Reviews

Bad Endings by Carleigh Baker

abisluce's review

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

nicola_in_yeg780's review against another edition

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4.0

Full disclosure, I'm not a huge fan of short stories. But, I really enjoyed this collection. Baker's stories were unconventional to me; they were not neatly wrapped up in formulaic paper adorned with a little bow of resolution. Instead, the author deftly drops you off in this awkward place somewhere between sardonic laughter and tears of pain with no clear resolution in sight except that which the reader extrapolates on her own. Each story was a window slowly opening onto a view of insightful, relate able life glimpses only to have that same window quickly slam shut just moments before revelation. Extra points for the strong Canadian west coast flavour woven in to every story.

themockler's review against another edition

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5.0

7 Tragicomic Books That I Love: https://49thshelf.com/Blog/2023/10/02/7-Tragicomic-Books-That-I-Love

emillie_parrish's review against another edition

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5.0

These stories were steeped in the mid-twenties lifestyle of travel and exploring life experiences. A series of small vignettes that transport you to somewhere else -- perhaps somewhere recognizable.

pinks_paperbacks's review against another edition

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4.0

~~~3.5 stars~~~

For me the title of the book should’ve been something like “life endings” instead of “Bad Endings” because that’s what it was it was not bad just inconclusive or just the way, fortunately or unfortunately, life works. I enjoyed reading the stories. Didn’t enjoy the troubles or struggles per se but the relatability of those issues with lives of people, including mine, in our lives.

mareru's review against another edition

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reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

pixe1's review against another edition

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3.0

Visited a book store in Vancouver that had a good selection of anthologies and picked this up based on the staff blurb. It took me a few stories to warm-up to these: for the most part they're pretty mundane and sometimes felt so gauzy they could rip apart at any moment. I guess based on the title I expected something more catastrophic, but there was atmosphere of discomfort and uneasiness that kept me coming back for more, and overall it grew on me.

cassandragon's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

fallohide's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

awinkz's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0