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There are currently 15 member reviews
for Fruiting Bodies
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Mary S. (Bow, NH)
A great debut
What an interesting collection of short stories - somewhat disparate yet somehow come together in unity. Some of the stories are fantastical and dreamlike (looking at you Fiddler, Fool, Pair), while others are down to earth. I am not a huge fantasy/speculative fiction fan and so have little compare this to which is why I went with a good rating rather than very good. I think if that those genres appeal to you then this book is for you. However, anyone who picks this up will not be disappointed.
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Rebecka H. (Roswell, GA)
An Undomesticated Collection of Short Stories
As I was reading "Fruiting Bodies," Kathryn Harlan's debut short story collection, vivid images and scenes would continuously play out in my mind based on the evocative descriptions of people and places. While all stories center on humans and their relationships, nature is always present, and sometimes, as in the title story, the line between humans and nature is blurred in the form of a symbiotic relationship existing between the main characters and the various fungi (edible as well as poisonous) growing on one of their bodies. Even if she had not incorporated the supernatural elements appearing at regular intervals throughout the book, Harlan has a knack for depicting ordinary people living lives that come across as a little magical just from the sheer beauty of her writing.
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Norma R. (Secaucus, NJ)
Mushrooms
Fruiting Bodies is a collection of eight short stories by Kathryn Harlan. I place this in the genre of speculative fiction. Most of the stories center on queer women and their relationships. The two stories I enjoyed most were "Fiddler, Fool Pair" and "Fruiting Bodies". Fiddler is a story of a fantasy card game, the players have special identities. They wager memories and often body parts too. Fruiting is a story of a gay couple, one partner "grows" mushrooms on her body that the other partner removes. Very disturbing but I was eager to see where it was going. Recommend this collection to anyone willing to feel in uncomfortable in return for some interesting stories.
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Portia A. (Monroe Township, NJ)
An interesting book
The stories are beautifully written, but not my cup of tea.
As an old woman (90), I found it impossible to relate.
Yet, the book is well worth reading. Kathryn Harlan has a bright future..
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Frances N. (San Francisco, CA)
Sad, but short
I had a hard time getting into these stories. There is a dream-like malaise to them. The angst of growing up, deciding who one is not a welcome revisit at this time in my life, I guess.
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Jenn W (Denver, CO)
Fruiting Bodies
This book of short stories is very well written. Each story is imaginative and lyrical. I just had some trouble relating to some characters. I loved how calm and relaxing most of the stories were.
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Gloria K. (Madison, WI)
Fruiting Bodies
If you enjoy reading short stories this may be a book you would like to read. The book is comprised of 8 short stories I would categorize as a cross between science fiction and unbridled imagination.
The author, Kathryn Harlan graduated from the University of Wisconsin and currently teaches writing at UW. I live in Madison, WI and I like to read books written by local authors.
Admittedly I am not a fan of science fiction so the book did not hold my interest. I also found it difficult to engage with the characters.
I think the book is well written but I gave it only 3 stars because I did not like the stories. But you, the reader, may think it deserves 4 or 5 stars.
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