Get in Trouble

Interesting ideas and great writing. I liked the ‘weird factor' or surrealism of most of the stories, especially the ones based a bit more in the paranormal.
I feel I'm not really a fan of short stories with original characters, though, because I felt almost all were either too short to really convey the idea Link was trying to or just didn't have a cohesive structure a story needs to be satisfying. I plan on reading Link's other collections but I'm not sure I'd as yet call myself a fan.

I rated it two stars initially, but I actually said out loud “Thank God” when I turned the last page, so that's not accurate.
This twee, confusing collection was a finalist for the Pulitzer, which means that even though I have a master's from Boston University and have been reading for over forty-six years, I apparently know nothing.
I feel really grumpy and out-of-sorts now. Uncomfortable. I should not feel this way after reading a book. One of the stories gave me a nightmare last night. You can tell how off I feel because I hardly ever leave reviews like this.

The Land of Oz theme park really existed. Link gets no credit for that. I went there as a child. I feel rather “get off my lawn” about this point.

Ugh. I feel weird. I need a hug and maybe a hot toddy.

3.5. Although well written, these stories all felt like small parts of larger stories and, as such, were not particularly satisfying on their own. Plus I had great difficulty finding any of the characters sympathetic, although maybe that was intentional? All in all, these felt like ideas that had been jotted down in notebook and then the author didn't really know what to do with them.

Haven't read this in a few years and it was so much weirder than I remembered. (in a good way?) My brain hasn't had to work hard to digest short stories in several years so it's probably good for me, but my favorite stories were the less subtle ones (although all of them had layers and subtlety). Every Link story feels like worlds folded into other worlds. Effortless and full of characters so interesting you don't remember (or care) they're completely unlikeable and in some cases genuine sleazebags. Nobody is a hero (not even the character literally named Hero or the convention full of superheroes {and dentists}). I really admire Link's ability to take a concept like “what if people could be born with two shadows?” Or “what if rich people hired body doubles for their kids to keep them out of the public eye?” and make that not even the most interesting part of the story.

Really wanted to like this as bizarre short stories are my kind of thing. Started excellently with the Summer People - subtle, mysterious and a touch sinister. But after that i don't really know what happened. The tales got a bit more convoluted, unnecessary. I found I was wrong footed with lots of similar sounding names, or complex and confusing sentences. This is a terrible review because I can't articulate what it was that I didn't like, but basically I found it hard work when I had hoped it would be deliciously light. Not so put out I wouldn't consider reading another of her collections, but it would be last chance saloon!

It feels like ages since I read a new Kelly Link story collection and this one is worth the wait. Her short fiction lulls you into a world of weird and then slaps you awake like a visit from an unexpected guest. It's hard to pick a favorite here. The Summer People is awesome, and Light is.....wow. But it was the story Two Houses that blew my mind. I had to read it three times just to absorb it all. Just telling someone about this story on my lunch break, I got so excited. Kelly Link is a writer that should be much more well known. When this comes out in Feb, I'm going to push it on every reader I know who will enjoy it. In the meantime, I think I want to reread some of her older titles. It's been years.