A product of its time for sure. 

A funny note about the audiobook narrator…in the second short story, the characters chant the Tantum Ergo, a very popular Catholic chant. I guess no one bothered to tell the narrator because of the two settings of the chant they could have chose…they just made up their own? Very jarring. 

There is also an interesting story that makes frequent and prolific use of the n-slur. Now, while I understand the impact and the reason for the narrative arc….it was not comfortable. However the young boy’s character arc and self-discovery through the story is quite something. I’m still working through my emotions in regards to that particular story bc I’m not sure I know how else the grandfather’s racism would have been conveyed without the constant slurs that the boy would have internalized and vocalized for his approval, only to have that same disdain and vitriol then turned on him. Excellent for critical analysis yet deeply offensive and uncomfortable. Which may have been the aim. However, while yes, it may have been “a sign of the times” I think it’s a lazy excuse and could have been executed with more action.