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The Girl Who Cried Diamonds & Other Stories
The boundaries between realist and fabulist, literary and speculative are shattered in this remarkable debut collection for readers of Carmen Maria Machado, André Alexis, and Angélique Lalonde A girl born in a small, unnamed pueblo is blessed ― or cursed ― with the ability to produce valuable gems from her bodily fluids. A tired wife and mother escapes the confines of her oppressive life and body by shapeshifting into a cloud. A girl reckons with the death of her father and her changing familial dynamics while slowly, mysteriously losing her physical senses. Infused with keen insight and presented in startling prose, the stories in this dark, magnetic collection by newcomer Rebecca Hirsch Garcia invite the reader into an uncanny world out of step with reality while exploring the personal and interpersonal in a way that is undeniably, distinctly human.
208 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2023
11 people are currently reading
6070 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
July 21, 2024
This collection of short stories has a larger context embedded within. One that focuses on how women are seen, used, controlled, and exploited in our society. Some of the stories, like the chilling Mother, do this overtly in only a few pages. Others, like Woman in the Clouds are longer, and more nuanced in their treatment. Irregardless each story has something to say that holds truths (many we may not want to admit, especially if you are, or identify, as a woman) about the realities which us ladies face.
As a childless woman I appreciated the obvious care that went into each story and its messaging. Sometimes collections like this focus too heavily on women being maternal, capable of child bearing, or otherwise emphasize the expected role of being a mother. While there are stories here about motherhood, they are not condescending or in anyway trying to take away what a barren woman brings to the table. Inclusivity is always important and I like that we aren’t too focused in one ‘motherly’ direction.
Overall The Girl with Diamonds for Eyes and Other Stories is a worthwhile little collection. And a great addition to Canadian short story literature collections.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
As a childless woman I appreciated the obvious care that went into each story and its messaging. Sometimes collections like this focus too heavily on women being maternal, capable of child bearing, or otherwise emphasize the expected role of being a mother. While there are stories here about motherhood, they are not condescending or in anyway trying to take away what a barren woman brings to the table. Inclusivity is always important and I like that we aren’t too focused in one ‘motherly’ direction.
Overall The Girl with Diamonds for Eyes and Other Stories is a worthwhile little collection. And a great addition to Canadian short story literature collections.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
December 14, 2025
Fantastic collection of short stories I would call literary horror with a feminist bent. Nearly all of them revolve around the treatment of women and their bodies, ranging from domestic abuse to sexual assault to societal expectations of thinness and beauty and beyond. They really worked for me. The audio narration is good, but I wish they had more of a pause between stories to make it clear it wasn't just a continuation. I received an audio review copy via Libro.FM, all opinions are my own.
February 4, 2024
In Rebecca Hirsch Garcia's debut collection, The Girl Who Cried Diamonds & Other Stories, characters deal with harsh disturbances and deal with magical realist twists and turns. A woman saves a life and gains a stalker, a woman turns into vapor, a husband becomes a wolf. A girl finds her door busted in and reports a theft only to realize they took nothing—which is somehow worse than if they'd robbed her. Teens deal with grief and harsh bullying.
Some of the stories I felt were overly grim, searching for darkness in order to shock. "Damage Control," for example, in which a teen with an eating disorder is confronted by a girl with a nasty scar down her face, both of them depicted as intensely self-hating. Or "Girl on the Metro," where a bystander is guilted into helping a drunk girl get home, only to hand her off to a stranger who may or may not have actually been the girl's boyfriend. In these tales, too often the core of the story rested in its ability to make the reader cringe, seemingly without any depth to it.
Other stories are more successful. In "The Coldest Place on Earth," a man obsesses over taking a trip to the coldest place on earth, as his marriage fails around him because he can't move past the trauma of a miscarriage, while his wife (it seems to him) already has. In "An Occupation," a woman comes home to find the door to her apartment has been forced—but whoever did it didn't take anything, which somehow makes the lasting disturbance much worse. And in "Woman Into Cloud," a woman and mother who often feels trapped in her body suddenly becomes a cloud of vapor, light, and free. The stories hit a groove of disturbance and disorientation that really worked for me. While I didn't love all the stories in the collection, I'll be keeping an eye out for what Garcia does in the future.
Content warnings for disordered eating, fatphobia, ableism, miscarriage, stalking, suicidal ideation, implied sexual assault.
Some of the stories I felt were overly grim, searching for darkness in order to shock. "Damage Control," for example, in which a teen with an eating disorder is confronted by a girl with a nasty scar down her face, both of them depicted as intensely self-hating. Or "Girl on the Metro," where a bystander is guilted into helping a drunk girl get home, only to hand her off to a stranger who may or may not have actually been the girl's boyfriend. In these tales, too often the core of the story rested in its ability to make the reader cringe, seemingly without any depth to it.
Other stories are more successful. In "The Coldest Place on Earth," a man obsesses over taking a trip to the coldest place on earth, as his marriage fails around him because he can't move past the trauma of a miscarriage, while his wife (it seems to him) already has. In "An Occupation," a woman comes home to find the door to her apartment has been forced—but whoever did it didn't take anything, which somehow makes the lasting disturbance much worse. And in "Woman Into Cloud," a woman and mother who often feels trapped in her body suddenly becomes a cloud of vapor, light, and free. The stories hit a groove of disturbance and disorientation that really worked for me. While I didn't love all the stories in the collection, I'll be keeping an eye out for what Garcia does in the future.
Content warnings for disordered eating, fatphobia, ableism, miscarriage, stalking, suicidal ideation, implied sexual assault.
September 3, 2023
These stories capture the dissociation required to exist in a femme body. Rebecca Hirsch Garcia uses surreal narratives to show how a woman’s body can be both a miracle and a curse. There is beauty and horror in this collection. Every single story was a gem that felt like it was born from the collective body. Many of these stories will haunt me because they spoke to feelings I never thought to share.
I received a digital advance reader copy from NetGalley and ECW Press in exchange for an honest review.
I received a digital advance reader copy from NetGalley and ECW Press in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2025
A mixed bag of short stories. Some were memorable; some I have already forgotten.
Overall, well-written and a good tribute to the horror that humanity is -- We humans are ruthless, mistreat each other, want to possess others, and fail to listen to their desires.
The collection includes horror, body horror, and plain old "humans-are-terrible" stories. I enjoyed some more than others, but they all left me with a sense of despair and dread (which I am guessing was Garcia's intention), and they all were grotesque.
Garcia's debut stories collection nicely blends horror with magical realism to describe dark themes -- stalking, eating disorders, bullying, kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, miscarriage, and more.
Favorite stories:
💎 Mother (although it sounded a bit of a rip-off of a "Criminal Minds" episode)
💎 Woman in a Cloud
💎 Common Animal
💎 My Full Catastrophe
Overall, well-written and a good tribute to the horror that humanity is -- We humans are ruthless, mistreat each other, want to possess others, and fail to listen to their desires.
The collection includes horror, body horror, and plain old "humans-are-terrible" stories. I enjoyed some more than others, but they all left me with a sense of despair and dread (which I am guessing was Garcia's intention), and they all were grotesque.
Garcia's debut stories collection nicely blends horror with magical realism to describe dark themes -- stalking, eating disorders, bullying, kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, miscarriage, and more.
Favorite stories:
💎 Mother (although it sounded a bit of a rip-off of a "Criminal Minds" episode)
💎 Woman in a Cloud
💎 Common Animal
💎 My Full Catastrophe
October 4, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
This was a standout debut short story collection by a new to me Canadian author! I am the first to admit short stories can be a hard sell for me but I found these delicately balanced relatable with just a touch of the paranormal, making them the perfect #SpookySeason read. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Agustina Bazterrica or Rachel Yoder's Nightbitch. Also great on audio and available for free on Hoopla for library users!
This was a standout debut short story collection by a new to me Canadian author! I am the first to admit short stories can be a hard sell for me but I found these delicately balanced relatable with just a touch of the paranormal, making them the perfect #SpookySeason read. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Agustina Bazterrica or Rachel Yoder's Nightbitch. Also great on audio and available for free on Hoopla for library users!
April 24, 2024
Canadian Feminist horror
Stories -horror based on real life experiences women face daily and either use magical realism to highlight and exaggerate the horror experienced due to the physical manifestation of grief, caused by loss of loved one, Gender biases, trauma from abusive/toxic relationships.
Stories -horror based on real life experiences women face daily and either use magical realism to highlight and exaggerate the horror experienced due to the physical manifestation of grief, caused by loss of loved one, Gender biases, trauma from abusive/toxic relationships.
September 8, 2023
Breathtakingly strange. Loved every story. Five stars. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
This was a whirlwind of a collection. The titular story, "The Girl Who Cried Diamonds", was the obvious standout; amongst its peers (particularly earlier counterparts "My Full Catastrophe" and "Mother"), it shares a similar theme of the exploitation and cruelty against women. But where other stories in this collection echo that sentiment, "The Girl Who Cried Diamonds" screams it. It's unafraid and exact in what it wants to say, and the story's ending hammers in the violent reality that many women of color face.
Honorable mentions to the some of the other wonderful stories:
- "A Golden Light", which is the primer into this collection, is melancholic and wistful, short and bittersweet. Zadie, having recently lost her father, hardly even realizes she's grasping for hope when it comes to her in the form of sunlight. This story digs at the concept of hope and how it always seem to be both questionable and concrete: there's something out there, but we don't know what; and when we receive the answer, what will we be left with?
- "Damage Control" recalls the unrelenting insecurity, bodily angst, and desperate plea for inclusion that can only belong to high schoolers. Leonard arrives feeling like a brand new boy for the school year, only to feel unrealized in his different form and practically eclipsed by another girl, whose own embodiment of a new self serves as a foil to his. "Damage Control" plays at the dichotomy of perception — what will I do to be accepted? What will I become when I'm not?
- "Goodbye, Melody" is a succinct recollection of girlhood and friendship. It mentions one quote that I wrote down immediately, which was: "What a heartless young girl I was."
- "Mother" is as enthralling as it is horrifying. The premise had me wishing this was a larger story so that I could read more of it, but I also feel like its length as a short story sustained its suspense.
This was a whirlwind of a collection. The titular story, "The Girl Who Cried Diamonds", was the obvious standout; amongst its peers (particularly earlier counterparts "My Full Catastrophe" and "Mother"), it shares a similar theme of the exploitation and cruelty against women. But where other stories in this collection echo that sentiment, "The Girl Who Cried Diamonds" screams it. It's unafraid and exact in what it wants to say, and the story's ending hammers in the violent reality that many women of color face.
Honorable mentions to the some of the other wonderful stories:
- "A Golden Light", which is the primer into this collection, is melancholic and wistful, short and bittersweet. Zadie, having recently lost her father, hardly even realizes she's grasping for hope when it comes to her in the form of sunlight. This story digs at the concept of hope and how it always seem to be both questionable and concrete: there's something out there, but we don't know what; and when we receive the answer, what will we be left with?
- "Damage Control" recalls the unrelenting insecurity, bodily angst, and desperate plea for inclusion that can only belong to high schoolers. Leonard arrives feeling like a brand new boy for the school year, only to feel unrealized in his different form and practically eclipsed by another girl, whose own embodiment of a new self serves as a foil to his. "Damage Control" plays at the dichotomy of perception — what will I do to be accepted? What will I become when I'm not?
- "Goodbye, Melody" is a succinct recollection of girlhood and friendship. It mentions one quote that I wrote down immediately, which was: "What a heartless young girl I was."
- "Mother" is as enthralling as it is horrifying. The premise had me wishing this was a larger story so that I could read more of it, but I also feel like its length as a short story sustained its suspense.
September 11, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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I was intrigued by this title (and the cover) when I saw it was under the horror genre and the synopsis made it seem like it was a collection of dark and fascinating stories; unfortunately I didn't think it came close to what I take as horror and most of the stories themselves didn't keep me as gripped as I was anticipating.
•
The main positive thing I can say about every story in this was how brilliant the writing is— this was about the only thing that made me want to read on and get to the next story each time. Rebecca's prose and how she builds certain scenes was genuinely addictive to read and like I say, was the number one motivator to keep going with the book.
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I was really hoping for more with the majority of the stories in this collection but one that I did really enjoy was Common Animals— I understood what Rebecca was trying to capture and I thought it was really well done, to the point I could feel for the main character in this one. A Golden Light and The Girl on the Metro were another couple I liked but other than that, there weren't many I really connected to or understood as deeply as I felt I should have. I also feel as if the main title should have perhaps been called Woman into Cloud since that was the story that seemed to take the most % of the whole book but that might just be me being picky.
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Overall, I'd say this was just an average collection of mildly strange short stories. They didn't do much for me personally but because of how much I liked the writing in each one, I'd still recommend to most people if this seems like it could be more your thing.
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I was intrigued by this title (and the cover) when I saw it was under the horror genre and the synopsis made it seem like it was a collection of dark and fascinating stories; unfortunately I didn't think it came close to what I take as horror and most of the stories themselves didn't keep me as gripped as I was anticipating.
•
The main positive thing I can say about every story in this was how brilliant the writing is— this was about the only thing that made me want to read on and get to the next story each time. Rebecca's prose and how she builds certain scenes was genuinely addictive to read and like I say, was the number one motivator to keep going with the book.
•
I was really hoping for more with the majority of the stories in this collection but one that I did really enjoy was Common Animals— I understood what Rebecca was trying to capture and I thought it was really well done, to the point I could feel for the main character in this one. A Golden Light and The Girl on the Metro were another couple I liked but other than that, there weren't many I really connected to or understood as deeply as I felt I should have. I also feel as if the main title should have perhaps been called Woman into Cloud since that was the story that seemed to take the most % of the whole book but that might just be me being picky.
•
Overall, I'd say this was just an average collection of mildly strange short stories. They didn't do much for me personally but because of how much I liked the writing in each one, I'd still recommend to most people if this seems like it could be more your thing.
June 25, 2023
AHHHHHHHHHH! GIVE ME ALL THE HORROR AND SUSPENSE SHORT STORIES AND I'LL BE THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE LAND!
Okay, I am so thankful to ECW Press, Rebecca Hirsch Garcia, and Netgalley for granting me early digital access to this absolute GEM (title pun) of a book that has me in the perfect reading mood just in time for summer's start. We love dark and twisted tales in this household and The Girl Who Cried Diamonds gave me everything I needed to scratch that itch. There were stories about supernatural abilities, and murderous families, all with eerie endings that will make you ponder for days on what you just digested.
The Girl Who Cried Diamonds & Other Stories is set to publish on October 3, 2023, so get your pre-orders in now yall!
Okay, I am so thankful to ECW Press, Rebecca Hirsch Garcia, and Netgalley for granting me early digital access to this absolute GEM (title pun) of a book that has me in the perfect reading mood just in time for summer's start. We love dark and twisted tales in this household and The Girl Who Cried Diamonds gave me everything I needed to scratch that itch. There were stories about supernatural abilities, and murderous families, all with eerie endings that will make you ponder for days on what you just digested.
The Girl Who Cried Diamonds & Other Stories is set to publish on October 3, 2023, so get your pre-orders in now yall!
April 21, 2024
This book contains a stunning collection of the short stories, some of them just 5-10 pages, the last one “Woman into cloud” is the longest, like a small novella.
Each story is totally unique with a voice of its own. I surprised the scope they cover.
Al stories brilliantly written, bouncing on the boundaries of the realism and fable. You finish one story, you want continue to read on, to start a new one.
You closed the book, the stories don’t leave you, you keep thinking.
As usual for multi-stories books, some stories you like more and some less, some you remember and some you forgot. Some are very uncomfortable, triggering the thoughts you would like to avoid..
Overall it’s a great debut collection.
Each story is totally unique with a voice of its own. I surprised the scope they cover.
Al stories brilliantly written, bouncing on the boundaries of the realism and fable. You finish one story, you want continue to read on, to start a new one.
You closed the book, the stories don’t leave you, you keep thinking.
As usual for multi-stories books, some stories you like more and some less, some you remember and some you forgot. Some are very uncomfortable, triggering the thoughts you would like to avoid..
Overall it’s a great debut collection.
November 11, 2023
Rebecca Hirsch Garcia made a great debut with this collection of strange and thought provoking short stories.
These intriguing stories with a feminist undertone are perfect to pick up and read 1 or 2 at a time. From a woman who turns into a cloud to a girl who helps her father pick her next mother these stories are unique and often thought provoking. You'll want some time to ponder each before jumping into the next.
I enjoyed the writing and as a Montrealer it was nice to pick up on some Canadian references now and again.
Overall a promising start for this emerging author and ill be on the lookout for her future works
These intriguing stories with a feminist undertone are perfect to pick up and read 1 or 2 at a time. From a woman who turns into a cloud to a girl who helps her father pick her next mother these stories are unique and often thought provoking. You'll want some time to ponder each before jumping into the next.
I enjoyed the writing and as a Montrealer it was nice to pick up on some Canadian references now and again.
Overall a promising start for this emerging author and ill be on the lookout for her future works
June 20, 2023
WOW WOW WOW. This was so insanely good oh my god, my new favourite collection of short stories ever. Every single story was disturbing and beautiful and strange and stunning. Woman in a Cloud, Mother, The Golden Light, The Girl Who Cried Diamonds, all masterpieces. I love reading the work of Canadian women, this was so so fantastic. Excited to see what else this author comes out with in the future. I’d love to purchase a copy of this when it is published. My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2023
2.5⭐️
Aside from the first story in this collection, I had no idea what the point was, or what was happening in any of the stories. It was all pretty monotonous.
If you like weird stuff you’ll probably like it more than me.
Aside from the first story in this collection, I had no idea what the point was, or what was happening in any of the stories. It was all pretty monotonous.
If you like weird stuff you’ll probably like it more than me.
October 23, 2023
Oh this was such a STUNNING collection of stories. I was mesmerised by most of them. There’s something inherently feminist about the entire collection. Some of the stories lost me halfway but most of them were just, *chefs kiss*.
September 28, 2023
I didn't cry, made me think though.
October 20, 2023
Rating: 2.5/5
May 22, 2024
Super uncanny short stories. Rebecca Hirsch Garcia is really good at writing gorgeous bits of prose that linger with you. Mother is probably my favorite of the bunch.
October 1, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Most if not all of these short stories leave you with this feeling of being haunted, either by the sense of being watched or by the feeling of relation to a character. The author's ability to take you through her character's feelings with ease and it sticks with you long after you're done, in my case, listening.
August 6, 2024
A profound and poetic interpretation of painful experiences of women.
October 24, 2023
I really enjoyed reading THE GIRL WHO CRIED DIAMONDS & other stories by Rebecca Hirsch Garcia! These fourteen stories were all great! I found this book to be the perfect fall read. The element of fear was a though line in these stories and they featured uncomfortable situations and an eerie quality. I especially enjoyed the stories from a female perspective and the mentions of periods and weight. My fave story was My Full Catastrophe as right away the opening paragraph was so relatable to me. The protagonist just broke her new headphones and was wearing sneakers with a hole in them. Then the story takes an intense turn and gets very creepy with a stalker and loss of control while in a fall Ottawa setting. I really enjoyed the Canadian setting and the horror elements. I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator Tara Koehler was excellent. What a great debut collection!
Thank you to ECW Press for my ARC!
Thank you to ECW Press for my ARC!
August 15, 2023
This was a top quality collection of short stories (thanks NetGalley for my arc), I was blown away by the scope the stories covered. Each story was totally unique and had a voice all of its own, each character was fully formed and came alive on the page.
I enjoyed every story but some stood out above the rest; the final story ‘woman into cloud’ had so much scope it could be a novel all on its own, it was the longest by far but never felt like it dragged and in the end I did shed a few tears from the emotion the story brought forward. It would be worth me buying a copy of the book to reread that story alone. Another interesting story was ‘Damage control’, which was strange and darkly witty despite its serious topics.
This is a book with stories I will be thinking of for a while.
I enjoyed every story but some stood out above the rest; the final story ‘woman into cloud’ had so much scope it could be a novel all on its own, it was the longest by far but never felt like it dragged and in the end I did shed a few tears from the emotion the story brought forward. It would be worth me buying a copy of the book to reread that story alone. Another interesting story was ‘Damage control’, which was strange and darkly witty despite its serious topics.
This is a book with stories I will be thinking of for a while.
October 8, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me an ARC to review.
3 stars!
I was so excited to read this! The cover drew me in and the fact this book was under the horror category. Some of the stories really caught my attention and some didn’t, but that’s what makes these collection of shorts stories so nice to read.
I wouldn’t really say every story fits within the horror realm, but some can be triggering to others, so definitely check out the TW before reading.
I really enjoyed My Full Catastrophe despite it making me somewhat angry at the main character and also really confused at the end, haha I wanted to know more!!!
I also think Mother was the most horror-esque story in the collection. And I’d love a full story of this!
Really nice to have such a good mix and quite enjoyed them!
3 stars!
I was so excited to read this! The cover drew me in and the fact this book was under the horror category. Some of the stories really caught my attention and some didn’t, but that’s what makes these collection of shorts stories so nice to read.
I wouldn’t really say every story fits within the horror realm, but some can be triggering to others, so definitely check out the TW before reading.
I really enjoyed My Full Catastrophe despite it making me somewhat angry at the main character and also really confused at the end, haha I wanted to know more!!!
I also think Mother was the most horror-esque story in the collection. And I’d love a full story of this!
Really nice to have such a good mix and quite enjoyed them!
June 4, 2024
A Golden Light - a girl struggles with depression after her dad dies. There's some lovely imagery here but there's not too much to the story, 3/5.
Damage Control - a teenage girl's life changes after an accident that scars her face, about beauty and perception. I thought this one was very strong and the characters feel dynamic and interesting, 5/5.
My Full Catastrophe - woman has a stalker Stockholm syndrome experience. Weird and unsettling and really difficult to look away from, 5/5.
The Coldest Place on Earth - a couple's marriage is dissolving after a miscarriage. I liked the role reversal and exploration of non-stereotypical struggles after losing a pregnancy. I also like it when a main character is sort of a jerk (makes them more interesting), 4/5.
Goodbye, Melody - a bully looks back on her cruel childhood without remorse. Fascinating story about a reprehensible person, 4/5.
The Singing Keys - a high school girl discovers her father's affair. Nice writing but I found the ending sort of disappointing, even though I could tell the story was always going there. 3/5
An Occupation - a woman struggles to move on after her apartment is broken into. Strange and sort of unsatisfying, 3/5.
Girl on the Metro - a woman has an uneasy interaction with a drunk girl. Really good, makes you feel weird inside, no notes. 5/5
Mother - creepy serial killer kidnapping story. This one was really dark but it felt a bit gratuitous and not that interesting actually because there's no resolution. 3/5
A Change of Atmospherics - parallel worlds or a woman struggling with her grip on reality? Not sure what was going on here, 3/5.
Common Animals - the werewolf as a metaphor for an abusive relationship. Very nicely done, and the ending hits hard, 4/5.
Maps of the Unknown - a woman in love is obsessed with fully knowing her partner. Eh this one was only ok, 3/5.
The Girl Who Cried Diamonds - retelling of that fairy tale where diamonds come out of a girl's mouth when she talks, except it's like a "brutal reality" retelling. Really sad and violent and depressing, I didn't really like it. 3/5
Woman into Cloud - a novella-length story about a woman who's unhappy in her body and her marriage and who turns into a cloud. Very introspective, sad and thoughtful. 4/5
Overall I thought this was a pretty strong collection. Some weren't that memorable but there weren't any stories here that I really didn't like. There's a sense of unease that runs through the whole collection, and I liked the magical realism aspects that are sprinkled through.
Damage Control - a teenage girl's life changes after an accident that scars her face, about beauty and perception. I thought this one was very strong and the characters feel dynamic and interesting, 5/5.
My Full Catastrophe - woman has a stalker Stockholm syndrome experience. Weird and unsettling and really difficult to look away from, 5/5.
The Coldest Place on Earth - a couple's marriage is dissolving after a miscarriage. I liked the role reversal and exploration of non-stereotypical struggles after losing a pregnancy. I also like it when a main character is sort of a jerk (makes them more interesting), 4/5.
Goodbye, Melody - a bully looks back on her cruel childhood without remorse. Fascinating story about a reprehensible person, 4/5.
The Singing Keys - a high school girl discovers her father's affair. Nice writing but I found the ending sort of disappointing, even though I could tell the story was always going there. 3/5
An Occupation - a woman struggles to move on after her apartment is broken into. Strange and sort of unsatisfying, 3/5.
Girl on the Metro - a woman has an uneasy interaction with a drunk girl. Really good, makes you feel weird inside, no notes. 5/5
Mother - creepy serial killer kidnapping story. This one was really dark but it felt a bit gratuitous and not that interesting actually because there's no resolution. 3/5
A Change of Atmospherics - parallel worlds or a woman struggling with her grip on reality? Not sure what was going on here, 3/5.
Common Animals - the werewolf as a metaphor for an abusive relationship. Very nicely done, and the ending hits hard, 4/5.
Maps of the Unknown - a woman in love is obsessed with fully knowing her partner. Eh this one was only ok, 3/5.
The Girl Who Cried Diamonds - retelling of that fairy tale where diamonds come out of a girl's mouth when she talks, except it's like a "brutal reality" retelling. Really sad and violent and depressing, I didn't really like it. 3/5
Woman into Cloud - a novella-length story about a woman who's unhappy in her body and her marriage and who turns into a cloud. Very introspective, sad and thoughtful. 4/5
Overall I thought this was a pretty strong collection. Some weren't that memorable but there weren't any stories here that I really didn't like. There's a sense of unease that runs through the whole collection, and I liked the magical realism aspects that are sprinkled through.
October 25, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
While I typically enjoy short story collections, this one left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed. The description of the collection suggested there would be supernatural/fantasy elements in these stories, however, by the end of the collection, most of them were grounded in realism. The stories were written well, but they were not the stories I was expecting to read, so a more accurate blurb might have given me more reasonable expectations. As it was, I kept waiting for the magical twist, or the fantastical reveal, which, more often than not, never came, leaving me feeling disappointed.
The concept of a girl whose tears formed into diamonds seemed like a great premise for a short story, as it could be taken in a number of ways, but I found the direction of the narrative all too bleak for my tastes, dealing with exploitation, abuse and despair. These themes were present in other stories too, and generally, female characters felt at risk or under threat most of the time. I would say this was the underlying theme of the collection, so it left me feeling quite down about humanity, or at the very least, about men. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale, as it too deals unflinchingly with uncomfortable truths about contemporary society and its maltreatment of women.
The final two sections were actually one story split into two parts, each much longer than any of the other short stories. This was not clear to me until I began the final section, so it was an interesting surprise after growing accustomed to a shorter length of story. While I enjoyed several aspects of this final story, once again, the disparity between expectation (short story) and reality (novella) was not a pleasant one. The threat of male violence towards female characters was present here too.
A final note on the narration. The voice actor seemed like a good fit for the telling of most stories, yet at times, the pacing, or the intonation, seemed a little off somehow. I would find myself rereading sentences back to myself, in my head, the way I imagined I would have interpreted them on the page. Of course, listening to any audiobook, instead of reading, adds a layer of interpretation between the text and the listener, but in this instance, it did not always seem to me to be spoken the way it was intended to be read.
While I typically enjoy short story collections, this one left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed. The description of the collection suggested there would be supernatural/fantasy elements in these stories, however, by the end of the collection, most of them were grounded in realism. The stories were written well, but they were not the stories I was expecting to read, so a more accurate blurb might have given me more reasonable expectations. As it was, I kept waiting for the magical twist, or the fantastical reveal, which, more often than not, never came, leaving me feeling disappointed.
The concept of a girl whose tears formed into diamonds seemed like a great premise for a short story, as it could be taken in a number of ways, but I found the direction of the narrative all too bleak for my tastes, dealing with exploitation, abuse and despair. These themes were present in other stories too, and generally, female characters felt at risk or under threat most of the time. I would say this was the underlying theme of the collection, so it left me feeling quite down about humanity, or at the very least, about men. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale, as it too deals unflinchingly with uncomfortable truths about contemporary society and its maltreatment of women.
The final two sections were actually one story split into two parts, each much longer than any of the other short stories. This was not clear to me until I began the final section, so it was an interesting surprise after growing accustomed to a shorter length of story. While I enjoyed several aspects of this final story, once again, the disparity between expectation (short story) and reality (novella) was not a pleasant one. The threat of male violence towards female characters was present here too.
A final note on the narration. The voice actor seemed like a good fit for the telling of most stories, yet at times, the pacing, or the intonation, seemed a little off somehow. I would find myself rereading sentences back to myself, in my head, the way I imagined I would have interpreted them on the page. Of course, listening to any audiobook, instead of reading, adds a layer of interpretation between the text and the listener, but in this instance, it did not always seem to me to be spoken the way it was intended to be read.
November 9, 2023
I found this in my uni bookstore, cutely tucked away, and I am really trying to uplift more Canadian authors this year, plus the synopsis was compelling, the cover beautiful… to say I had high expectations would be putting it lightly LOL.
Unfortunately though this debut was said to shatter the boundaries between “realist and fabulist, literary and speculative” … this book, oftentimes, was just confused.
I’m very sad I didn’t love it but I honestly think there is very little I can take away from this. My biggest qualm is that most of the short stories ended so randomly I’m half convinced there was a time limit the author was given and she just stopped writing whenever she heard the buzzer go.
Like they literally, and I cannot in anyway understate this, made. No. Sense. I have NOO idea what the connection is, nor the meaning and (for the first time) I don’t think it’s my own lack of firing neuron’s that is the problem. While this is a problem that lessens in the last 2-3 stories, even those stories don’t manage to make up for the rocky start.
Another, arguably larger problem I had was the stories’ commitment to provocation and sensationalism. As you read them you will think “oh that’s a little problematic 🤔” to some parts, and wait for some self-awareness to show, cue the thoughts of Leonard, among others, self-awareness NEVER shows… and I wonder if these moments couldn’t have been handled with more care. I think part of this (I hope) is that the author wants us to know, “Hey! That’s wrong of the MC to think!” But when it comes to things like this, to asides and unlikeable characters I, and this is personal to my reading tastes, would like some of the authors own tone to step in and point us to where they stand in regards to the content they’re writing. Nothing overt, but I think she could have artfully managed to add asides (esp. as most perspectives are written in the third)
Anyways what I can say is Hirsch-Garcia is very very talented at characterization. And in the stories Mother, and the ultimate one her writing and storytelling shine. I’m still obsessed with Margot and Leonard, and I think their story could become a very compelling novel about accepting yourself in your skin despite societies notions on beauty standards.
I’m interested to see a novel by her, but I think this short story book is a pass.
xx
Unfortunately though this debut was said to shatter the boundaries between “realist and fabulist, literary and speculative” … this book, oftentimes, was just confused.
I’m very sad I didn’t love it but I honestly think there is very little I can take away from this. My biggest qualm is that most of the short stories ended so randomly I’m half convinced there was a time limit the author was given and she just stopped writing whenever she heard the buzzer go.
Like they literally, and I cannot in anyway understate this, made. No. Sense. I have NOO idea what the connection is, nor the meaning and (for the first time) I don’t think it’s my own lack of firing neuron’s that is the problem. While this is a problem that lessens in the last 2-3 stories, even those stories don’t manage to make up for the rocky start.
Another, arguably larger problem I had was the stories’ commitment to provocation and sensationalism. As you read them you will think “oh that’s a little problematic 🤔” to some parts, and wait for some self-awareness to show, cue the thoughts of Leonard, among others, self-awareness NEVER shows… and I wonder if these moments couldn’t have been handled with more care. I think part of this (I hope) is that the author wants us to know, “Hey! That’s wrong of the MC to think!” But when it comes to things like this, to asides and unlikeable characters I, and this is personal to my reading tastes, would like some of the authors own tone to step in and point us to where they stand in regards to the content they’re writing. Nothing overt, but I think she could have artfully managed to add asides (esp. as most perspectives are written in the third)
Anyways what I can say is Hirsch-Garcia is very very talented at characterization. And in the stories Mother, and the ultimate one her writing and storytelling shine. I’m still obsessed with Margot and Leonard, and I think their story could become a very compelling novel about accepting yourself in your skin despite societies notions on beauty standards.
I’m interested to see a novel by her, but I think this short story book is a pass.
xx
September 30, 2023
In the book the girl who cried diamonds and other stories they have many different stories some longer than others and all of them were strange and odd tails I love stories that are weird and a tad on the macabre side but these were just confusing nonsensical and with the exception of the girl who lost her father in the other story with the girl who saves the guys life and in turn he stalks her I found the rest of the story is nonsensical and ridiculous. I especially thought the story with the boy who lost weight and was been invited to a popular girls party only to find her upstairs in her room alone and she wanted them to trade kind insults while looking at each other‘s scars I thought that was dumb and found no purpose to that activity much less the story as a whole. I also thought the story where the woman becomes a cloud and can no longer communicate with her wife was one of the stupidest stories I have ever read and I hate to be harsh but it was just dumb and I found no point to it sometimes things are just too obscure for others to get and I think with most of the stories in this book that is the case. I was really looking forward to reading these stories but sadly was disappointed I get the symbolism but I guess it just wasn’t for me. I want to think the publisher Ionut galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
November 19, 2023
Thank you to ECW Press for a reading copy of The Girl Who Cried Diamonds & Other Stories in exchange for an honest review.
In this debut collection, the author transports us into a world that feels not so far away from our current one. A blend of stories that make you think about the what ifs, these speculative fiction stories provoke inquiry, wonder and nostalgia.
The author wove current societal issues throughout these stories, such as autonomy, women’s rights, and several economic perspectives, giving them a unique little twist. It left me feeling like I was reading a sci-fi story that was still so close to home. I often found myself thinking about the stories after I had finished them.
My favourite story was Mother. It is a story of a young girl going with her father and brother to kidnap a woman to be her new Mother. It was horrifying but calm as it was written from the daughter’s perspective, who didn’t fully understand that what her family was doing was wrong. It was an outstanding balance.
Another story that stood out for me was Woman Into Cloud. This is a story of a mother in an unhealthy relationship, and as she loses herself, she becomes a cloud. Most women and mothers can relate to this story, and it was an excellent conclusion for this collection.
This book is varied and approachable, and I highly recommend it.
In this debut collection, the author transports us into a world that feels not so far away from our current one. A blend of stories that make you think about the what ifs, these speculative fiction stories provoke inquiry, wonder and nostalgia.
The author wove current societal issues throughout these stories, such as autonomy, women’s rights, and several economic perspectives, giving them a unique little twist. It left me feeling like I was reading a sci-fi story that was still so close to home. I often found myself thinking about the stories after I had finished them.
My favourite story was Mother. It is a story of a young girl going with her father and brother to kidnap a woman to be her new Mother. It was horrifying but calm as it was written from the daughter’s perspective, who didn’t fully understand that what her family was doing was wrong. It was an outstanding balance.
Another story that stood out for me was Woman Into Cloud. This is a story of a mother in an unhealthy relationship, and as she loses herself, she becomes a cloud. Most women and mothers can relate to this story, and it was an excellent conclusion for this collection.
This book is varied and approachable, and I highly recommend it.
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