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zellreads's review against another edition
4.0
Surrealist, varied, and deeply haunting. Really well written, although I didn't get some of them. I loved the atmosphere and vibes though.
kevdooli's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
chemeducator's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
3.25
“Alternative Realities are True” was my favorite of these stories. I loved the quantum aspects.
Others were really not my “cup of tea” so the stars rating is my attempt to average across the whole collection of stories.
Others were really not my “cup of tea” so the stars rating is my attempt to average across the whole collection of stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Murder
fjette's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The stories were intriguing, if vague. Very post-constructionist.
adaeze's review against another edition
could not get fully engaged and i honestly struggled with quite a few of the stories. i think it’s less a testament to the authors skills and more personal preference and lack of understanding. still do want to read his other works
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
This book of short stories feels like a series of dreams, some full of wonder and discovery, unexpected twists of fate, and some read like nightmares, sharper and more terrifying than life. The stories travel through the world, set in London and Istanbul, Africa and the Americas.
There's a story about Don Quixote in an African printer's shop, a story about a father and his two sons trying to get their broken-down car home in Lagos, several brief, horrifying stories involving the Boko Haram, and a fairy tale involving an enchanted doll house. A London detective uses his intuition to find the culprit, a lonely man dreams of Istanbul, a curious man witnesses the power of a magical mirror held by a cabal of Rosicrucians and, in the titular story, the living envy the dead.
I enjoyed my first encounter with this Booker Prize-winning author.
There's a story about Don Quixote in an African printer's shop, a story about a father and his two sons trying to get their broken-down car home in Lagos, several brief, horrifying stories involving the Boko Haram, and a fairy tale involving an enchanted doll house. A London detective uses his intuition to find the culprit, a lonely man dreams of Istanbul, a curious man witnesses the power of a magical mirror held by a cabal of Rosicrucians and, in the titular story, the living envy the dead.
I enjoyed my first encounter with this Booker Prize-winning author.
zellm's review against another edition
4.0
Surrealist, varied, and deeply haunting. Really well written, although I didn't get some of them. I loved the atmosphere and vibes though.
elephunkle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
nadiawesome's review against another edition
So incredible, a magician with words. “Don Quixote and the ambiguity of reading” simply blew me away
alannafowler's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75