Nancy Jo Cullen

might not have finished listening to this if it weren't so short. and then on the other hand maybe if it were longer it wouldn't feel so underdeveloped? also didn't think the temporal jumps in the narrative were super well-signposted but I'm willing to be generous and chalk that up to audiobook / distraction

these stories are really good - gut-punchy, dark and twisty but hopeful too. sort of, there are moments of kindness. the dynamics of family - and how complicated and messy they can be - are well captured.

Nancy Jo Cullen has a wild dry sense of humour that cuts as you appreciate the verve of her language. Her writing deserves a higher rating, except that a few stories in the collection--"Passenger", "Happy Birthday", and "This Cold War"--felt contrived, aimless, unsatisfactory. I expected the same energy and excitement from each story. I look forward to reading more.