God Leaks Out of Your Armpit

by Quigley Cryan Brockbank

Organ tours, drowning on land and mouths in unexpected places: God Leaks Out of Your Armpit is a striking debut that resists easy categorisation.
At times darkly funny, at others tenderly shocking, Quigley Cryan Brockbank’s first short story collection explores the horrible freedom of transformation and all that we do to suppress it.
Across a range of unique voices, protagonists find themselves trapped – in childhoods, in devotion, on public transport – and it is only through the body’s instability and binary breakdown that release, often unwelcome, is found. With lyrical wit and a visceral honesty, God Leaks Out of Your Armpit is a testament to the futility of repression and to all the bodies that refuse to be silenced.

52 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2024

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this selection, of what I would call Surrealist short stories. Some of them made me laugh out loud,I enjoy black comedy. My favourite was Galatea,, I felt like it was set in a bygone era and although it didn’t make me laugh, it had a twist I wasn’t expecting. I would highly recommend the book. The only problem with it is that it was all over too soon!

[Olivia Bontoft · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are so unique & twisted, some make you feel uncomfortable but others I could find my own interpretation of a deeper meaning in them (especially ‘Forty Days and Forty Nights’)

It was such a different read to what I’m used to - ‘Galatea’ & ‘Yeah, but I don’t think it really means anything” were my favs as both had a twist which made my mouth drop open 🫠🤣

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! This is a short story collection strongly based in body horror, without relying on unneccessary violence - it rather explores bodily functions and what our flesh prisons might get up to if they were able to have intrusive thoughts. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata and frankly everyone else looking for a fun time and new perspective on the sacks of flesh that are the vehicles for our souls.

[Emmie McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars, for me. This was a bizarre, enthralling little collection. Not every story hit the mark for me, personally, but the one's that did left my jaw on the floor. It's clear that Quigley can write really well. I'm keen to recommend this to my friends with disabilities, neurodivergence and chronic illness, in particular -- maybe I'm reading into things in a particular way, but so many of the themes at play here really spoke to me as someone who's body is often more of a medical anomaly than a home.

[Andy N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've known Quigley for a few years now - met her at a spoken word open mic where she read out one of the stories in this all-too-short book, and it was brilliant, completely different from everything on the night, and bloody (bloody being the word) brilliant.

This book is everything which I expected from Quigley and more. I won't give tons away, but this is a wild, weird, unexpected, gory and tender book, often within the same story.

Get it. You won't be disappeared.

[Sereca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating stories with an interesting dark twist to some of them. Easy to dip in and out of, loved the one with the ear at the end! Would recommend if you want a quick, easy and weird new read!

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title really suits the vibe of the book. Very good and very much recommended - especially to those who like slightly eerie/spooky/body related things. Felt very drawn into each story and uncomfortable (in a good way). Given how short each story is (and the book as a whole) there's quite a range in terms of narrative voices and ideas too. Taking people on a tour of the rare organs in your body for instance - love it. Very beautifully done stories I thought.