in short stories but at some point I might not be again.
DeleteI tend to stay away from short story collections, I feel like by the time I get used to the characters the story is over! You have made me curious about the closing lines, though :)
ReplyDeleteThe stories here are very short-all less than 10 pages and that includes pictures but if you try to read them aloud, I bet they'd be very intriguing.
DeleteI don't often read short stories and don't usually do horror, but if they aren't really that scary then I guess I don't need to worry about that. I bet it would be fun for a sleepover or something though!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of reading this aloud at a sleepover-perfect setting!
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