Short Reviews for Short Stories
The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark (1994) - 2.5/5 Stars
I have to admit that immediately after finishing this, I had no idea what I had just read and absolutely did not enjoy the story. I knew I was missing something so after doing some digging online, I discovered why this book is so impactful. There are two ways to interpret this book: a straightforward reading that leaves the reader confused or uncomfortable (me); or a reading where everything is not taken at surface value and the reader questions who is really in the driver’s seat. Check out this novella for a unique perspective and interesting commentary on the agency of women.
Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones (2020) - 3/5 Stars
This book is quirky and creepy, and definitely not for everyone. It has the casual, lighthearted writing style of Denton Little’s Death Date but with a much darker plot under the surface. As the end of high school nears, Sawyer struggles with the realities of growing up and moving on from friendships and a time of innocence. He admittedly has forgotten to take his meds and his mother points out that he tends to make things complicated and “see motivations and agendas where there’s not much of anything.” Yet, when a prank spirals out of control, it’s unclear whether Sawyer is just paranoid or if there are supernatural forces at work. Fans of psychological horror would likely enjoy this short story.
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