The author really went “there” with this collection of eleven short stories. I am not going to lie, some of the storie Provocative, dark and jarring
The author really went “there” with this collection of eleven short stories. I am not going to lie, some of the stories I read I really thought, “a wah gwan yasso?!” However, I loved how the author was able to write something fresh, engaging, jarring and raw. After each story I had to put down the book and really think, “what did I just read and what does this mean?” …. In a good way of course.
The book explores themes of feminism, mother-daughter relationship, lonlieness, love, forgiveness and hope. I particularly loved the exploration of lonlieness because I feel like it is something we all experience but don't talk too much about.
I love that this is a debut collection because it means we get to hear more from this author! ...more
First let me say that I could not read this book anytime after 6:00pm because I live alone and I am not preChilling, this book will give you shivers!
First let me say that I could not read this book anytime after 6:00pm because I live alone and I am not prepared for the repercussions of reading this and then falling asleep. This collection of 12 short stories will leave you with goosebumps and jumping every time you hear a sound. The stories are that convincing!
The Dangers of Smoking In Bed is like a bag of chocolates, you never know what you will end up reading about but I can tell you these stories gets under your skin and stays there. I think what I enjoyed most about this collection is how unassuming each story starts out but then leaves you with chills. From flesh eating teenagers, to kids coming back who were gone missing for years, to Ouija boards, to a woman fetishizing about heartbeats, it is all there and well executed.
Yes, some of the stories missed the mark for me, others made me go “mmmm, what’s that supposed to be about?” but then there are some that just did not leave. My favorite were: Where Are You, Dear Heart? The Well Meat Kids Who Come Back Back When We Talked to the Dead
If you love reading duppy stories, you will for sure enjoy this one! ...more
You ever feel like there’s a world beneath this one?.... Like we are a speck on some larger thing that we only catch glimpses of.”
Laina’s brother w You ever feel like there’s a world beneath this one?.... Like we are a speck on some larger thing that we only catch glimpses of.”
Laina’s brother was shot and killed by Boston cops. What seems like police brutality gives us a glimpse that Monsters are real and they want everyone to know. Laina watches the video over and over but still cannot process who or what her brother is. After the video goes viral there is a Monsters March that was televised. What is strange is that a few days later no evidence of the march or video can be found- was the glimpse real? Did everyone experience something they want to forget…and fast?
After the viral video, strange things starts happening. Community of Monsters goes into hiding. Secret society starts recruiting. Conspiracy theory message boards are rife with explanation of what did or didn’t happen. People want to forget that video but there is an increase in disappearance, murders, suicide and a fear that is palatable throughout the world. Something big is going to come next, everyone can feel it.
This is Cadwell Turnbull’s long awaiting sophomore novel and he was right, this is nothing like The Lesson . Turnbull has matured in his writing and you will know it once you start reading this book. This book was truly atmospheric, you could feel the fear of the characters leaping off the page. What I love is how Turnbull is able to write characters that while they are flawed, you cannot help but cheer for them. He spends a lot of time building out his character, to the point where you become invested and immerse in their experience.
This is an urban fantasy novel that goes through multiple point of views, between present and past but truly fast paced. There were some instances where I thought, “a wah gwan yasso?” “who dis again?” “where dis one from yah now?” but overall I was able to follow along and understand what was happening. I do think this book was very ambitious and could have benefitted from a tighter lens- a lot was happening at times and that made it hard to follow along.
I think Turnbull was able to write a fantasy novel that truly captured diverse characters who were not one-dimensional without trying too hard. Representation matters and Turnbull was able to write characters I think a lot of people can see themselves in.
I finished this book and I all I think is WTH did I just read?! Did I miss something because I didn’t get “it”
Leave The World Behind follows this I finished this book and I all I think is WTH did I just read?! Did I miss something because I didn’t get “it”
Leave The World Behind follows this white middle class family that is vacationing at a remote Airbnb on Long Island. The family consists of Amanda, Clay and their teenage children. Amanda works in advertising and her husband Clay is an academic who writes for the NY Times. On the second night of their vacation, after putting the teens to sleep they hear a knock on the door, it is an elderly Black couple telling them that they are the actual owner of the AIRBNB and they would like to spend a night at the AIRBNB with them because “something is happening in NYC and they would feel safer here” … SAY WHAT? … Oh they also offered to give them back $1000USD from their Airbnb fees….
Yall…. First of all… WHAT?!!!!
Amanda and Clay decides, well, mostly Clay who is a push over, decides to let the couple- GH. Washington and Ruth stay with them because… what they gonna do? Send them away? (YES! SEND THEM AWAY). This family and the couple sends the next four days today trying to make sense of what is happening in the world outside of the Airbnb because they have no cellphone, radio or tv signal. Things get dark really fast!
If I had to describe this book I would say it is very atmospheric… you can FEEEL the setting and the tension jumping off the pages. The author does a great job of writing very awkward encounters and he plays on this for the entire book- he does not let up. I felt sometimes that he overwrites a scene, for instance, the author spends almost two pages letting you know what Amanda’s shopping list consisted of… as if we didn’t get that something bad was gonna happen and there is a reason her shopping list was so long.
Also, there were so many instances where the author spoke about how fat the teenage daughter was, to the point where I started to wonder if her weight had something to do with the black out… (did it? Cause mi still nuh know wah gwan inna di book)
Props to the author for keep my attention, I think it had to do with the premise and how sharp the writing is. I heard it is gonna be adopted to the screens, I cannot wait to see how that ends up. Overall a gripping read that touches on racism, class and trust.
I would say, read this so I can discuss it with you! ...more
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