A First-Rate Material - this was so weird, but it was a really interesting take on humanity, animal-products, relationships, and intimacy.  I think it did what I expected ‘the vegetarian’ to do, but more concisely, more interestingly, and much more well-rounded. 

 

A Magnificent Spread - this was just not an enjoyable story, it felt like an underdeveloped rendering of Earthlings and the message was so simple I didn’t see the point 

 

A Summer Night’s Kiss - this was like Convenience Store Woman, just like 30/40 years later.  I enjoyed it 

 

Two’s Family - a cool story on motherhood, sisterhood, and found family.  I would’ve wanted this to be a lot longer, it was too short and underdeveloped for my liking 

 

The Time of the Large Star - okay I think this was my favourite story so far, but again, it should have been longer!!! Insomnia? Travel? Magical realism? A critique of capitalism? What’s not to like? 

 

Poochie - what can I say? What can I say? What can I sayyyyy?  This was so creepy it made me feel kind of sick lol 

 

Life Ceremony - this was so weird + very handmaiden’s tale/Earthlings … really liked it though and it offered an interesting perspective on food, celebrating life and death, sex, procreation, and human ambition and innovation 

 

Body Magic - a sweet story about growing up and girlhood, but the incest reminded me of Earthlings and was just so unnecessary 

 

Lover on the Breeze - bro this was so beautiful?? who knew a story about a curtain with sentience would make me feel so much?  I think this is the most original story so far in the collection and is my favourite by far 

 

Puzzle - urmmmm okay so I get it … I got it, and the stuff about her disassociating and not feeling human was well done.  But picturing people as random body parts and hugging them didn’t make sense, it was just confusing that she understood social queues and yet actively acted as though she didn’t 

 

Eating the City - literally hated the ending 

 

Hatchling - this was interesting enough, but I felt like it needed to be more detailed about her fiancé.  Also, even though I got what the ending was trying to do, I didn’t really gel with it 

 

A Clean Marriage - oh no .. ohhh noooo … I got it, but just the graphic imagery esp at the end made me feel queasy