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Courtney H. (Warren, PA)
Awesome Exploration of Queerness
This title was an awesome read that really touched on the queer experience. All the stories touched on how sexualitly affects human growth. Fruiting Bodies explores how our bodies react and how our brain processes life when you realize your attraction to others differs from how you were taught.
Ashleigh P
Each under the skin
Each story was like a tiny sip of of ice cold water on a scorching hot day - but just a sip. Enough to refresh you but leave you wanting more. Kathryn Harlan has managed to sew together a collection of unique short stories all with a common thread - the author seems to be inside of each of the main characters enough to know them at an almost shocking/embarrassing level. They have managed to unveil the most human - and often times ugliest - pieces of human flaws, psyche, and rawness. At times, the subtleness of the humanity displayed is ironically profound. What you are left with is a set of stories leaving you
…more feeling vulnerable not only for yourself but for the characters within. (less)These stories make me think of floating in the ocean. All is calm then suddenly a wave breaks over you. Each story had a moment that made me say "wait a minute" and then start the story again. Fruiting Bodies was lovely , with a breaking wave at some point. I guess you could add well- written with intriguing stories. This book is just in time for summer. Not too dense, but some meat to it. I would just say, what a treat. Thank you BookBrowse and thank you Kathryn Harlan. Please write a novel next.
Stephanie K. (Glendale, AZ)
Fruitful and Lush
I'd definitely recommend this book to read and discuss, particularly for any book club interested in diversity and inclusivity. Fruiting Bodies is a unique and stunning collection of stories so cohesive it reads like a novel. Though each chapter tells an entirely different coming-of-age tale, the reader is left wanting more of the individual stories and their vivid characters. I hated to have the book end, and I haven't felt that way in a long time! I've read lots of short story anthologies, and it's rare as a reader to enjoy all of them so thoroughly.
Mark S. (Blauvelt, NY)
Comfortably Uncomfortable
Even after finishing this collection of short stories, I struggle to categorize this unique debut. Harlan has a gift for revealing her characters which, at times, left me feeling somewhat uncomfortable. It was as if I were intruding on parts of their lives that I was not supposed to see, but this is also what made the stories worth reading. While I found some of the stories more thought provoking than others ("Fruiting Bodies" and "Is This You?" were my favorites), I appreciated the diversity of the stories. Harlan also has a gift for crafting ending that are both perfect for her stories and yet a bit
…more uncomfortable for the readers. That took a bit of time to get used to, but I definitely got comfortable being uncomfortable. As someone who does not typically read short story collections, this was an enjoyable foray into the genre and one I would recommend to others. (less)Well written, thought provoking stories that are very unique in style. The stories are easy to visualize while reading. Enjoyed reading and would recommend to friends.
Gary R. (Bolingbrook, IL)
Stories to tell
I don't know if it's just me but the older I get the more I cherish short story collections. I can pick it up when I have some time and read a story in a short amount of time. The author of Fruiting Bodies has provided a great collection of stories to read, to think about, to ponder their meanings from the fantastic to the sublime! Here's an author to watch. Recommended!
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.
