Book Review: Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Book: 182

Rating: 4/5

Earlier this year I read Carmen Maria Machado's memoir, In The Dream House, and halfway through reading it ordered Her Body and Other Parties. Her writing is so easily devoured, and I love the gothic and horror elements she sprinkles in her writing.

The best way I can think of describing this collection of short stories is a feminist Black Mirror. The stories all have a dystopian/psychological realism/science fiction element to them. My personal favourite was the first story where a woman has a mysterious green string tied around her neck, and refuses her husband's entreaties to touch it or take it off.

I've found myself gravitating towards short story collections if I'm having trouble concentrating on a book throughout the week. This one was a great choice reading in the week up to Christmas when my mind was all over the place!