pickNot quite as straightforward as a series of linked short stories, even the interstitials between each short story don't quite fall into a single chain, but there's certainly an interplay, a weaving in and out of themes, characters and imagery. For those wondering: no, it's not horror, though the Devil pops up occasionally to act as muse or seeker of stories, to seemingly offer aid or apologize for when he cannot, indicating his age old role 1/?
Okay, new first place in memorable dedications! 😈
pickA writer meets & is seduced by the Devil. What follows is a series of additional encounters with the Devil interspersed by stories emerging from those encounters. I liked the interactions between the writer & the Devil even more than some of the stories of which Idle Hands (the writer gets feedback on her manuscript) & Porcelain were standouts. Alienation, immigration, racism, identity, & writing all figure prominently in this solid debut.
#Two4Tuesday
1. No, not this year.
2. The first story in the tagged book is about a woman who goes to a party and is seduced by and/or seduces the devil—not necessarily spooky or scary but a great read for this time of year when the blowing wind, falling leaves, and cool temps add to the atmosphere.
@TheSpineView
The first story was fantastic. Here‘s hoping the others are just as good…
Went for a walk…came home with some new books…
pickAnother low pick. When this book started, I loved it. The story, the characters, and the way everything was connected was written so well that I just knew this would end up being a favorite. After the halfway point, though, things started to slow, and I couldn't help but keep comparing it back to the beginning.
I still liked it, and I'd definitely read more by this author, but I wish the pacing was more consistent. #HauntedShelf #HexesandCrows
so-soUgggggg I loved the beginning of this book. It started to get less exciting and then the pandemic aspect made it absolutely dull. I can‘t stand reading about the pandemic. It‘s so boring. I need warnings on books that cover it. I‘m extra disappointed because the beginning was so fucking good. So good. So absolutely good. What a waste.
What‘s that? The first reading wrap up video I‘ve posted since March? 😱
https://youtu.be/z-ARhXf4TwM
I hope Lima is part of Printer‘s Row Lit Fest this year because I would love to heR her talk about this collection.
Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil | 
1w
Rapture: a bit surreal, the Devil's costume dubbed 'the future' is chilling 1w
1w
Surreal, I think it's talking about being poisoned by the hate/intolerance of certain white American conservative mindset, by American processed food, and possibly by manual labour working with harsh chemicals in the type of position where a new immigrant might find work? About being swallowed by a system that doesn't care, about possibly being absorbed into a similar mindset if you're not careful.
⚠️Child loss/miscarriage, 1w
Idle Hands: LOVED it. Telling a story via a variety of different people's correspondence/feedback (set up in the last interstitial as likely members of a writers workshop group) on the short story rather than reading the story itself, also getting an indication of how a story can strike so many people differently, reveal their own perspective, biases, the spectrum of each basically liking and critiquing different 1w
Porcelain: I think that was a story about yearning for companionship during COVID lockdown...a unique way to get there
⚠️mention of animal death
1w
Triptych: Hasselblad
One's former selves, reflecting upon youth and the passage of time, what can be appreciated across generations (art, photography) 1w