安妮’s Reviews > Her Body and Other Parties: Stories > Status Update

#8 the resident ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
this is the 1 i was waiting most eagerly to read again. in some ways it's inspired a lot of my writing (short story included). love the terrifying idea of being trapped inside your own mind as a writer, becoming a trope, inseparable from your work/art. nicely explored here, linking back to the character's past trauma. the metaphor in this one feels very ALIVE- excellent!!

#6 eight bites ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
what a comeback after so many mediocre stories. this one was a return to form, and such a delight to read. a concise narrative, clear metaphor and makes its point well. as women the never-ending battle we have with our bodies is so amazingly explored, & the fact that it ultimately follows her into death... devastatingly well done!

#4 especially heinous- dnf
jesus christ. so fucking boring
#5 real women have bodies- ⭐️⭐️
interesting premise, but idea half-baked? like there was a metaphor in there somewhere but it was simultaneously too on the nose and not present enough. the thing is: her ideas are all AMAZING, the concept WORKS! but the execution of the stories pretty much always leaves much to be desired sadly

#3 Mothers - 0 stars

this one was... weird. but not in a good way. in a this-is-so-pointless-and-fake-deep kinda way. u'd think in a book called "her body & other parties", the concept of being a mother would be super interesting to explore, but somehow it really wasn't. yea idk what that was lmfao

#2 inventory ⭐️⭐️

no real storyline to this one, so a less enjoyable read compared to "the husband stitch". still, i enjoyed how the MC recounts an inventory of her life's ~certain~ kind of moments set against a backdrop of a pandemic & the world ending. she makes endless lists- of random things, so she doesn't forget, or isn't forgotten as the human race slowly vanishes. ending was a bit weak tho

reread!
first read in 2020, mixed feelings since this is a short story collection

i remember it more fondly than i guess i experienced it (i only gave it 2 stars?!!!)

fingers crossed i like it better this time around!