Thank you so much Harper Books for providing my free copy – all opinions are my own.
Book Description:Â
A striking new collection of ten short stories and two novellas that explores the idea of property in every meaning of the word, from the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of the National Book Award finalist So Much for That and the international bestseller We Need to Talk About Kevin. Intermingling settings in America and Britain, Lionel Shriverâs first collection explores property in both senses of the word: real estate and stuff. These pieces illustrate how our possessions act as proxies for ourselves, and how tussles over ownership articulate the power dynamics of our relationships. In Lionel Shriverâs world, we may possess people and objects and places, but in turn they possess us.
My Review:Â
This is my first time reading Shriverâs work. Iâve seen so many wonderful reviews and who hasnât heard of We Need to Talk About Kevin? So needless to say, I had to read this! This book is made up of ten short stories and two novellas. This is one of the BEST short story collections I have ever read. My standouts are The Standing Chandelier, Domestic Terrorism, ChapStick, Kilifi Creek, The Royal Male, Negative Equity, Paradise to Perdition, and Vermin. My overall favorite is The Standing Chandelier, but they are all phenomenal!
The stories all have a central theme, you guessed it, PROPERTY. Owning property or being owned by whatever is in your life. This cohesive collection of stories shine a light on how places, people, and things can claim us. All of these stories are thought-provoking, full of irony, and at times, are darkly humorous. I devoured every bit of this book, so I am eager to read more of Shriverâs work! PROPERTY is extraordinarily written, poignant, interesting, and very entertaining.
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars!
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