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Vampires in the Lemon Grove and Other Stories
Vampires in the Lemon Grove and Other Stories
Author: Karen Russell
A dejected teenager discovers that the universe is communicating with him through talismanic objects left behind in a seagull's nest.  A community of girls held captive in a silk factory slowly transmute into human silkworms, spinning delicate threads from their own bellies, and escape by seizing the means of production for their own re...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780307947475
ISBN-10: 0307947475
Publication Date: 10/8/2013
Pages: 256
Rating:
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 4

3.3 stars, based on 4 ratings
Publisher: Vintage
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 6
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Leigh avatar reviewed Vampires in the Lemon Grove and Other Stories on + 378 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
These stories each could be described as "premises;" Russell created amazingly inventive, fresh ideas that I'd never thought of before but everything ended there. It's almost as if she flipped through her notebook of book ideas and fleshed them out a little - just enough that a proper ending need not be fitted on.

One story that stood out in my mind was "Reeling for the Empire," which simply fascinated me with its unbelievable story of women spooling thread from their bellies. I think that story did actually have a good ending -- although I would have liked to have read it! Women, indeed, have more power than they realize. This was my favorite of the collection.

The other story that stood out to me was "The Seagull Army Descends on Strong Beach," which was a tale of seagulls stealing items from the future, unknowingly(?) altering destinies. Oh, the possibilities.

Ray Bradbury is undoubtedly an influence to Russell; there was entirely too much of his type of creativity flowing in and around these stories to say otherwise. This book is worth the read simply for a glimpse into the author's imagination.

Each story had its own meritsI only wish Russell had followed through with a real ending for each.
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