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The Body Farm: Stories
From the winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize come eleven bold new stories that examine the human body and the natural world, and the subtle yet profound ways this relationship can change as we make our journey through life
The body cannot tell any lies. From birth to death, and through all the transitions in between, the body stores our knowledge and history, our feelings and experiences. Our betrayals. These insightful and empathetic stories, from the critically acclaimed author of The Last Animal , shine new light on our physical vessels set against our physical world, two landscapes irretrievably connected and altered over time.
An etymologist solves cold cases and upholds a sense of justice by studying the decay of corpses in a field and the insect life they develop. A caregiver obsesses over a stained-glass lampshade to deal with the elegiac losses of Alzheimer’s. A sister with webbed fingers highlights the often-universal belief that our siblings just might be creatures brought forth from the deep. The memory of a scent evokes the haunting legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These eleven stories display Abby Geni’s great capacity to take us into the lives and experiences of others to scrutinize the physical birth, childhood, transition, mental health, trauma, aging, illness, love, sex, and death.
The body cannot tell any lies. From birth to death, and through all the transitions in between, the body stores our knowledge and history, our feelings and experiences. Our betrayals. These insightful and empathetic stories, from the critically acclaimed author of The Last Animal , shine new light on our physical vessels set against our physical world, two landscapes irretrievably connected and altered over time.
An etymologist solves cold cases and upholds a sense of justice by studying the decay of corpses in a field and the insect life they develop. A caregiver obsesses over a stained-glass lampshade to deal with the elegiac losses of Alzheimer’s. A sister with webbed fingers highlights the often-universal belief that our siblings just might be creatures brought forth from the deep. The memory of a scent evokes the haunting legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These eleven stories display Abby Geni’s great capacity to take us into the lives and experiences of others to scrutinize the physical birth, childhood, transition, mental health, trauma, aging, illness, love, sex, and death.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2024
37 people are currently reading
6765 people want to read
About the author
Abby Geni
12 books259 followersAbby Geni is the author of The Lightkeepers, winner of the 2016 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award for Fiction and the inaugural Chicago Review of Books Awards for Best Fiction, and The Last Animal (2013), an Indies Introduce Debut Writers Selection and a finalist for the Orion Book Award. Her short stories have won first place in the Glimmer Train Fiction Open and the Chautauqua Contest and have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies. Geni is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a recipient of the Iowa Fellowship. Her website is www.abbygeni.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
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July 18, 2024DNF Others may like or enjoy these short stories: I'm just not one. Effusive explosions mixed with intense meanness. Generally me, me, me tales. They are filled with throbbing description.
I liked her longer stuff much, much better.
I liked her longer stuff much, much better.
November 5, 2024
I don't normally like short stories, but I have enjoyed Abby Geni's writing so much in her longer fiction that I wanted to give this book a try. In this volume the author brings together stories covering a wide range of themes and characters. The first story, The Rapture of the Deep, really grabbed me. It's about a woman who is a marine biologist, studying blue sharks. Observing in her cage far below the ocean's surface, she is surrounded by sharks:
"sharks were always expressionless, but this was something else: a robotic repetition of manner, an absence of will. Like a swarm of bees or a flock of birds, the blues had sacrificed their individuality to form a blended whole, greater than the sum of it's parts, a single organism. But what was it's function?...Sometimes there was no possible response but celebration. She could not stop turning, sharks above her, sharks beneath her, laughing and laughing inside her mouthpiece."
The last story in this collection is the title story,"The Body Farm". It is based on the kind of Body Farm to be found in Knoxville Tennessee, where deteriorating, disintegrating human bodies are to be found covering the many acres, with all kinds of factors being introduced, in order to study what happens under varying conditions to the body after death, and to aide law enforcement in better understanding of when and how a death occurred. Some of the lines in this story made it the perfect read for this Halloween time of year:
"I imagined counting the maggots that devoured him and measuring the life cycle of the coffin flies that made their homes in his flesh. In life he had been a pernicious soul, causing only harm, but in death he could be useful. "
Despite this last entry, most of these stories tell of people in various walks of life, various parts of the country, dealing with many different challenges. The stories in between these first and last did not all pull me in as much, but several did. I find this author's writing most compelling when she writes of the natural world; when she she does so, her descriptions can be exquisite. Overall, this was a 4.5 read for me.
"sharks were always expressionless, but this was something else: a robotic repetition of manner, an absence of will. Like a swarm of bees or a flock of birds, the blues had sacrificed their individuality to form a blended whole, greater than the sum of it's parts, a single organism. But what was it's function?...Sometimes there was no possible response but celebration. She could not stop turning, sharks above her, sharks beneath her, laughing and laughing inside her mouthpiece."
The last story in this collection is the title story,"The Body Farm". It is based on the kind of Body Farm to be found in Knoxville Tennessee, where deteriorating, disintegrating human bodies are to be found covering the many acres, with all kinds of factors being introduced, in order to study what happens under varying conditions to the body after death, and to aide law enforcement in better understanding of when and how a death occurred. Some of the lines in this story made it the perfect read for this Halloween time of year:
"I imagined counting the maggots that devoured him and measuring the life cycle of the coffin flies that made their homes in his flesh. In life he had been a pernicious soul, causing only harm, but in death he could be useful. "
Despite this last entry, most of these stories tell of people in various walks of life, various parts of the country, dealing with many different challenges. The stories in between these first and last did not all pull me in as much, but several did. I find this author's writing most compelling when she writes of the natural world; when she she does so, her descriptions can be exquisite. Overall, this was a 4.5 read for me.
June 3, 2025
I am constantly reminded how much I enjoy collections of short stories and this one I LOVED! They are all so different but the through line of our bodies and being embodied was beautiful and delightful. Will definitely be looking more into Geni’s writing.
Felt fitting to just happen upon the trans centered story (Across, Beyond, Through) on June 1st. Cried for Eden and his dad with feelings of grief and anger while also joy and hope for this tender story’s ending. Will sit with me for a bit
Felt fitting to just happen upon the trans centered story (Across, Beyond, Through) on June 1st. Cried for Eden and his dad with feelings of grief and anger while also joy and hope for this tender story’s ending. Will sit with me for a bit
June 25, 2024
The body as a reflection of the self, and as the prison that keeps it trapped. Abby Geni presents an assortment of thought-provoking tales, odes to all the bumps and bruises that have shaped us. There is a tenderness to her words that almost always belie a sorrow just below the surface.
November 8, 2023
Went into this with zero expectations and found myself pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the stories.
July 9, 2024
I’m normally a fast reader but this book dragged on and on. I enjoyed a few of the stories but the rest were not worth the read.
May 8, 2024
Thank you to @counterpointpress for the advanced reader copy.
This week’s headline? Welcome to the Anthropological Research Center.
Why this book? The one sentence synopses of some of the stories intrigued me.
Which book format? ARC
Primary reading environment? Sunday afternoons when the light can still come in through the blinds
Any preconceived notions? There’s gonna be some heavy stuff, right? I’m in.
Identify most with? “never got attached”
Three little words? “ephemeral like mayflies”
Goes well with? Shark bites, spells, letters from an inmate
Recommend this to? People who like haunting, thoughtful short stories with a literary slant.
Other cultural accompaniments: https://c-j-l-c.org/portfolio/across-...
I leave you with this: “‘It’s all butterflies,’ your grandmother used to say, meaning that even the most remarkable things had logical explanations.” … “‘It’s all butterflies,” your grandmother said, meaning only fools believed in magic.”
The Body Farm consists of eleven stories that focus on, you guessed it, bodies, and how they can change in a multitude of ways. This collection is truly captivating and introspective in a way that’s not seen in a lot of books these days. The themes range from freedom, growth, and ultimately, acceptance. My favorites are “A Spell For Disappearing” and “Across, Beyond, Through.” Definitely recommend.
This week’s headline? Welcome to the Anthropological Research Center.
Why this book? The one sentence synopses of some of the stories intrigued me.
Which book format? ARC
Primary reading environment? Sunday afternoons when the light can still come in through the blinds
Any preconceived notions? There’s gonna be some heavy stuff, right? I’m in.
Identify most with? “never got attached”
Three little words? “ephemeral like mayflies”
Goes well with? Shark bites, spells, letters from an inmate
Recommend this to? People who like haunting, thoughtful short stories with a literary slant.
Other cultural accompaniments: https://c-j-l-c.org/portfolio/across-...
I leave you with this: “‘It’s all butterflies,’ your grandmother used to say, meaning that even the most remarkable things had logical explanations.” … “‘It’s all butterflies,” your grandmother said, meaning only fools believed in magic.”
The Body Farm consists of eleven stories that focus on, you guessed it, bodies, and how they can change in a multitude of ways. This collection is truly captivating and introspective in a way that’s not seen in a lot of books these days. The themes range from freedom, growth, and ultimately, acceptance. My favorites are “A Spell For Disappearing” and “Across, Beyond, Through.” Definitely recommend.
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February 17, 2025NOT WHAT IT SEEMS
This book was quite a disappointment if you read the title and the blurb it does not match what the book is actually about. Honestly, I never would have bought it had I known.
I decided to DNF at 50% because it’s just not for me. I agree some short stories are better than others but overall I’m not a fan.
This book was quite a disappointment if you read the title and the blurb it does not match what the book is actually about. Honestly, I never would have bought it had I known.
I decided to DNF at 50% because it’s just not for me. I agree some short stories are better than others but overall I’m not a fan.
September 19, 2025
I love this author and hope to see more. Short stories usually aren’t my thing, but this author writes in an engaging manner. Her specialty is nature and animals but I really enjoyed the father/son, shark and body farm story
January 11, 2025
Beautiful writing, beautiful stories. Each short story was gripping in its own way, and I loved each one.
September 27, 2024
did not start out promising but by the end of it i found myself really enjoying most of these stories
the titular story is easily the best one but unfortunately sticks out A LOT from the rest of the anthology. with a title like this you’d assume these stories would be creepy or at least involve some darker subject matter but most don’t. they are, for the the most part, very normal and mundane stories about family and love and all that. i think Petrichor should’ve been the titular stories or maybe something along the lines of “stories for rainy days” because that captures the vibe of the stories more. also i’m someone who hates covid fiction but the covid story in this was one of the better stories in the book. the story about alzheimer’s and the one about visiting your first love in jail were cute too
the titular story is easily the best one but unfortunately sticks out A LOT from the rest of the anthology. with a title like this you’d assume these stories would be creepy or at least involve some darker subject matter but most don’t. they are, for the the most part, very normal and mundane stories about family and love and all that. i think Petrichor should’ve been the titular stories or maybe something along the lines of “stories for rainy days” because that captures the vibe of the stories more. also i’m someone who hates covid fiction but the covid story in this was one of the better stories in the book. the story about alzheimer’s and the one about visiting your first love in jail were cute too
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2025
Ohhhhh I was really into these.
General thoughts before I review the stories individually:
Really intimate vibe to all of these- sometimes the narrative voice blends together a bit, like sounding a bit too similar, but sometimes Geni is really able to channel someone uniquely interesting. Sometimes the characters can also act a little unbelievable, if that makes sense. A little too dramatic or concise or morally on the high ground for them to really read as something I could believe happening.
All the same, I think all of these were really fun and easy to breeze through, all while sucker punching me directly in my solar plexus whenever I thought I was safe! I cried multiple times! This has to be some kind of prank show! I loved the different concepts and especially really super enjoyed the different perspectives- lots of switches between 1st and 2nd and 3rd perspective to tell the stories, some even being written in perspectives I’ve NEVER seen before. Which I’ll get into.
Just. Yeah. Really cool stuff that I’ll have to think about when considering future writing.
Rapture of the deep:
Pretty, short stuff. Geni writes the yearning for the sea exactly correctly. Obsessed with the imagery, really made me want to kick off the next story in high spirits.
A spell for disappearing:
Loved the witchy vibe without ever leaning too far into actual magic. #Womensupportingwomen
Across, beyond, through:
MADE ME CRY. DAMN. The dad felt extremely woke for a guy of that age but as much as I want to take points off for unrealistic behaviour I kind of want to live in a mindspace where it’s not unrealistic. Yay supportive parent.
The first rule of Natalie:
Whimsical and dark at the same time. Kind of a sweet if not slightly disturbing way for a kid to bridge that disconnect between siblings. Wasn’t my favourite but it was interesting.
Love in Florida:
Not a stand out at ALL but I like this enemies but also lovers thing they have happening. Otherwise eh
Porcupines in trees:
I wasn’t ready. I kind of wish this book had a list of trigger warnings or something just so I could know there’d be some really serious and graphic depictions of self harm/suicide stuff. While I liked this story overall for the porcupine metaphor/realistic depiction of things, there was a point where I had to actually put the book down and breathe for a second.
So like, be warned! Consider me your fire alarm!
Mother, sister, wife, daughter:
Weird one but I REALLY liked the use of the word “we” to tell the story- there’s no one narrator, the whole story is told by the sisters as a concept, as one being. No one specific ever speaks directly to tell the story, just a “we did this”. The actual plot was fine, if not a little tedious.
Childish:
Oh.
Heartbreaking. Made me think of my own grandparents, and what it must be like to love someone that much. Was so touched by the thought of how strong that love is to fight through the last moments of your life to make your amnesiac lover something beautiful that you know she’ll find joy in, JUST so she’ll find joy in it. His last gift to her is something he knows she’ll appreciate even as her mind crumbles because he KNOWS her.
Idk man I cried many tears. Just. Ouch
Starlike:
I already hate her husband. What a cool woman to be stuck to the side of a man like that. Get rid of him, girl.
Wasn’t revolutionary stuff but I enjoyed the brief look at planets having just learned more stuff about gravity and Jupiter. Fun.
Petrichor:
Holy fuck. Scariest short story (story in general) that I’ve read in a long long time. This is actually my nightmare. 7/10 I didn’t like this but it wasn’t a bad story
The body farm:
SO FUCKING COOL. Best for last, naturally. Awesome insane concept and I want this specific story to be a whole entire novel.
Anyway, clearly I’ve got to think about how to write stuff to be more fun, and how best to really kick my readers in the proverbial dick.
So glad I randomly picked this up in the library having heard nothing about it. I never ever ever do that normally but… Cover design goes nuts and staff recommendations always have me curious……
Anyway good refreshing read between heavy third instalments of sci fi fantasy novels. Taylor out
General thoughts before I review the stories individually:
Really intimate vibe to all of these- sometimes the narrative voice blends together a bit, like sounding a bit too similar, but sometimes Geni is really able to channel someone uniquely interesting. Sometimes the characters can also act a little unbelievable, if that makes sense. A little too dramatic or concise or morally on the high ground for them to really read as something I could believe happening.
All the same, I think all of these were really fun and easy to breeze through, all while sucker punching me directly in my solar plexus whenever I thought I was safe! I cried multiple times! This has to be some kind of prank show! I loved the different concepts and especially really super enjoyed the different perspectives- lots of switches between 1st and 2nd and 3rd perspective to tell the stories, some even being written in perspectives I’ve NEVER seen before. Which I’ll get into.
Just. Yeah. Really cool stuff that I’ll have to think about when considering future writing.
Rapture of the deep:
Pretty, short stuff. Geni writes the yearning for the sea exactly correctly. Obsessed with the imagery, really made me want to kick off the next story in high spirits.
A spell for disappearing:
Loved the witchy vibe without ever leaning too far into actual magic. #Womensupportingwomen
Across, beyond, through:
MADE ME CRY. DAMN. The dad felt extremely woke for a guy of that age but as much as I want to take points off for unrealistic behaviour I kind of want to live in a mindspace where it’s not unrealistic. Yay supportive parent.
The first rule of Natalie:
Whimsical and dark at the same time. Kind of a sweet if not slightly disturbing way for a kid to bridge that disconnect between siblings. Wasn’t my favourite but it was interesting.
Love in Florida:
Not a stand out at ALL but I like this enemies but also lovers thing they have happening. Otherwise eh
Porcupines in trees:
I wasn’t ready. I kind of wish this book had a list of trigger warnings or something just so I could know there’d be some really serious and graphic depictions of self harm/suicide stuff. While I liked this story overall for the porcupine metaphor/realistic depiction of things, there was a point where I had to actually put the book down and breathe for a second.
So like, be warned! Consider me your fire alarm!
Mother, sister, wife, daughter:
Weird one but I REALLY liked the use of the word “we” to tell the story- there’s no one narrator, the whole story is told by the sisters as a concept, as one being. No one specific ever speaks directly to tell the story, just a “we did this”. The actual plot was fine, if not a little tedious.
Childish:
Oh.
Heartbreaking. Made me think of my own grandparents, and what it must be like to love someone that much. Was so touched by the thought of how strong that love is to fight through the last moments of your life to make your amnesiac lover something beautiful that you know she’ll find joy in, JUST so she’ll find joy in it. His last gift to her is something he knows she’ll appreciate even as her mind crumbles because he KNOWS her.
Idk man I cried many tears. Just. Ouch
Starlike:
I already hate her husband. What a cool woman to be stuck to the side of a man like that. Get rid of him, girl.
Wasn’t revolutionary stuff but I enjoyed the brief look at planets having just learned more stuff about gravity and Jupiter. Fun.
Petrichor:
Holy fuck. Scariest short story (story in general) that I’ve read in a long long time. This is actually my nightmare. 7/10 I didn’t like this but it wasn’t a bad story
The body farm:
SO FUCKING COOL. Best for last, naturally. Awesome insane concept and I want this specific story to be a whole entire novel.
Anyway, clearly I’ve got to think about how to write stuff to be more fun, and how best to really kick my readers in the proverbial dick.
So glad I randomly picked this up in the library having heard nothing about it. I never ever ever do that normally but… Cover design goes nuts and staff recommendations always have me curious……
Anyway good refreshing read between heavy third instalments of sci fi fantasy novels. Taylor out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2025
Short story collections are hard to review, and this one particularly so. Each and every story deserves a review of its own. Because of this it is a slow read, as the ending of each essay compels the reader to sit back and think.
There are biology-based stories, which of course appealed to me. "The Rapture of the Deep," the first story, has a background of wildlife research, much like the setting of The Lightkeepers. In this case, sharks -- and the remarkable courage of a woman who is so in love with her job that she returns to shark tagging after nearly losing her life to a tiger shark. The title story (which is the last) is about an entomologist who studies insects on decaying cadavers. It comes with fascinatingly well researched biological details, but perhaps more importantly, the protagonist is in a longterm, very happy lesbian relationship that is being threatened from without. So naturally there is a murder.
Gender identification and gender roles is a common theme in this collection, and very well handled indeed. In "Across, Beyond, Through," a devoted father is coping with the realisation that his teenaged daughter wishes to be a boy. In "Porcupines in Trees" a woman in a happy lesbian relationship struggles with a profound depression that she cannot understand. In "Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter" a girl is taxed with the blatant failure of her father to act as a father was expected to behave.
There is variety, however. In "A Spell for Disappearing" a woman who is being stalked and courted by a plausible money-stealing crook solves her dilemma with witchcraft. In "Love in Florida" there is a man whose first love appeals for him to visit the prison where she is incarcerated. In "The First Rule of Natalie" a young girl is convinced that her autistic sister is a Selkie. And there are others. Probably my favorite -- ""Petrichor" -- is about a woman who loses all six senses in the Covid epidemic.
All are explorations of the depths of human nature, and all are worth reading. You will need to take your time, but will be well rewarded.
There are biology-based stories, which of course appealed to me. "The Rapture of the Deep," the first story, has a background of wildlife research, much like the setting of The Lightkeepers. In this case, sharks -- and the remarkable courage of a woman who is so in love with her job that she returns to shark tagging after nearly losing her life to a tiger shark. The title story (which is the last) is about an entomologist who studies insects on decaying cadavers. It comes with fascinatingly well researched biological details, but perhaps more importantly, the protagonist is in a longterm, very happy lesbian relationship that is being threatened from without. So naturally there is a murder.
Gender identification and gender roles is a common theme in this collection, and very well handled indeed. In "Across, Beyond, Through," a devoted father is coping with the realisation that his teenaged daughter wishes to be a boy. In "Porcupines in Trees" a woman in a happy lesbian relationship struggles with a profound depression that she cannot understand. In "Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter" a girl is taxed with the blatant failure of her father to act as a father was expected to behave.
There is variety, however. In "A Spell for Disappearing" a woman who is being stalked and courted by a plausible money-stealing crook solves her dilemma with witchcraft. In "Love in Florida" there is a man whose first love appeals for him to visit the prison where she is incarcerated. In "The First Rule of Natalie" a young girl is convinced that her autistic sister is a Selkie. And there are others. Probably my favorite -- ""Petrichor" -- is about a woman who loses all six senses in the Covid epidemic.
All are explorations of the depths of human nature, and all are worth reading. You will need to take your time, but will be well rewarded.
August 13, 2024
A stellar collection! Abby Geni has one other collection and two novels I believe and she is always writing about humans and nature, her love of the natural world boundless. Can't wait to read more.
"The Body Farm" is the last story in this collection, referring to a research center that studies how bodies decompose. I don't want to forget this collection so I'm going to write a little about each of my favorite stories.
"The Rapture of the Deep" - Daughter of an adventurous woman, Eloise works as a shark tagger while her brother wishes she would choose a safer occupation. Beautiful descriptions of what it's like in the rapture of the deep.
"Across, Beyond, Through" - A teenager calls her Dad to rescue her from her mother and they drive days together back to his apartment.
"Porcupines in Trees" - Lila has a mental break and her wife Simone takes her to a cabin to recover. I believe Geni is married to a woman so you'll find LGBTQ themes in several stories.
"Mother, Sister, Wife, Daughter" - After being left by their father, are the sisters doomed to be left by every man? This one is so good!!!
"Petrichor" - It's the beginning of the Pandemic and Hannah loses her sense of smell. And then her taste...and then her hearing...and then...
BTW "petrichor" means a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather - the more you know!
"The Body Farm" is the last story in this collection, referring to a research center that studies how bodies decompose. I don't want to forget this collection so I'm going to write a little about each of my favorite stories.
"The Rapture of the Deep" - Daughter of an adventurous woman, Eloise works as a shark tagger while her brother wishes she would choose a safer occupation. Beautiful descriptions of what it's like in the rapture of the deep.
"Across, Beyond, Through" - A teenager calls her Dad to rescue her from her mother and they drive days together back to his apartment.
"Porcupines in Trees" - Lila has a mental break and her wife Simone takes her to a cabin to recover. I believe Geni is married to a woman so you'll find LGBTQ themes in several stories.
"Mother, Sister, Wife, Daughter" - After being left by their father, are the sisters doomed to be left by every man? This one is so good!!!
"Petrichor" - It's the beginning of the Pandemic and Hannah loses her sense of smell. And then her taste...and then her hearing...and then...
BTW "petrichor" means a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather - the more you know!
July 18, 2024
This book gently took me by surprise. I’ve really been enjoying reading short stories, anthologies, and collections. But as we all know, you may get some stories that you like better than others, and it can feel really uneven, so I went into this read not expecting much but getting so much from it.
I think the author did a great job of finding a thread to weave through every story while still making sure each one feels distinguishable and tender. The way in which Geni is able to open this lens of examination onto the human body is truly one worth exploring. Some of these stories feel personal and intimate while being painful and brutal. Not only do they look into the way our bodies protect themselves, harm themselves, and change, but also the ways in which our bodies are destroyed.
Like I said, I went into reading this prepared for it to go either way: for me to not like any of the stories or get that usual mixed bag. But "The Body Farm" brings out a lot of emotions and felt like a silent killer. The stories creep and linger with you each in their own way. Definitely worth checking out.
My Favorites from This Collection:
Starlike
The Body Farm
Across, Beyond, Through
Childish
I think the author did a great job of finding a thread to weave through every story while still making sure each one feels distinguishable and tender. The way in which Geni is able to open this lens of examination onto the human body is truly one worth exploring. Some of these stories feel personal and intimate while being painful and brutal. Not only do they look into the way our bodies protect themselves, harm themselves, and change, but also the ways in which our bodies are destroyed.
Like I said, I went into reading this prepared for it to go either way: for me to not like any of the stories or get that usual mixed bag. But "The Body Farm" brings out a lot of emotions and felt like a silent killer. The stories creep and linger with you each in their own way. Definitely worth checking out.
My Favorites from This Collection:
Starlike
The Body Farm
Across, Beyond, Through
Childish
September 25, 2024
All these short stories are about what makes us human, and what it's like inhabiting our bodies.
At first, I had trouble entering the vibe of the book.
I'm so glad I stuck around because in some ways it was really what I wanted to read. The themes of inhabiting our body, and needing to deal with what it just does (illnesses mostly) are really something that rang a bell to me.
Though the theme is the same, each short story is quite different, even in their storytelling (in various they use the 2nd person narration, which is unusual and I often hate but it was really interesting there). The characters are diverse and their experiences are different. The family members and friends fighting alongside those dealing with difficult things really moved me. Loved so much seeing people showing empathy without needing to fully understand the experiences of those hurting, it healed something in me.
At first, I had trouble entering the vibe of the book.
I'm so glad I stuck around because in some ways it was really what I wanted to read. The themes of inhabiting our body, and needing to deal with what it just does (illnesses mostly) are really something that rang a bell to me.
Though the theme is the same, each short story is quite different, even in their storytelling (in various they use the 2nd person narration, which is unusual and I often hate but it was really interesting there). The characters are diverse and their experiences are different. The family members and friends fighting alongside those dealing with difficult things really moved me. Loved so much seeing people showing empathy without needing to fully understand the experiences of those hurting, it healed something in me.
December 7, 2024
It’s been a while since I’ve read short stories, but I really felt like reading them again and Abby Geni was an obvious choice.
The Body Farm is her second short story collection, and like with her previous collection, The Last Animal, I did go into it with slightly false expectations. I always consider Geni as a nature writer and forget how she focuses specifically on human nature. The characters often work in natural sciences or just enjoy the outdoors, but it’s more like a backdrop instead of the actual topic.
The Body Farm, to my mind, has three main themes: our bodies and our families and how changes in our bodies affect our family members. Changes that might come with age or self-discovery for example. The title story really stood out for me (it’s about a woman who studies how bodies decompose while her wife’s stalker ex comes into the picture), but all of them are good - no huge disappointments here.
The Body Farm is her second short story collection, and like with her previous collection, The Last Animal, I did go into it with slightly false expectations. I always consider Geni as a nature writer and forget how she focuses specifically on human nature. The characters often work in natural sciences or just enjoy the outdoors, but it’s more like a backdrop instead of the actual topic.
The Body Farm, to my mind, has three main themes: our bodies and our families and how changes in our bodies affect our family members. Changes that might come with age or self-discovery for example. The title story really stood out for me (it’s about a woman who studies how bodies decompose while her wife’s stalker ex comes into the picture), but all of them are good - no huge disappointments here.
September 25, 2025
The style of writing and the pacing of the stories are exquisite. Still, more often than not, the entire premise around a story becomes predictable, or somehow simplistic, leaving the reader disappointed about the unfulfilled potential of the characters or plot. In fewer words, these stories could go deeper, could have more profound meaning, in my opinion. What the author does is illuminate certain key social issues in each story, offering self-empowerment and catharsis. That is definitely good, but the outcome leaves much to be desired from the story as a story itself, because the authorial lens is 90% fixed on just that. Plus, this collection reads heavily as a self-empowerment or self-help book from time to time. It might also just not be my cup of tea, and this is fine. I enjoyed the vocabulary and the writing style, these stories have a nice flow and will keep you good company.
June 2, 2024
After reading the first story I had concerns. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and thought it was dull. Thankfully the other short stories had characters I liked and interesting plots. My favorites were “A Spell For Disappearing”, “Petrichor” and “Porcupines In Trees”. Sometimes short stories are easier because you don’t need to remember characters or other details as you would in a full novel. I have had little sleep the past few weeks so a story that was 30 pages or so fed my need to read without everything that’s involved with reading a novel.
Thank you to the publisher for a free copy in exchange of an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for a free copy in exchange of an honest review.
May 10, 2025
after the first couple of stories, I did not like this book. I doubted that an author could encompass so many POV‘s respectfully and effectively. Once I got to a story that resonated with my POV, I realized how well thought out and executed these narratives truly were. I also think I struggled with the strong emotions these stories invoked in me. I’ve been reading a lot of horror and it does not get to me the way that some of these stories did. Oddly, this book gave me more nightmares than others I’ve read recently.
June 24, 2024
I’m not one for short stories, but now I think I might be. At least short stories like this. Stories about the human condition. About life. Living. Trauma. This collection had it all and it was so exquisitely done. Each story left me wanting to know more about all the characters, their stories and where they ended up. It was enchanting in the most mundane way possible. Bravo, Abby Geni, you have made a short story avoider become a short story connoisseur.
August 23, 2024
Was given a free copy of “A spell for disappearing” short story by BOTM. It’s a quick read & was entertaining. I appreciated the brevity most.
Ulf preys on wealthy women by luring them into marriages, abusing them, then divorcing & leaving with half. Ruth, a long time ex girlfriend who had made it her mission to interject, confronts the current girl, who is also a witch? When he leaves for the weekend, that girl casts a vanishing spell to disappear herself.
Ulf preys on wealthy women by luring them into marriages, abusing them, then divorcing & leaving with half. Ruth, a long time ex girlfriend who had made it her mission to interject, confronts the current girl, who is also a witch? When he leaves for the weekend, that girl casts a vanishing spell to disappear herself.
May 18, 2024
The Body Farm is gorgeously written, emotionally resonant, and full of empathy--even when the stories themselves are intense (and, at times, brutal). Combining uniquely evocative and precise descriptions of the natural world with real emotional heft, Geni's stories are the kind that will have you noticing the beautiful details in your own life--and, occasionally, choking back tears as you read.
June 5, 2024
5.0 stars
500 stars. I loved loved loved this collection of short stories. Each story has an underlying theme related to the human body and its natural adaptability, perseverance, resilience, and toughness. The writing style and so many of the characters felt empathetic and vulnerable.
Just so darn good.
500 stars. I loved loved loved this collection of short stories. Each story has an underlying theme related to the human body and its natural adaptability, perseverance, resilience, and toughness. The writing style and so many of the characters felt empathetic and vulnerable.
Just so darn good.
June 12, 2024
Really fantastic collection connected by a theme of human frailty in all forms -- body and mind. Terrible humans abound in these stories -- child abusers, stalkers, bad spouses, and more. But there is also beauty and empathy and quiet moments so lovely they almost bring you to tears. I love collections like this -- stories that feel real and grounded and utterly human. Highly recommended!
July 19, 2025
This is a review for A Spell for Disappearing featured in August 2024’s Book of the Month box. No Volume 0 exists on Goodreads :(
This was one of the better short stories I’ve read - kept me on edge through the end. I’m actually pretty impressed because I normally don’t like this format but I had fun.
This was one of the better short stories I’ve read - kept me on edge through the end. I’m actually pretty impressed because I normally don’t like this format but I had fun.
September 20, 2025
Tender moments and page-turning plots. The stories were well paced, definitely meant to be short stories rather than extended novels. I really liked all of them, especially taken together (distinct, but with hints of thematic overlap), but didn’t *love* them. I think the blurb and reviews actually summarize this collection and the feelings it evokes quite well
July 16, 2024
Not a fan of short stories, I started reading this book prepared to not be interested, certain I wouldn’t even finish it. However, I found the stories to be interesting and intriguing. I will reread more by this author!
August 12, 2024
The stories had a full plot, character arcs and more than I would have expected for a relatively short book. Childish had my extensional crisis phase coming back and was really sad ; the stained glass??. And the story named after the title, was criminally entertaining, considering the topic of said story. Taught me some things, about plans... no need to get into the rest.
August 17, 2024
Some short story collections read like a group of vignettes that stand on their own. Some collections read like a pile of novel seeds not quite ready to sprout. This leans to the latter but even then contains the turns of phrase I expect from Geni and for that alone is worth the read.
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