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A review by saareman
Mouth: Stories by Puloma Ghosh
5.0
Macabre and Monstrous Mouths
Review of the Astra House hardcover edition (June 10, 2024) released simultaneously with the eBook. Audiobook expected December 10, 2024.
[4.5 average rounded up to 5]
This was an intriguing variety of short stories which ranged from horror to science fiction with stops off for surreal flash fiction along the way. At first I thought it was only going to be New Weird Horror, but it was more expansive than that. I read this thanks to Inciminci's enthusiastic review. Thanks again Inci!
An extra note on the cover design, which is extremely eye-catching. There is an initial frisson of horror at the illusion of the lower image appearing as a de-skinning of the mouth lips portrayed in the upper image. And then you realize it is only an orange or a mandarin/clementine being peeled.
The following are my individual story ratings and synopses. They are mostly setups so I have not spoiler blocked them.
1. Desiccation **** Ice skater Meghna is intrigued by rival skater Prita, who she suspects of being undead. Seems to be using vampirism as a metaphor for predatory relationships. It all takes place in a dystopian world run by "The Bureau" with all the male inhabitants sent off to war. A good start for this collection. Is this what they call the "new weird horror"?
2. The Fig Tree *** Not that spooky. Ankita returns to Kolkata along with her father in a journey to memorialize her mother and return her ashes back to her home country. She is warned to stay away from their old house and its supposedly haunted fig tree. When she finally visits she has a revelation.
3. Leaving Things **** This has a post-apocalyptic feel to it. In a world which is slowly being taken over by wolves and being abandoned by humans, a veterinarian brings a dying pregnant wolf home and performs a caesarian and delivers a wolf-boy baby! And it only gets weirder from there
Review of the Astra House hardcover edition (June 10, 2024) released simultaneously with the eBook. Audiobook expected December 10, 2024.
[4.5 average rounded up to 5]
This was an intriguing variety of short stories which ranged from horror to science fiction with stops off for surreal flash fiction along the way. At first I thought it was only going to be New Weird Horror, but it was more expansive than that. I read this thanks to Inciminci's enthusiastic review. Thanks again Inci!
An extra note on the cover design, which is extremely eye-catching. There is an initial frisson of horror at the illusion of the lower image appearing as a de-skinning of the mouth lips portrayed in the upper image. And then you realize it is only an orange or a mandarin/clementine being peeled.
The following are my individual story ratings and synopses. They are mostly setups so I have not spoiler blocked them.
1. Desiccation **** Ice skater Meghna is intrigued by rival skater Prita, who she suspects of being undead. Seems to be using vampirism as a metaphor for predatory relationships. It all takes place in a dystopian world run by "The Bureau" with all the male inhabitants sent off to war. A good start for this collection. Is this what they call the "new weird horror"?
2. The Fig Tree *** Not that spooky. Ankita returns to Kolkata along with her father in a journey to memorialize her mother and return her ashes back to her home country. She is warned to stay away from their old house and its supposedly haunted fig tree. When she finally visits she has a revelation.
3. Leaving Things **** This has a post-apocalyptic feel to it. In a world which is slowly being taken over by wolves and being abandoned by humans, a veterinarian brings a dying pregnant wolf home and performs a caesarian and delivers a wolf-boy baby! And it only gets weirder from there