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I feel and relate to your frustration throughout this vlog. This is basically my 2023 reading year: trying to find 5-star books and not QUITE getting there.
So glad you found a five-star, and how amazing that it was the one you thought wouldn’t be! If haven’t read Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, I’d recommend that one for a bizarre and creepy short story collection. I’m still looking for my first five-star of 2023. 😩 But you gave me an idea for a TBR: select possible five-stars in different ways instead of just books I think I’ll love, like one that everyone loves but doesn’t intrigue me, or a book someone else picks for me, or one I flat-out think isn’t for me.
A short story collection by 1 author that feels like Black Mirror (and are also all connected somehow) that I loved was Stronger, Faster and More beautiful.
I really love these types of videos. But I completely agree with what you said at the end. So many of my 4 star books have stuck with me and are favourites. I see how this would kinda make it disappointing to not be reading a five
So you'll notice that the blurb on the front cover of Out There is from Kelly Link. Kelly link writes a ton of short story collections by herself! Worth checking out if you're interested in more.
Not me cheering for Out There!!! It was one of my most pleasant surprises that came out of nowhere when I read it as well. Also have to say based on you enjoying that in particular (as well as your reading taste in general tbf) I'd give Eyes Guts Throat Bones by Moira Fowley a go 👀 Sapphic horror short stories by one author 👀
Based on why you loved your 5-star read, I would definitely recommend Karen Russell's Orange World and Other Stories. I also am not a fan of anthologies either and just finished Orange World, and it's the first 5-star short story book I've read. It's speculative fiction and I think you would enjoy it, the writing is super clever!
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung is my favorite short story collection so far - I also really love Revenge by Yoko Ogawa, if you want some other suggestions. :)
I just started reading The Secret Lives of Church Ladies which is a short story collection and I love it which is surprising since I usually hate this type of book for the same reasons as you
I loved Out There as well! It was in my top 10 last year and is one of my favorite short story collections. It's also a collection that I think I'll enjoy even more on re-read!
You should read How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu. Beautifully written collection of short stories that all stand on their own but when read together in order, form a novel as they all interconnect. Very cool concept but also a very enjoyable reading experience. It was five stars for me.
Ahhh I love seeing this video trend become more popular, I think this video concept is so fun to watch! 😍 also you’ve got me so excited to read Out There now, it sounds amazing!
Please, read Julia Armfield's collection "Salt Slow". I read that before "Our Wives Under the Sea" and loved the collection so much more, if you liked her writing I think you will love the stories. Also: Karen Russell and Kim Fu's "Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century" could be potentially for you.
I felt the same about Our Wives Under The Sea. I wanted more about the underwater stuff and what went down. I understand why the other parts were there but I wanted more of the story itself
A recommendation similar to Out There is a short story collection by Kathryn Harlan called Fruiting Bodies. I haven't finished all of it yet, but I am obsessed with the four stories I've read so far. The little summary blurb is "This genre-bending debut collection constructs eight eerie worlds full of desire, wisdom, and magic blooming amid decay." A lot of the stories also focus on queer women. Also How High We Go in the Dark has similar vibes, but the stories are with a pandemic theme and lightly connected to each other, but in the best way possible.
Oh no, I am so sad to hear that this video challenge was so frustrating for you. It is an interesting video concept but I hope in the future you will have more fun trying reading challenges. Since I usually only read about 10 new 5 star books a year, I can't imagine how long it would take me to achieve this. I am very excited to get to Episode Thirteen and Our Wives Under the Sea!
I think you’d love How High We Go in The Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu. It is the same style as Out There but features stories centered around a pandemic that is sweeping the Earth
Ok, question : is the movie your comparing to Episode Thirteen "As Above so Below"? Because it gave those vibes and this movie is one I rewatch every year. I love it so much!!
I feel like 5 stars are rare for me. Maybe I am too harsh of a critic but looking at my reading so far. I have only rated 17% of the books I read 5 stars. I can't imagine attempting this. This is a hard-core challenge. 😂
if you're looking for connected short stories, try 'people from my neighborhood' by hiromi kawakami. lots of strange things take place in thsi little town filled with strange people and it's very character driven. i gave it 4 stars, so it probably won't be a 5 star for you but i read the whole thing in one sitting
I can see why this challenge wouldn't be fun especially since you had a couple ALMOST 5 stars in a row. Still, it made a great video! And my TBR continues to grow! It used to be below one hundred... lol
Okay THANK you! Those were my exact feelings about Our Wives Under the Sea. And I felt dumb and like I just wasn’t getting it cause everyone else loves it so much.
