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Some Possible Solutions
Some Possible Solutions: Stories | Helen Phillips
In a spine-tingling new collection, the unique(NPR) and wickedly funny (New York Times) Helen Phillips offers an idiosyncratic series of what-ifs about our fragile human condition. Some Possible Solutions offers an idiosyncratic series of "What ifs": What if your perfect hermaphrodite match existed on another planet? What if you could suddenly see through everybody's skin to their organs? What if you knew the exact date of your death? What if your city was filled with doppelgangers of you? Forced to navigate these bizarre scenarios, Phillips' characters search for solutions to the problem of how to survive in an irrational, infinitely strange world. In dystopias that are exaggerated versions of the world in which we live, these characters strive for intimacy and struggle to resolve their fraught relationships with each other, with themselves, and with their place in the natural world. We meet a wealthy woman who purchases a high-tech sex toy in the shape of a man, a rowdy, moody crew of college students who resolve the energy crisis, and orphaned twin sisters who work as futuristic strippers--and with Phillips' characteristic smarts and imagination, we see that no one is quite who they appear. By turns surreal, witty, and perplexing, these marvelous stories are ultimately a reflection of our own reality and of the big questions that we all face. Who are we? Where do we fit? Phillips is a true original and a treasure.
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Bertha_Mason

"A car that in another life would have accelerated through the yellow stoplight and killed me did not accelerate and kill me."
-"How I Began to Bleed Again After Six Alarming Months Without"

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Bertha_Mason

"Usually it's a lovely thing to see blinking lights from afar, yet these lights I did not enjoy; they did not blink at a pleasant pace. They should have gone blink---blink---blink, but instead they went blinkblinkblink."
-"How I Began to Bleed Again After Six Alarming Months Without"

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Bertha_Mason
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-"Children"

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Bertha_Mason

"The Joined" is painfully cishet, especially since it leaves out the queer part of the myth it riffs on; the hermaphrodites-being-split-by-Zeus myth is literally a just-so story to explain why CISHET people exist, because in ancient Greece you were considered weird if you weren't bi. But you wouldn't know it from this story with its stunted little universe.

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Bertha_Mason

"a bird-studded Friday morning"
-"The Knowers"

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Bertha_Mason

"It never ceases to amaze me that, even as our country forges into the future with ever more bedazzling devices and technologies, the archaic infrastructure rots away beneath our feet, the pavement and the rails, the schools and the DMV."
-"The Knowers"

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keithmalek
Panpan

I only enjoyed two stories in this book.

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keithmalek

Isn't it macabre to know that we've lived the date of our death many times, passing by it each year as the calendar turns?

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Brie
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Pickpick

Bizarre, surreal, and at times experimental short stories that challenge everyday boundaries & perceptions. A new mother sees doppelgängers of herself all over town, a woman finds out her death date, a curious phenomenon causes a woman to see through people's skin into their organs. These stories feel futuristic and fantastic at times but still cling to some form of reality. A few misses here but mostly hits. For fans of Kelly Link, Karen Russell.

Lacythebookworm I love Helen Phillips! 7y
Brie @Lacythebookworm I'm now a fan too! I want to read her novel 7y
Lacythebookworm The Beautiful Bureaucrat is one of my favorite books! 🙌 7y
67 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Rhondareads
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Loved the unique amazingThe Beautiful Bureaucrat. So excited to read her new book of short stories reviews have been raves of course.

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Lacythebookworm
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Pickpick

I love Helen Phillips! Her writing is so weird, but so good! ❤❤❤ This collection has a nice mixture of shorter and longer stories. If you like George Saunders' short stories, definitely give Phillips a try. I also highly recommend her novel The Beautiful Bureaucrat. 📚😊

116 likes1 stack add
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Lacythebookworm
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#morningread Only one story in, but gosh do I love Phillips' writing style. 😍

103 likes5 stack adds
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dylanisreading
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These stories are eerie so far, and I like it.

JoeStalksBeck Ohhhh! This book sound amazing!! I need it! 7y
ruthemmielang What a cool cover! 7y
21 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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NerdyRev
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Pickpick

How do I describe this book of short stories? Weird? Yes. Well written? Incredibly! Hits vs misses? Way more hits than misses. Everything in this book is slightly off kilter. It seems a normal story and then something just slightly changes it all. It is creative and a great read. I tore through this one in an evening.

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Sfox414
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Pickpick

Lazy Sunday in bed with a matching book! The stories in Some Possible Solutions were eerie and good--twins and doppelgängers, questions about individuality and relationships, plus tsunamis and tornados and aliens!

Megabooks It's such a great collection! 7y
25 likes1 comment
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mauveandrosysky
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Pickpick

This eccentric collection of dystopian speculative fiction stories encompasses the myriad anxieties that accompany modern womanhood—from having a baby to attending a dinner party to caring for a sick relative. The characters in Phillips' stories range from suburban moms to futuristic prostitutes, and the eerie, uncanny worlds that she creates are disquieting in their existential familiarity. Recommended for fans of Margaret Atwood + Black Mirror.

ingredientx LOVED LOVED loved this collection! 7y
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mauveandrosysky
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Decided to finally start this short story collection a little while ago while waiting on the postal service to deliver the novels I'm eagerly awaiting. Looks like this'll be a one-sitting read for me. I ❤️ Helen Phillips. These stories are pairing well with my recent watching of Black Mirror. Lots of surreal, uncanny stuff.

Lacythebookworm Helen Phillips is the best! 👍 7y
marixa I've been watching Black Mirror season 3. Dark stuff. Love this quote 7y
rachellayown I love Helen Phillips! 7y
24 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

4🌟While these stories are fantastical and somewhat disturbing, they deal with the universal themes of parenting, siblings, & marriage. However, everything is strange: a city without wind, alien children, a town of identical people. The mixture of the known and unknown is ultimately what makes this book so fascinating. I'm glad I went outside my comfort zone for this one.

#shortstories #bookisholympics #book4 #goingforgold 🏅

Lacythebookworm I can't wait to read it! Sounds perfect ❤️ 8y
Megabooks I really hope you enjoy it @Lacythebookworm !! I'm definitely going to read her other book. 8y
Lacythebookworm Yes! It was one of my favorites last year! 8y
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Megabooks

I really appreciate all the support I've gotten here in regards to my dental problems. I went to the dentist Monday. My TMJ disc is back in place, but my masseter muscle is still pulled, and I've had severe nerve pain since the appointment. 😓 I'm just so sick of it! Thank you so much for reading. I just wish I had the solution. 😕

megt So sorry to hear you're still having pain! I hope they're able to find a solution for you soon and that you can find some comfort in good books in the meantime! 8y
CherylDeFranceschi So so so sorry! I hope you find some relief soon! 8y
Megabooks @Skiles I'm sorry you went through that! My dental appliance seems to be working with the TMJ. My dentist is going to send me to physical therapy if it doesn't resolve soon. 8y
See All 31 Comments
Megabooks Thank you so much @megt and @CherylDeFranceschi !! 😊 8y
mauveandrosysky Daily pain/discomfort gets exhausting so quickly 😔 Sending you hugs and healing thoughts. 8y
Trav Pain can be so debilitating so I'm feeling for you. I really hope a solution comes your way soon. Virtual hugs! 8y
Megabooks @mauveandrosysky @trav Thank you so much for the hugs! They definitely help me feel better. 😊 8y
Megabooks @Skiles I'm a believer in acupuncture even though I've never had it. I've seen it work wonders in animals. I'll see if anyone around here does it! 8y
LeahBergen Aww! Feel better soon and big bookish hugs. 8y
Megabooks Thank you @LeahBergen 😊❤️ 8y
DebinHawaii Hope that you can find a solution and some relief soon. Sending positive healing thoughts your way. ❤️ 8y
Megabooks Thank you very much @DebinHawaii 💙💜💚 8y
LauraBeth Hang in there - hope you get relief soon 😀 8y
Texreader @LeahBergen I had tmj on and off for years when I was in my twenties. It was so miserable. But it finally resolved on its own (all the medical work to treat it didn't seem to help). May yours resolve, too. I really sympathize with you. 8y
Laalaleighh @ebooksandcooks I have occipital neuralgia. I don't ever make it more than a dat without some sort of pain and every week or so I have a few days where it hurts so bad I can barely function. I had to medically withdraw from college because of it (which is the other half of my halfway done with undergrad story) and since I'm going back next fall we are doing everything we can to find a cure. 8y
Laalaleighh @Ebooksandcooks right now im strongly considering just letting them burn my nerves so I can't feel the pain anymore (real treatment) I recently found out that it's caused my jaw to move out of joint, creating a TMJ problem as well as masseter muscle issue. It's really unnoticeable but it's thrown my whole face symmetry off. I can't take pain meds and sleeping tends to exacerbate things. So I feel your pain I really do. Constant pain just sucks. 8y
Laalaleighh @Ebooksandcooks that being said have you looked into finding a chiropractor that really knows what they are doing? Mine works with the US Olympic team and he's not capable of fixing me but he dies help me keep the pain manageable and he's not very expensive. Other than that sometimes flexeril or neurontin helps. Mine gets so bad I can't even read (or think straight) quite often but those strategies have helped some. 8y
Laalaleighh @Ebooksandcooks you'll be in my thoughts/prayers! 8y
Megabooks @Laalaleighh I'm sorry you're having trouble finishing college. I took a year and a half off back in 1999 and 2000 to get properly diagnosed and have 4 surgeries following a car accident. Since then I've had 10 more. I'm reluctant to see a chiropractor because I have a three-level cervical spinal fusion - two levels were just in December. My dentist is afraid I have trigeminal neuralgia. I'm resisting because neurontin has such harsh effects on me 8y
Megabooks @Laalaleighh I haven't been able to work temporarily or look for a full-time job because of the neurontin. I also can't be trusted to drive. ☹️☹️☹️ Anyway, it's been a huge negative impact on my life. I'm sorry it has been on yours too. I've had an occipital rhizotomy, which provided some relief from a painful neuroma. I hope you can find relief!! Big hugs to both of us! 💙💙 8y
Laalaleighh @ebooksandcooks I want to cry for you. I'm so sorry you've had to go through so so much. I'm only a few years into this pain is my constant companion thing and I just can't imagine dealing with all that. I understand your reluctance to see a chiro. Maybe just one that can work on your neck and leaves your spine alone? I'm so sorry neurontin doesn't work for you. It barely affects me and neither does flexeril. 8y
Laalaleighh @Ebooksandcooks but as someone with panic disorder, I have to take benzos regularly and I think I've just built up a tolerance to those sort of medications. I really hope you find something that helps. And that there is a path forward to a pain free future! It encourages me to see people with such lovely dispositions like you who deal with neuralgia as well. Sometimes I just want to throw in the happy towel and give into being miserable. 8y
Laalaleighh @Ebooksandcooks I know you don't know me really but please keep me updated on how you are doing. I do hope you don't have trigeminal neuralgia!!! For what it's worth I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. 💙💙💙 8y
Sue (((Hugs))) ❤️ 8y
LitHousewife I really do appreciate your updates. I think about you and say a prayer every day. Here's to improvement. I hate the thought of you being miserable. *hugs* 8y
[DELETED] 2232195534 So sorry for your continuing issues! Thinking about you! Hugs! ❤️ 8y
Megabooks @Laalaleighh Thank you so much! I will keep you updated. Are you on Twitter? Definitely don't give in to misery. It doesn't get you anywhere and only hurts yourself. It's hard but keep going! You can do it! 8y
Megabooks @LitHousewife Thank you! I really appreciate you remembering me every day. It means a whole lot. 8y
Megabooks @sue and @kaysreadinglife Thank you so much!! 8y
Laalaleighh @Ebooksandcooks I never remember to use Twitter. Too many social media platforms already haha. I have email? Laalaleighh@gmail.com 8y
43 likes31 comments
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Megabooks
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This book is so wild, it gave me crazy dreams last night! Such weird situations, but I'm loving it. Doppelgängers, alien hermaphrodites, and people frozen in time = really imaginative stories!

thelibraryofmars Sounds like my kind of book! 8y
Megabooks @asketchyeducation I'm trying to branch out, and this book is different than what I usually read, but I'm really enjoying it! Super quick, too. Just 224 pages. Definitely recommend! 8y
mauveandrosysky This is on my shelf right now. Just waiting for the right time to read it. I loved her other one. She has such a unique and bizarre style! 8y
Megabooks @mauveandrosysky TBB is definitely on my TBR now! 😉😃👍🏻 8y
59 likes7 stack adds4 comments
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Megabooks
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So the chickens have come home to roost! I requested a bunch of short story collections before I did two weeks of them on my blog. Now 3 collections have come into the library, and I only have room to check out 2 out! Which 2??? 🤔

Laura317 I've heard good things about Hot Little Hands. Possible Solutions just because it's purple! 8y
BookishFeminist Some Possible Solutions! Helen Phillips is great. :) Hot Little Hands is newer & likely to have more holds so maybe that one too. You can come back to Monstress. :) 8y
Matilda I loved Hot Little Hands. All women/girls stories and really good. 8y
See All 7 Comments
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola I ended up reading all three of these short story collections from the library and enjoying each. Monstress is set in the Philippines, and I just love having a window into another country 3y
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola some possible solutions is truly the most bizarre collection I‘ve ever read. I really love Helen Phillips - she‘s an auto-read for me - but she‘s definitely out there 3y
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola hot little hands, like Matilda said, focuses on women and girls in different situations. I still remember very clearly a story about Russian gymnasts with a startling reveal. Definitely a solid collection! (edited) 3y
Reviewsbylola Awesome, I‘ll check them out! 3y
42 likes7 comments
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amazingmavis
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Then I'm in trouble, regardless, but these stories are on. point. Literary math be like Vonnegut + Wilder + Bradbury + Orwell+ sugar and spice and everything bad ass that is Helen Phillips.

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amazingmavis
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These stories are such awesome little weirdos, love it

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amazingmavis
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Booooooookmaaaaaaail! ❤️

Megabooks Asked my library to get this. Interested to see what you think! 8y
amazingmavis @Ebooksandcooks I'll definitely post it! Hope it comes through for you :) I'm really looking forward to it 8y
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JessReads
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"We shouldn't keep drinking $3 gin & tonics, but it takes more imagination that we've got to stop doing so, plus the sunsetting light is the color of booze and outside in the yard behind the bar the wall of ivy quivers like something from a lovelier place."

Megabooks Immediately asked my library to get it! 8y
JessReads Yes! It's so good! @Ebooksandcooks 8y
15 likes3 stack adds2 comments
review
overlyattachedreader
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Pickpick

(SPS) Strange & unsettling collection of short stories. Lots of "what ifs." "The Knowers" features a society where there is the option to find out the exact day of your death. This book's impact was not immediate for me; I liked it as I read it, but I really liked it after I reflected on it.

AmandaFields I've been wanting to read more short story collections, so I'll have to give this one a shot 🙂 8y
overlyattachedreader The stories are so weird and I love it! Her short story "The Wall" is available at theatlantic.com if you want to a get a sense of her style! @AmandaFields 8y
AmandaFields @Taryn Thanks! 8y
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bookloversnevergotobedalone
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Pickpick

Some Possible Solutions takes on the theme of “what if?” and boy does she come up with some wild scenarios. While alot of these stories are very sureal they reflect our reality and make you think and that I think makes for a good short story.

BookishFeminist Impatiently waiting for my copy tomorrow! I love Helen Phillips. 8y
18 likes5 stack adds1 comment