Every Drop Is a Man's Nightmare

I don't remember who told me that I wasn't going to like this book but I started it with low expectations on account of it and ended up really liking it, found it quite delightful actually.

It has a touch of the weird, a touch of the dark (if you enjoyed the blend of weird and dark in the Never Whistle at Night collection you will probably like this one) and it centers women characters, if you're familiar with my reviews you probably know that I'm absolutely here for the weird, unhinged and/or angry girlies. Also, there's an Elvis impersonator infestation in one of the stories so you know, that kind of weird that's not afraid to be a tad ridiculous or over the top.

The imagery was great and the stories were smart without pretention and nothing came across as trying too hard.

4.5 rounded up.

i tend to want to look up every word i don't recognize when reading, a holdover of terrible academic study habits, so i deliberately relaxed my eyes and let the stories wash over me and i think it worked out.

this collection was... interesting. the melding of folklore, cautionary tales, and body horror in the opening pages made me think i was in for a spooky ride, which isn't generally my thing, but fear and terror simmered much more gently than maybe i wanted in the end? also hell, reading about nonstop vaginal bleeding while on my period was hilarious timing.

i want to say something real smart about sexuality throughout being stripped of any and all e(x/r)oticism and fleshy bellies and compulsory motherhood and insincere narrators and girls with their hands in their underwear (“groping around like a physician giving a pelvic exam,” 53) but i'm too dumb for that so all goodreads gets from me is word salad. you're welcome.