Buddy Read-The Brains of Rats

[Char]

A place for us to discuss this collection of short stories!
I can't get the correct cover of the book to show up, darn it.

[Maxine Marsh]

I'm in!

[Maxine Marsh]

I've been in an anthology mood, I'm reading about 4 different anthologies right now, so this will fit right in :)

[Donna]

It's nice to see this back in print. I have the Scream Press edition and read it many years ago, sometime in the nineties I think. I remember liking the collection very much.
FYI, Centipede press published another collection called WHat the Doctor Ordered that's in my TBR pile. Think I'll move it up. :)

[Char]

These stories seem to widely vary as far as subject matter is concerned. The second story is my favorite so far. I'm about halfway through Shed His Grace. I'm not sure what's going on. LOL Which isn't unusual! :)

[Justin]

Well Charlene I guess you not only picked it up but decided to make it a buddy read! I don't normally join in on buddy reads but this one is all too tempting, I'll look into getting a copy.

[Maxine Marsh]

Oh man. Man oh man oh man....the first two stories really took it out of me. Two 5* reads in my opinion. Why haven't I heard of this writer before?

The Brains of Rats. Sad and human in the weirdest way.

Tissue Ablation... How do you even comment on that story? I have to say I completely agree with McDowell's (in the intro/forward) comparison of this story to A Modest Proposal.

[Char]

Finally! Tissue Ablation...how messed up was that story? MESSED UP!
I loved McDowell's intro too, btw.
I'm not sure I'm familiar with A Modest Proposal. ??

I read Shed His Grace at lunch. (view spoiler)[ DA FUQ was that? LOL (hide spoiler)]

I also read Keeping House. (view spoiler)[ Was this woman just slowly going insane or what? When she hit her daughter, I was like WHOAH! The snails, the slugs...ugh. I LOVED it! ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Paul]

Just finished Tissue Ablation, within the medical terms barrage that's mighty potent writing, just agony. Not death and something about peeling an orange. F*ck.

Still not sure why he's still alive, whats the point?

[Maxine Marsh]

Paul wrote: "Just finished Tissue Ablation, within the medical terms barrage that's mighty potent writing, just agony. Not death and something about peeling an orange. F*ck.

Still not sure why he's still alive..."

I think the point was (view spoiler)[punishment, and the shallow excuse to pretend that it was more noble to keep him alive rather than executed, 'allowed' ('albeit forced' to quote the story) to instead serve humanity with his organs and tissues (hide spoiler)].

[Paul]

To be honest i was unsure whether it was (view spoiler)[ punishment or choice because he refused one method of anesthesia, it concentrated very much on the procedure and could have spent a little more time on the characters (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

Paul wrote: "To be honest i was unsure whether it was [spoilers removed]"

A valid point! However, I think the fact that the (view spoiler)[ story being so cold and clinical about the procedure is what makes it horrific. Especially when the patient was shrieking. All I could think of is what that must be like and to be shrieking like that and to have no one come. It freaks me out just to think of it. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

The Glitter and the Glamour. (view spoiler)[ I was not crazy about this story. At all. Meh. (hide spoiler)]

What did you all think about The Domino Master?

[Char]

The Promise of Warmth. (view spoiler)[ Loved it! It was weird but it worked for me. (hide spoiler)]

[Maxine Marsh]

Man, I wish I could see spoilers on my phone!

[Char]

I didn't want to spoil anything for anybody. :)

[Maxine Marsh]

I read Domino master and Drown Yourself last night. I thought Domino Master was very moving in a way, I saw him as (view spoiler)[a rescuer of unwanted or neglected children, rather than menacing. (hide spoiler)]. Drown Yourself was interesting but really sad (view spoiler)[an android in denial who just wants to be in love (hide spoiler)].

[Maxine Marsh]

Paul wrote: "To be honest i was unsure whether it was [spoilers removed]"

From what I read in Tissue Ablation (view spoiler)[the procedure was not voluntary, the dr. says it was a forced procedure and the method of pain relief the doctor said he just didn't think of it beforehand (hide spoiler)].

[Paul]

Just finished Shed His Grace, jesus wept i think is all i can say to that.

[Char]

Paul wrote: "Just finished Shed His Grace, jesus wept i think is all i can say to that."

I know, right?

[Char]

Wet Suit. (view spoiler)[ I don't know what to make of it. ??? (hide spoiler)]

[Maxine Marsh]

Charlene wrote: "The Glitter and the Glamour. [spoilers removed]

What did you all think about The Domino Master?"

Keeping House reminded me of Burnt Offerings.
Shed His Grace was just, oh my (view spoiler)[The parts where he's watching the video of Nancy Reagen were disturbing. The protag seeing 'messages' in her skin--fuck, knife, a phallic symbol-- eek! The writer certainly has a preoccupation with dismemberment! (hide spoiler)]. Liked the insanity of those two pieces. I liked both of these stories a lot.

But then followed by The Glitter and The Glamour was (view spoiler)[just ok. (hide spoiler)]

[Paul]

Charlene wrote: "Wet Suit. [spoilers removed]"

I quite liked Wet suit (view spoiler)[ it covered a myriad of feelings from an intense need to understand to the embarrassment at the thought of being caught and finally a mother's love for her son can be subtle but steadfast. There was more, of course but people can do strange things to cope with life's troubles and i found it interesting (hide spoiler)]

[Maxine Marsh]

Yes, just read Wet Suit as well. That one was a good one.

The Promise of Warmth was also pretty awesome. I found that one creepy and fun, not as serious as the other pieces. I like it when he does horror.

The Thing Itself was touching, quite existential for a doctor ;)

One more to go, Bestseller.

[Paul]

Bestseller was one of my favourites.

[Maxine Marsh]

I just by chance discovered that this collection was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award, Best Fiction Collection in 1990.

[Char]

Even though this collection wasn't all I had hoped it would be, I still found it to be quite impressive and unique. I can see why it would be nominated.