3/5 stars
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013
223 pages
YA Short Stories
Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
I have been very interested in short stories lately so I was thrilled to see another collection available for review. I wasn't very sure about what to expect as I hadn't really noticed any other reviews. To be perfectly blunt: this book was weird. There were a few stories I really liked but most of them went way past me and were super uncomfortable (like the one from the point of view of a rapist) or just plain confusing (like last story "Eyelids of the Dawn"-I'm not really sure what went on there.)
In an effort to keep this positive, I'll just share about the three stories I liked and feel that I at least partially understood. The other seven either completely bewildered me or disgusted me (like the cruel fascinator who curses two girls just for having the audacity to not fall in love with him or the aforementioned rapist.)
"The Golden Shroud" is a new take on Rapunzel, focusing far more on the prince and Rapunzel's magical hair while the girl herself is pretty wimpy and weak. I would have liked a stronger heroine in this take on a fairy tale but I appreciated its familiar context at least.
"Night of the Firstlings" was incredibly confusing until I figured out that it was during the time of Moses when the plague is sent to kill all firstborns and the Red Sea is parted. As I said, the beginning of this was very confusing to me but I warmed up to it as I continued reading. I guess this shows how careful reading pays off.
Lastly we have "Ferryman" which I was highly anticipating after seeing it mentioned on the back cover. I was right to look forward to it as I really liked it-possibly my favorite. This relies on Greek mythology as well as a deep father-daughter relationship.
Overall: A set of stories that does not hesitate to take you to uncomfortable places; the kind that rewards careful reading and an adventurous mind.
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Steph Su Reads
Hm. We LOVE the idea of YA short stories, but this sounds... not like what we have in mind. :/
ReplyDeleteThere's something to be said for going uncomfortable places, for sure! But there has to be a purpose. Your review doesn't make it sound like this was done as intentionally and expertly as we would hope. (Which is odd, because we hear great things about Margo Lanagan...)
Well, hopefully this is just the start of a trend, and we'll see more YA short story collections in the future! We feel quite confident they can be popular if done well.
I hope for more YA short stories too-they're so good for when you're on the go and just want a nice morsel to read instead of committing to a whole novel.
DeleteI have this one, but haven't read it yet. I enjoy Margo Lanagan, but she's definitely a strange author.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it more because you are familiar with her writing-I feel like that would have made this an easier read.
DeleteI haven't seen this one, but I do love the sounds of it. The short stories sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI love short stories but this collection just wasn't for me-I don't think Lanagan clicks with me.
DeleteI don't think I will be reading this one. The only story I think I'd like is The golden shroud, but that's not enough for me. Some of those stories sound really strange..
ReplyDeleteMel@thedailyprophecy.
Definitely some weird stuff going on-I wish it had been more successful for me.
DeleteI don't know why, but I just can't like short stories :-(
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's because you want more of the characters-the format doesn't leave much time to get to know them.
DeleteI still haven't read any Lanagan yet, but I think she might be a good match for me. This book of short stories sounds amazing! Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
I hope that's the case-though Lanagan isn't the author for me, I've seen lots of people enjoy her writing.
DeleteI read The Brides of Rollrock Island last year and really fell for it. It was dark (though not as dark as some of her work I have heard) but there was just this hauntingly beautiful quality to it. I know that I will never forget some of the characters in that book. NEVER. So I actually do want to read this when I can get a copy just to read more by this author. I think it's cool you tried this book and these stories out even if they weren't your cup of tea:)
ReplyDeleteI bet you will have more of an appreciation for this book then. I wonder if it might be better for me to read a novel of hers and have more time to soak up her characterizations.
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