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Yellow Wallpapering
In this scathing feminist horror collection, readers will encounter ten short stories featuring ten different women with ten distinct manifestations of patriarchy-induced madness. Blending sci-fi, speculative fiction, horror, and the achingly mundane, Phoenix Mendoza explores what it means to be a woman teetering on the edge of sanity.
Watch two childhood best friends develop a dangerous sex game inspired by their fathers’ suicides. Accompany Kyrie as she visits her grandparents' home, where she skinned her very first deer. Spend several delirious, hallucinatory nights with Carolyn at the train station she haunts whenever she cannot sleep. Dress a mannequin who might not be a mannequin at all. Let these madwomen invite you, one by one, into their complex interior worlds. Let them function as a mirror, a reflection of the self and of society.
Watch two childhood best friends develop a dangerous sex game inspired by their fathers’ suicides. Accompany Kyrie as she visits her grandparents' home, where she skinned her very first deer. Spend several delirious, hallucinatory nights with Carolyn at the train station she haunts whenever she cannot sleep. Dress a mannequin who might not be a mannequin at all. Let these madwomen invite you, one by one, into their complex interior worlds. Let them function as a mirror, a reflection of the self and of society.
- GenresHorror
239 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 29, 2024
I think this might be Mendoza's most accessible book so far, compared to Salivation and Thorngale, I haven't read the latter yet, but I know enough about it to know it is not for the weak.
If you haven't read any of Mendoza's work before, this is a good start. All of these stories are well-crafted, written with bizarrely fitting metaphores, in a very distinct style. And yet, with at least some of these stories, you can imagine another author coming up with a similar concept, although they would most likely not execute it in the way Mendoza does.
Stories like The Woodpecker Man, A Scorcher and Field Dressing are among the lines of what a new reader might expect going into an anthology about female rage and insanity, and thus would be a good way to enter Mendoza's work.
To me, however, Mendoza's writing truly shines in the stories where I cannot think of anyone else who would think of a story like that. A story like Snakegirl and Bangbang showcases not just how Mendoza's brain works, but also how she can make art of the obscene, of the unspoken, untold secrets of life.
I cannot wait to read Thorngale next.
If you haven't read any of Mendoza's work before, this is a good start. All of these stories are well-crafted, written with bizarrely fitting metaphores, in a very distinct style. And yet, with at least some of these stories, you can imagine another author coming up with a similar concept, although they would most likely not execute it in the way Mendoza does.
Stories like The Woodpecker Man, A Scorcher and Field Dressing are among the lines of what a new reader might expect going into an anthology about female rage and insanity, and thus would be a good way to enter Mendoza's work.
To me, however, Mendoza's writing truly shines in the stories where I cannot think of anyone else who would think of a story like that. A story like Snakegirl and Bangbang showcases not just how Mendoza's brain works, but also how she can make art of the obscene, of the unspoken, untold secrets of life.
I cannot wait to read Thorngale next.
November 8, 2024
Never been gladder to click on "author profile" after reading weird fanfiction in hope that the author had published weird original fiction.
As the description states and the title implies, all stories in this anthology relate to madwomen. Truly mad, possibly mad, or thinking they're mad when they're painfully sane. I thought "yeah, I get it" almost every time, and I think every woman would feel the same when reading these.
The writing feels so very visual, so gorgeously descriptive– Goddess of Love, a story about parasitic worms threatening a human colony planet in the far future, comes to mind particularly as having an ending that feels so weirdly tender despite being objectively disgusting and quite hopeless, all because of how well the narration lets you inside the main character's mind.
Definitely recommend for every woman who wants to feel like she's going sane.
As the description states and the title implies, all stories in this anthology relate to madwomen. Truly mad, possibly mad, or thinking they're mad when they're painfully sane. I thought "yeah, I get it" almost every time, and I think every woman would feel the same when reading these.
The writing feels so very visual, so gorgeously descriptive– Goddess of Love, a story about parasitic worms threatening a human colony planet in the far future, comes to mind particularly as having an ending that feels so weirdly tender despite being objectively disgusting and quite hopeless, all because of how well the narration lets you inside the main character's mind.
Definitely recommend for every woman who wants to feel like she's going sane.
July 8, 2024
Another installment in the saga of “I wrote this book but good reads won’t let me claim it to my author profile.” Anyway it’s good and you all should add it to your want to read list
November 19, 2024
Such a good anthology. Every single story builds such a visceral reality. You can feel everything: the fear, the loneliness, the disgust, the desire, the nausea, the frustration, and the absolute, world destroying rage. You know and understand every single woman and girl in this book. They are real. You get it and they get it and the author gets it.
The stories are all quite cathartic in their own way; not a cheap catharsis, but there's pleasure in it, a satisfaction. It doesn't matter if you disgusted, overjoyed or sad at the end. It is a vindication.
My favorite story was probably Snakegirl and BangBang. Nausea inducing and quite beautiful.
I liked this anthology even better than Salivation and cannot wait to see what this author does next.
The stories are all quite cathartic in their own way; not a cheap catharsis, but there's pleasure in it, a satisfaction. It doesn't matter if you disgusted, overjoyed or sad at the end. It is a vindication.
My favorite story was probably Snakegirl and BangBang. Nausea inducing and quite beautiful.
I liked this anthology even better than Salivation and cannot wait to see what this author does next.
October 10, 2024
Ordered this as fast as I could and then savored it for as long as possible. This collection goes crazy in the best way
October 18, 2024
This is a spoiler free review aimed at you, a person who stumbled across this by chance and is eyeballing reviews trying to decide whether or not to make a purchase. As you can guess from my five star review, I am a fan. But that doesn’t mean I think this book is for you. I mean, it could be REALLY REALLY for you, but it also might be not for you at all, and I would like to help you figure out where you might fall on this.
This is definitely a horror book, but I’m going to try to narrow down what that means. There is variety in the stories, some are science fiction, some feel like lost Tales from the Crypt episodes, some are essentially tragedies, etc, but Mendoza largely likes to operate within a gothic atmospheric sphere. I’ve observed recently a growing trend of associating the gothic with ideas like “safe” and “cozy” horror (which I think is a consequence of people who aren’t actually familiar with these texts beyond a vague misconcept of their aesthetic and readers who don’t grasp the full implications of these texts but that’s beside the point), so it necessary to note that this book regularly crosses lines that horror marketed as extreme ultraviolent schlock will not dare touch. See, if your whole thing is being super edgy, then you end up having to walk a tightrope where you break a lot of pseudo-boundaries so that your fanbase will think you are the most extreme person on the planet, while also making sure not to write anything that could actually lose people in your demographic. Mendoza is not playing that game. She does not write so that we will be in awe of how hardcore she is, which means that when she comes up with a story that crosses a line she weirdly has more freedom to just cross it. And she does.
This is the author’s second short story collection. The first is Salivation, the theme tying it together is hunger/loneliness. Worth a read, but if female centric horror is more directly aligned with your interests, I would recommend picking up Yellow Wallpapering first. This book is entirely about women. My favorite two stories are Wet Dog and Snakegirl and BangBang. I’m having a hard time picking a third favorite because it turns into trying to pick between my ladies. I feel these women, I am running my hands all over their faces. You may think to yourself “oh god, I’ve met her,” or even “oh god, I am her,” when you meet these characters. They’re all so specific and so real.
Reading this book is at times a physical experience. Snakegirl and BangBang in particular messed with my breathing, and if you do ultimately read this, you’ll find that thematically appropriate. Which is why I am so into this book. I have a very strong stomach, it is hard to get to me, so I see anything that forces a physical reaction from me as indicative of great skill.
So yeah, I hope this was even slightly helpful in your attempt to figure out if this book is your thing. Have a nice day!
This is definitely a horror book, but I’m going to try to narrow down what that means. There is variety in the stories, some are science fiction, some feel like lost Tales from the Crypt episodes, some are essentially tragedies, etc, but Mendoza largely likes to operate within a gothic atmospheric sphere. I’ve observed recently a growing trend of associating the gothic with ideas like “safe” and “cozy” horror (which I think is a consequence of people who aren’t actually familiar with these texts beyond a vague misconcept of their aesthetic and readers who don’t grasp the full implications of these texts but that’s beside the point), so it necessary to note that this book regularly crosses lines that horror marketed as extreme ultraviolent schlock will not dare touch. See, if your whole thing is being super edgy, then you end up having to walk a tightrope where you break a lot of pseudo-boundaries so that your fanbase will think you are the most extreme person on the planet, while also making sure not to write anything that could actually lose people in your demographic. Mendoza is not playing that game. She does not write so that we will be in awe of how hardcore she is, which means that when she comes up with a story that crosses a line she weirdly has more freedom to just cross it. And she does.
This is the author’s second short story collection. The first is Salivation, the theme tying it together is hunger/loneliness. Worth a read, but if female centric horror is more directly aligned with your interests, I would recommend picking up Yellow Wallpapering first. This book is entirely about women. My favorite two stories are Wet Dog and Snakegirl and BangBang. I’m having a hard time picking a third favorite because it turns into trying to pick between my ladies. I feel these women, I am running my hands all over their faces. You may think to yourself “oh god, I’ve met her,” or even “oh god, I am her,” when you meet these characters. They’re all so specific and so real.
Reading this book is at times a physical experience. Snakegirl and BangBang in particular messed with my breathing, and if you do ultimately read this, you’ll find that thematically appropriate. Which is why I am so into this book. I have a very strong stomach, it is hard to get to me, so I see anything that forces a physical reaction from me as indicative of great skill.
So yeah, I hope this was even slightly helpful in your attempt to figure out if this book is your thing. Have a nice day!
September 4, 2024
I’ve known Phoenix since college and have absolutely devoured everything she has ever written. When I heard she was releasing an anthology of stories about women’s rage, excited doesn’t even begin to cover how I felt.
Each story on this collection has a beautiful undercurrent of visceral, palpating fury, injustice, invisibility, and eventually reclamation. All of these women in their own ways have been deeply hurt by patriarchy and have had enough; it is delectable to see the different ways they respond to long endured misogyny. Phoenix is masterful at the way she characterizes these women, their heartaches, their complex but deeply understandable emotions, and their often painful decisions. I loved every story in this book but some stand out. Snakegirl and Bangbang is probably one of my most favorite stories she has ever written (that’s saying something) and I will be thinking about it for a long time. Evacuation, La Palomita, and The Woodpecker Man all unnerved me to my core but had me enthralled and hungry the whole time I was reading. It was delightful and reifying to have my own feminist rage reflected back at me, put on a dirty silver platter and shoved down my throat, my willing mouth wide open. If you are a woman who needs an outlet for your anger, pick up this book and let it give you permission to be as insane and as furious as you wish. Because like Phoenix said: Insanity is the only sane and rational response to patriarchy and male violence.
Each story on this collection has a beautiful undercurrent of visceral, palpating fury, injustice, invisibility, and eventually reclamation. All of these women in their own ways have been deeply hurt by patriarchy and have had enough; it is delectable to see the different ways they respond to long endured misogyny. Phoenix is masterful at the way she characterizes these women, their heartaches, their complex but deeply understandable emotions, and their often painful decisions. I loved every story in this book but some stand out. Snakegirl and Bangbang is probably one of my most favorite stories she has ever written (that’s saying something) and I will be thinking about it for a long time. Evacuation, La Palomita, and The Woodpecker Man all unnerved me to my core but had me enthralled and hungry the whole time I was reading. It was delightful and reifying to have my own feminist rage reflected back at me, put on a dirty silver platter and shoved down my throat, my willing mouth wide open. If you are a woman who needs an outlet for your anger, pick up this book and let it give you permission to be as insane and as furious as you wish. Because like Phoenix said: Insanity is the only sane and rational response to patriarchy and male violence.
August 9, 2024
Phoenix is a friend, so this review will be biased.
Unlike Salivation, which took me months to slog through, I ripped through Yellow Wallpapering in two days. That ought to indicate how much I adored it. Each story felt real and honest, in a way I don't see often. Snakegirl and Bangbang might be my favorite, as Wet Dog was painfully close to my life and too nasty to call my favorite. The theme of the collection is female anger and hurt, which is clear through each story. Some are short and to the point (A Scorcher was direct), others are a meandering tale which weaves the themes more subtly. I say more subtly, as if Phoenix is subtle at all about her hatred of men and male violence. If you are a man or have ever expressed concern over man-hating feminists, you're gonna dislike this book. Full stop. But if you, like me, are trying to be bolder and less accommodating to those that don't deserve your compassion, it will feel like a breath of fresh air.
Phoenix loves her nasty body horror, but the only truly gross story in this book is Wet Dog. The others won't make you puke, although I wouldn't read Snakegirl and Bangbang, or Goddess of Love, or Field Dressing, while eating.
Oh also this book is clearly self indulgent because I can't believe she managed to make pigeons central in a story about trains and loneliness lmao
Unlike Salivation, which took me months to slog through, I ripped through Yellow Wallpapering in two days. That ought to indicate how much I adored it. Each story felt real and honest, in a way I don't see often. Snakegirl and Bangbang might be my favorite, as Wet Dog was painfully close to my life and too nasty to call my favorite. The theme of the collection is female anger and hurt, which is clear through each story. Some are short and to the point (A Scorcher was direct), others are a meandering tale which weaves the themes more subtly. I say more subtly, as if Phoenix is subtle at all about her hatred of men and male violence. If you are a man or have ever expressed concern over man-hating feminists, you're gonna dislike this book. Full stop. But if you, like me, are trying to be bolder and less accommodating to those that don't deserve your compassion, it will feel like a breath of fresh air.
Phoenix loves her nasty body horror, but the only truly gross story in this book is Wet Dog. The others won't make you puke, although I wouldn't read Snakegirl and Bangbang, or Goddess of Love, or Field Dressing, while eating.
Oh also this book is clearly self indulgent because I can't believe she managed to make pigeons central in a story about trains and loneliness lmao
August 13, 2024
Every time I read a short story collection I think, man I need to read more short story collections, because it really is the platonic ideal of story formats, and I love that Phoenix has dropped two absolutely amazing collections in just a few months, so I am living my best gluttonous short story loving life these days.
This is a great, wonderful collection of horror, but not just any horror, the kind of horror you don't stop thinking about, that you cannot stop thinking about for days. I want to talk about this with people, I want to press the book into their hands and say 'call me the second you're done'. It is why I am so annoyed I bought it on kindle.
There isn't a dud in this book, and they all work so well together as a collection, but they are all so different. I feel like people will be talking about Bangbang and Snakegirl forever, and I will never be able to not think of Wet Dog every time I see a fly, but it is the first story, with its incredible punch in the face ending that had me laughing in delighted, female solidarity and shock all at the same time, that really is my favourite.
I have been an enormous fan of Phoenix's writing for years, and every single thing I read validates that decision every day, and Yellow Wallpapering is just the icing on the already triumphant cake.
This is a great, wonderful collection of horror, but not just any horror, the kind of horror you don't stop thinking about, that you cannot stop thinking about for days. I want to talk about this with people, I want to press the book into their hands and say 'call me the second you're done'. It is why I am so annoyed I bought it on kindle.
There isn't a dud in this book, and they all work so well together as a collection, but they are all so different. I feel like people will be talking about Bangbang and Snakegirl forever, and I will never be able to not think of Wet Dog every time I see a fly, but it is the first story, with its incredible punch in the face ending that had me laughing in delighted, female solidarity and shock all at the same time, that really is my favourite.
I have been an enormous fan of Phoenix's writing for years, and every single thing I read validates that decision every day, and Yellow Wallpapering is just the icing on the already triumphant cake.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews