Reviews

Tannery Bay: A Novel by Steven Dunn, Katie Jean Shinkle

sdoncolo's review

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5.0

Tannery Bay feels like a dream, a fable for our time with its characters doing their best in a pink-sky, polluted world run by caricatures of power. But as our many heroes begin drawing tighter together to form connections, and accepting more people, even the Woman in Waders, they find a way for art to encircle them all and weave a spell with the power to free them. Ludicrous in the best way, funny and haunting, welcome to Tannery Bay.

earlgreysnail's review

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funny hopeful mysterious
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

schmann's review

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5.0

Art.

thetempestreads's review

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

jdmccoughtry's review

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5.0

Dear Authors,

Your book made me smile, many times. Your book made me laugh, over and over. Your book made me feel normal, as any queer man can.

Thank you for writing such a beautifully poetic, magical tale about a town on a purple bay, with pink fog, ghosts, laughter, love, community, and hope.

Yours truly,
J. D. McCoughtry

A big thank you to NetGalley and University of Alabama Press for allowing me to read such a wonderful book.

rah_rah_rasputin's review

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

What a weird book. Enjoyed it, but I don’t know how to feel after finishing that lol

amandasbokhylla's review

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3.0

"Tannery Bay" offers a surreal reading experience that combines magical realism and elements of speculative fiction within a Black and queer community.

It took me some time to get into the writing style, which had a distinctive style different from my usual reads. However, while the writing challenged me at times, it also strangely added to the feeling of this town where nothing really makes sense: pink fog, ghosts, July on repeat. It's funny, haunting, and highlights the importance of collaboration and community.

While there were some parts that did not quite work for me, the concept and the synergy between the two authors tipped the scale, making it overall an enjoyable experience.

Tannery Bay is a book that must be experienced to be fully understood.

Thank you to Fiction Collective 2 for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

laurensamblanet's review

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5.0

tannery bay reminded me that hope is found in imagination, art, community and collaboration. this book is a fun read but goes beyond fun to deeper truths about how we can come together to escape oppressive conditions.

thoughtcouture's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

somuchformedia's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0