Her Body and Other Parties

I have heard all of the stories about girls like me, and I am unafraid to make more of them.

This anthology isn't so much a collection of stories as it is a collection of experiences. Carmen Maria Machado writes beautifully; her voice is so incredibly unique, and no matter the content of the tale, she transports you right into the scene - for better or for worse. I'll do my best to give you my thoughts on each story, but at the end of the day, this is the sort of collection that I highly recommend you simply pick up for yourself.

→ The Husband Stitch ★★★★★ ←
The anthology opens with a peculiar retelling of a classic horror legend: the woman with the ribbon around her throat, if you're familiar. The narrator carries us through her life: through meeting her significant other, wedding him, giving birth, the woes and beauties of motherhood, and more.

She explores the paradox of being a woman who is proud of embracing her sexuality, while still, at times, noting the shame that society places upon her for it. She portrays the struggle of motherhood, and trying to do one's best despite all of the many obstacles that may cross a mother's path. Most of all, she explores feminism, and the fact that a woman, no matter how much she loves her partner or her child(ren), remains her own property at the end of the day. When a woman allows another human being to claim “ownership” of her, she loses herself.

“Why do you want to hide it from me?”“I'm not hiding it. It just isn't yours.”

Inventory

Mothers

There was no way for me to tell her that we are so close, we are so close, please don't do this now, we are so fucking close.

Especially Heinous

bad.

Law & Order: SVU

Real Women Have Bodies

me.

Soon, I'll be nothing more, too. None of us will make it to the end.

Eight Bites

flawless

“You are unwanted,” I say.

The Resident

“Do you ever listen to yourself? This is crazy, that is crazy, everything is crazy to you. By whose measure?”

Difficult At Parties

tough

final thoughts & rating

important.