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How Much the Heart Can Hold: Seven Stories on Love
'No one has measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold.'
Zelda Fitzgerald
Love is not a singular concept.
In this collection, seven award-winning authors explore seven concepts of love: from Philautia, self-love, to Agape, love for humanity; and from Storge, a natural affection for family, to Mania, a frenzied, obsessive love.
Seven authors; seven short stories; seven flashes of love.
Zelda Fitzgerald
Love is not a singular concept.
In this collection, seven award-winning authors explore seven concepts of love: from Philautia, self-love, to Agape, love for humanity; and from Storge, a natural affection for family, to Mania, a frenzied, obsessive love.
Seven authors; seven short stories; seven flashes of love.
151 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2016
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873 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 4, 2016
(3.5) The heart holds a lot of metaphorical weight. These seven stories are unusual windows onto different kinds of love (often one of the ancient Greek classifications), from familial to erotic. Carys Bray’s and Nikesh Shukla’s stories are particular highlights; there is also strong work from Donal Ryan and Rowan Hisayo Buchanan. I enjoyed how these stories use loose definitions of the various types of love and play around with the boundaries. Ultimately, my rating reflects the fact that the quality is uneven: there are two excellent stories, two very good ones, and three that fall into the range of okay or forgettable. Still, this is a quick read and one that will introduce you to new authors and/or reacquaint you with familiar ones.
See my full review at The Bookbag.
See my full review at The Bookbag.
November 24, 2016
This rating reflects the inconsistency of my enjoyment of these stories.
La Douleur Exquise, Philautia, and Agape were the stand-out stories for me. It's worth picking this book up at your library for those stories alone. They were the ones that had an impact on me emotionally and that I was really pulled into.
Mania and Storge were enjoyable, but didn't have a great impact on me.
And then Pragma and Eros I just found a bit meh. The writing itself was okay but the stories and characters meant nothing to me. In fact, I was actively annoyed by the main character in Pragma. Maybe something to do with my lack of caring about emotionally unfaithful straight white dudes.
I think the idea of the collection is really interesting though. I rolled my eyes when I read the title initially. Then when I saw that it was about different types of love and not just limited to romantic love, my interest was sparked. I'm really glad that I read it, because the three stories that I enjoyed the most were wonderful. They encompassed such different feelings and relationships, all wrapped up in some gorgeous writing styles.
La Douleur Exquise, Philautia, and Agape were the stand-out stories for me. It's worth picking this book up at your library for those stories alone. They were the ones that had an impact on me emotionally and that I was really pulled into.
Mania and Storge were enjoyable, but didn't have a great impact on me.
And then Pragma and Eros I just found a bit meh. The writing itself was okay but the stories and characters meant nothing to me. In fact, I was actively annoyed by the main character in Pragma. Maybe something to do with my lack of caring about emotionally unfaithful straight white dudes.
I think the idea of the collection is really interesting though. I rolled my eyes when I read the title initially. Then when I saw that it was about different types of love and not just limited to romantic love, my interest was sparked. I'm really glad that I read it, because the three stories that I enjoyed the most were wonderful. They encompassed such different feelings and relationships, all wrapped up in some gorgeous writing styles.
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April 30, 2021I'm growing increasingly unconvinced by the idea that there's too much of an emphasis on romantic love in stories, and that we "need" to explore other types of love.
I think we do explore those other kinds, often. I think every story about parents or siblings or friends or teams - about human beings, in other words - embraces those kinds of love, with the caveat only that they use different words to describe it.
Nevertheless, the 21st century "discovery" that there are other ways to love is this anthology’s raison d'être, and the results are varied, to say the least. Poorer stories range from the cynical (Hisayo Buchanan's Before it Disappears) and lofty (Wilson's One More Thing Coming Undone) to the unsatisfyingly simplistic (White Wine by Shukla) and, in the case of Evaristo's The Human World, so trite and performative as to be embarrassing.
Amongst them, there are gems; Donal Ryan's Magdala is effortlessly heart-wrenching in its depiction of an abandoned woman's mania, and Grace McCleen's The Love Story, like The Amber Spyglass , explores with courage a youthful sexuality that most writers fear to tread.
Finally, in this paperback, there is Phoebe Roy's humble It Was Summer - an exquisitely crafted love story in its most refined form, and without doubt the absolute standout of the collection.
And I wonder...
Of the eight stories here, ostensibly exploring these new ways of perceiving love, five still revolve around classical, yearning, romance, in its raw and desperate form. Even when writers are tasked with subverting romance, they find themselves compelled by the emotional and physical collision of two people.
So I wonder if that pedestal we put romantic love on is less about some dubious societal conditioning, as so many cynics would have it, and more about the fact that it really is a keystone of the human condition, distinct and more enriching than so many other lived experiences.
Time will provide an answer, either way.
I think we do explore those other kinds, often. I think every story about parents or siblings or friends or teams - about human beings, in other words - embraces those kinds of love, with the caveat only that they use different words to describe it.
Nevertheless, the 21st century "discovery" that there are other ways to love is this anthology’s raison d'être, and the results are varied, to say the least. Poorer stories range from the cynical (Hisayo Buchanan's Before it Disappears) and lofty (Wilson's One More Thing Coming Undone) to the unsatisfyingly simplistic (White Wine by Shukla) and, in the case of Evaristo's The Human World, so trite and performative as to be embarrassing.
Amongst them, there are gems; Donal Ryan's Magdala is effortlessly heart-wrenching in its depiction of an abandoned woman's mania, and Grace McCleen's The Love Story, like The Amber Spyglass , explores with courage a youthful sexuality that most writers fear to tread.
Finally, in this paperback, there is Phoebe Roy's humble It Was Summer - an exquisitely crafted love story in its most refined form, and without doubt the absolute standout of the collection.
And I wonder...
Of the eight stories here, ostensibly exploring these new ways of perceiving love, five still revolve around classical, yearning, romance, in its raw and desperate form. Even when writers are tasked with subverting romance, they find themselves compelled by the emotional and physical collision of two people.
So I wonder if that pedestal we put romantic love on is less about some dubious societal conditioning, as so many cynics would have it, and more about the fact that it really is a keystone of the human condition, distinct and more enriching than so many other lived experiences.
Time will provide an answer, either way.
July 24, 2018
A unique and wonderful collection of short stories that redefine the definitions of love. My particular favourites were: Before It Disappears, Magdala, Who Slips Sometimes, The Love Story and The Human World, yet there are moments of beauty and exceptional writing in every piece.
December 4, 2016
Nearly five stars but didn't love last two stories quite as much. This is my favourite short story collection - really powerful and made me want to read more by almost all the authors.
February 2, 2019
Subtitled ‘seven stories on love’ (though there are actually eight in this paperback edition), this anthology sets out to quash the idea that love is a purely romantic notion. It does so by having each of its stories explore a different kind of love; such as unrequited love, obsessional love, familial love, and love for oneself.
I had been looking forward to picking this up for a while. After all, there are a couple of authors featured within that I already really like (Donal Ryan and Carys Bray), and some others I was keen to try. Perhaps those high expectations contributed to my prevailing lukewarm feelings, but I have to admit that I found the collection as a whole, and most of the individual stories themselves, stronger in concept than in execution.
That said, I’ll talk a little about the ones I enjoyed most. White Wine by Nikesh Shukla is a simple, readable, and timely story that shines a light on institutionalised racism. Its message is clear, without being heavy-handed: You cannot see how wrongly you are being treated by others until you love and accept yourself for who you are.
Codas by Carys Bray is about the evolving nature of familial love. Our main character, a woman in her 40s, is at the stage in life when her son is beginning to find his own feet, whilst her father is becoming more dependant with age and illness. Both still need her maternal brand of love and support, but the way it manifests towards both is changing as the cycle of life moves on.
It Was Summer by Phoebe Roy (the 8th story exclusive to the paperback edition) uses the structure of the seasons as the backdrop to a new relationship between two men, as their love for each other ebbs and flows.
A couple of others had brilliant set-ups, but one employed a little too much magical realism for my personal taste, whilst another was too thin on plot, and far too overt with its political message (even if I agreed with it). The other three, I have to say, were entirely forgettable.
Altogether, that made for a very mixed reading experience. It’s certainly worth checking out if the overarching concept intrigues you, or if there are writers involved that you’re particularly keen to try. But I can’t say it’s a collection that is likely to stay with me.
I had been looking forward to picking this up for a while. After all, there are a couple of authors featured within that I already really like (Donal Ryan and Carys Bray), and some others I was keen to try. Perhaps those high expectations contributed to my prevailing lukewarm feelings, but I have to admit that I found the collection as a whole, and most of the individual stories themselves, stronger in concept than in execution.
That said, I’ll talk a little about the ones I enjoyed most. White Wine by Nikesh Shukla is a simple, readable, and timely story that shines a light on institutionalised racism. Its message is clear, without being heavy-handed: You cannot see how wrongly you are being treated by others until you love and accept yourself for who you are.
Codas by Carys Bray is about the evolving nature of familial love. Our main character, a woman in her 40s, is at the stage in life when her son is beginning to find his own feet, whilst her father is becoming more dependant with age and illness. Both still need her maternal brand of love and support, but the way it manifests towards both is changing as the cycle of life moves on.
It Was Summer by Phoebe Roy (the 8th story exclusive to the paperback edition) uses the structure of the seasons as the backdrop to a new relationship between two men, as their love for each other ebbs and flows.
A couple of others had brilliant set-ups, but one employed a little too much magical realism for my personal taste, whilst another was too thin on plot, and far too overt with its political message (even if I agreed with it). The other three, I have to say, were entirely forgettable.
Altogether, that made for a very mixed reading experience. It’s certainly worth checking out if the overarching concept intrigues you, or if there are writers involved that you’re particularly keen to try. But I can’t say it’s a collection that is likely to stay with me.
November 8, 2017
Love-you'd think it's one of the most clichéd of emotions-songs, movies, ballads, odes, rap songs, musicals. I chanced upon this while glancing through the racks of Shakespeare & Co. (Ok, the real story-Mathilde found it for me) and I was instantly hooked. Every short story centres around very different forms of love-love for oneself, selfless love, lust, persistent love and so many shades that you wouldn't even imagine. If you want your notions questioned and want to redefine your definition of love-do read this one!
April 29, 2017
I was gonna give it 3 stars, but then I read the last story..! Very powerful and a painful depiction of our world... Sadly...
All of the stories show us that love comes with many different faces...!
That was an interesting book!
All of the stories show us that love comes with many different faces...!
That was an interesting book!
November 29, 2017
An unconventional collection of love stories most of which didn't float my boat. This can be the problem with a collection. The only one's that stood out were written by Bernardine Evaristo and Carys Bray. The SceptreLoves short story prize winner, Phoebe Roy is not credited as an author on the front cover, her contribution 'It was Summer' is okay.
October 16, 2018
Love stories that move me can be a rarity. They have to be a perfect balance of comedy, tragedy and sentiment.
Unfortunately none of the stories in this collection fulfilled that criteria entirely. There were tales that were sweet, that were stylistically impressive but none that gripped me throughout.
A few of the stories even left me completely flat: they dealt with a love affair that failed to connect with me or even frustrated me with inconsistencies in the way that that plot was related.
Nevertheless the collection's thematic structure worked well. I hope this helps to bring lesser-known Latin terms back into the lexicon.
Still my search for a uniquely touching romance goes on...
Notable Stories
• Codas by Carys Bray (Storge) - a story gently told about a very likeable and recognisable family.
• The Human World by Bernadine Evaristo (Agape) - I like the idea of this God but she didn't half go on.
• It Was Summer by Phoebe Hoy (Sceptre Loves) - this prize winner encompasses a heartening romance.
Unfortunately none of the stories in this collection fulfilled that criteria entirely. There were tales that were sweet, that were stylistically impressive but none that gripped me throughout.
A few of the stories even left me completely flat: they dealt with a love affair that failed to connect with me or even frustrated me with inconsistencies in the way that that plot was related.
Nevertheless the collection's thematic structure worked well. I hope this helps to bring lesser-known Latin terms back into the lexicon.
Still my search for a uniquely touching romance goes on...
Notable Stories
• Codas by Carys Bray (Storge) - a story gently told about a very likeable and recognisable family.
• The Human World by Bernadine Evaristo (Agape) - I like the idea of this God but she didn't half go on.
• It Was Summer by Phoebe Hoy (Sceptre Loves) - this prize winner encompasses a heartening romance.
July 26, 2022
I read this years ago but have just returned to it to reread "Before It Disappears" by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan. It's still my favourite short story. A heartbreaking picture of a relationship gone sour, an illness flaring up, and two people who need each other but are also disappointed in each other. The other stories are good too, but it's worth the five stars just for that one.
August 18, 2022
“Everything is more precious just before it vanishes.”
stories so beautiful, it hurts
stories so beautiful, it hurts
February 27, 2018
Seven stories about seven forms of love. Can there be that many really? Well yes as How Much the Heart Can Hold shows. Each of the stories in this collection focus on a different form of love: La Douleur Exquise – the exquisite pain of unrequited love; Pragma – a longstanding love; Philautia – self love, which can either be narcissism or a noble understanding of the self; Mania – a love that is without rational thinking; Storge- familial love; Eros – romantic love or desire and Agape – unconditional, altruistic love.
This collection takes the concept of love and turns it on it’s head. These are not traditional love stories for they are not inspired by the traditional concept of love. As you read some, the love that is the inspiration to the story is obvious, with others it is more subtle, emerging from the story sometimes after it has long since been read.
As with any collection there were stories I enjoyed more than others. The ones that standout for me are Codas by Carys Bray, White Wine by Nikesh Shukla and the final story, The Human World by Bernadine Evaristo.
Codas is a moving tale of familial love, in more than one respect and one in which many readers may see reflections of their own lives. White Wine is a story of self love but not of the narcissistic type. In it we see the internal battle to love who we are, that attempts to change our core to pleases others is often futile, that the issue is the other person’s alone and that this realisation is about finally loving ourselves. The Human World is based on altruistic love, of its futility and it’s reward and is thought-provoking in its concept.
All of the stories have the ability to effect the reader. Love is, after all, one of the ruling emotions for humans. The stories are moving, thought provoking, familiar and also unknown.
A varied, interesting, contemplative collection, with an unusual but effective theme.
(The paperback edition also features the winning story from the SceptreLoves short story Prize.)
This collection takes the concept of love and turns it on it’s head. These are not traditional love stories for they are not inspired by the traditional concept of love. As you read some, the love that is the inspiration to the story is obvious, with others it is more subtle, emerging from the story sometimes after it has long since been read.
As with any collection there were stories I enjoyed more than others. The ones that standout for me are Codas by Carys Bray, White Wine by Nikesh Shukla and the final story, The Human World by Bernadine Evaristo.
Codas is a moving tale of familial love, in more than one respect and one in which many readers may see reflections of their own lives. White Wine is a story of self love but not of the narcissistic type. In it we see the internal battle to love who we are, that attempts to change our core to pleases others is often futile, that the issue is the other person’s alone and that this realisation is about finally loving ourselves. The Human World is based on altruistic love, of its futility and it’s reward and is thought-provoking in its concept.
All of the stories have the ability to effect the reader. Love is, after all, one of the ruling emotions for humans. The stories are moving, thought provoking, familiar and also unknown.
A varied, interesting, contemplative collection, with an unusual but effective theme.
(The paperback edition also features the winning story from the SceptreLoves short story Prize.)
January 7, 2018
I absolutely love the concept of this book: a collection of short stories about the different types of love that exist. As with all short story collections that I've read, there were stories in this collection that I enjoyed more than others.
~~~ Vague ranking of stories: ~~~
1) Before It Disappears - la douleur exquise (the pain of unrequited love): reminded me of Han Kang's The Vegetarian. Painfully good story telling and definitely conveyed the type of love best.
2) White Wine - philutia (love for oneself): characters sucked me in straight away and had me rooting for Rupa.
3) The Human World - agape (love for humanity): I'm not religious in any way but, if there is a god, I hope they're as open-minded as the narrator of this story. Great end to the collection.
4) The Love Story - eros (erotic love): captured the first exploration of erotic love during adolescence really well by talking about the confusion, the shame, and the excitement.
5) Magdala, Who Slips Sometimes - mania (obsessive love)
6) Codas - storge (familial love)
7) One More Thing Coming Undone - pragma (enduring love): out of all of the stories, this one conveyed the type of love the least effectively to me. I wasn't convinced by the characters and their connections to each other.
~~~ Vague ranking of stories: ~~~
1) Before It Disappears - la douleur exquise (the pain of unrequited love): reminded me of Han Kang's The Vegetarian. Painfully good story telling and definitely conveyed the type of love best.
2) White Wine - philutia (love for oneself): characters sucked me in straight away and had me rooting for Rupa.
3) The Human World - agape (love for humanity): I'm not religious in any way but, if there is a god, I hope they're as open-minded as the narrator of this story. Great end to the collection.
4) The Love Story - eros (erotic love): captured the first exploration of erotic love during adolescence really well by talking about the confusion, the shame, and the excitement.
5) Magdala, Who Slips Sometimes - mania (obsessive love)
6) Codas - storge (familial love)
7) One More Thing Coming Undone - pragma (enduring love): out of all of the stories, this one conveyed the type of love the least effectively to me. I wasn't convinced by the characters and their connections to each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2022
3/5 ✨
I picked up this book thinking it would include different happy stories about love. That it focused on the different forms of love, which yes it did but in every sad way possible.I flicked through and was content but now I really wish I did a thorough flick through rather than a quick ooo looks nice and the cover is cute kind of thing! 😫💀
These stories were so intense and I think I’ve learned I’m not a massive lover of short stories especially ones with cliffhanger endings or endings that do not give the reader nor narrator closure😭
By the time I finished the first story I was upset and it kept getting worse and worse. They were all so unique and powerful in their own right and they all did well at letting the reader have a feel of these narrators who you come to know and understand in a matter of 20 or so pages.
But I really wish I got some sort of ending which I suppose defeats the intention and purpose of the story - and leaves it up to the reader to make a own personal conclusion.
Yes these stories were all v sad.
MAGDALA, WHO SLIPS SOMETIMES by Donal Ryan - the focus on the Mania type of love really really moved me. I think that one and La Douler Exquisite were the two that got to me the most. All raw and powerful on their own but something about these two🤍
I picked up this book thinking it would include different happy stories about love. That it focused on the different forms of love, which yes it did but in every sad way possible.I flicked through and was content but now I really wish I did a thorough flick through rather than a quick ooo looks nice and the cover is cute kind of thing! 😫💀
These stories were so intense and I think I’ve learned I’m not a massive lover of short stories especially ones with cliffhanger endings or endings that do not give the reader nor narrator closure😭
By the time I finished the first story I was upset and it kept getting worse and worse. They were all so unique and powerful in their own right and they all did well at letting the reader have a feel of these narrators who you come to know and understand in a matter of 20 or so pages.
But I really wish I got some sort of ending which I suppose defeats the intention and purpose of the story - and leaves it up to the reader to make a own personal conclusion.
Yes these stories were all v sad.
MAGDALA, WHO SLIPS SOMETIMES by Donal Ryan - the focus on the Mania type of love really really moved me. I think that one and La Douler Exquisite were the two that got to me the most. All raw and powerful on their own but something about these two🤍
April 11, 2018
3 stars. So, you know, it wasn't bad but it was a little disappointing. I don't know quite know what I expected but the stories just didn't move me as much as I had hoped they would.
While I did (at least most of the time) understand the connection between the story and the type of love that was being portrayed, the connection seemed very alternative at times. I suppose they could not be too cliche either and I get that, but at times the story felt so different from the expectation created by the type of love that I kept forgetting the main purpose of the collection: portraying the seven different types of love. Also, the language and context of the stories were all a little too modern for me and I would have appreciated if some of the stories were set in a wider variety of historical times. As a lover of historical fiction though, that may just be a personal thing.
Overall, the stories were nice. I particularly enjoyed One More Thing Coming Undone (Pragma), Magdala, Who Slips Sometimes (Mania) and The Human World (Agape) which was my favourite.
While I did (at least most of the time) understand the connection between the story and the type of love that was being portrayed, the connection seemed very alternative at times. I suppose they could not be too cliche either and I get that, but at times the story felt so different from the expectation created by the type of love that I kept forgetting the main purpose of the collection: portraying the seven different types of love. Also, the language and context of the stories were all a little too modern for me and I would have appreciated if some of the stories were set in a wider variety of historical times. As a lover of historical fiction though, that may just be a personal thing.
Overall, the stories were nice. I particularly enjoyed One More Thing Coming Undone (Pragma), Magdala, Who Slips Sometimes (Mania) and The Human World (Agape) which was my favourite.
October 4, 2020
I picked this up because I love Carys Bray and Bernadine Evaristo and as they were both featured writers I thought I’d be in for a treat. As it happens though, theirs are not the stand out stories for me. I did love the Carys Bray story but wasn’t blown away by Bernadine Evaristo this time.
The two stories that for me are absolute stand outs are the first - la doleur exquise: “before it disappears” which is just superb, a real page turner and with just enough magical realism for me, a fantasy-hater, to enjoy and to see the thinly drawn line between reality and non reality which parallels with the body dysmorphia of the anorexic. And the added bonus extra story in the paperback edition: “it was summer” which is just beautiful and exactly what, for me, a short story should be.
The Carys Bray is well worth a read as was the Nikesh Shukla. I liked the Donal Ryan too.
The other two are forgettable, the Grave McCleen was too bizarre for me and I really couldn’t get on with the DW Wilson.
So 4 stars because the two really good ones were so very good.
The two stories that for me are absolute stand outs are the first - la doleur exquise: “before it disappears” which is just superb, a real page turner and with just enough magical realism for me, a fantasy-hater, to enjoy and to see the thinly drawn line between reality and non reality which parallels with the body dysmorphia of the anorexic. And the added bonus extra story in the paperback edition: “it was summer” which is just beautiful and exactly what, for me, a short story should be.
The Carys Bray is well worth a read as was the Nikesh Shukla. I liked the Donal Ryan too.
The other two are forgettable, the Grave McCleen was too bizarre for me and I really couldn’t get on with the DW Wilson.
So 4 stars because the two really good ones were so very good.
January 3, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. I’m not usually a fan of short stories, because they’re over by the time I get into them. But not the case with some of these, they were well crafted. I also liked that the focus was not necessarily on romantic love. The stories covered many kinds of love.
I have discovered some new favourite authors through reading this too - loved the writing styles of Roman Hisayo Buchanan, Nikesh Shukla, Grace McCleen and Bernadine Evaristo. In the case of Bernadine Evaristo’s ‘The Human World’ - it’s probably the best short story I’ve read so far - it’s really original, innovative, but also beautifully worded.
I have discovered some new favourite authors through reading this too - loved the writing styles of Roman Hisayo Buchanan, Nikesh Shukla, Grace McCleen and Bernadine Evaristo. In the case of Bernadine Evaristo’s ‘The Human World’ - it’s probably the best short story I’ve read so far - it’s really original, innovative, but also beautifully worded.
June 9, 2018
I enjoyed the theme, but found the selection of stories hit-and-miss. Some I adored, some I rolled my eyes at.
Before It Disappears - 2
"With a tissue, he wipes his tears first and then his d---." Yuck.
One More Thing Coming Undone - 3
The "twist" felt like the narrator had been lying to me.
White Wine - 4
Magdala, Who Slips Sometimes - 3
I liked it, but the diorama made too much of a caricature
Codas - 4
The Love Story - 4
The Human World - 1
A ridiculous premise, explored in a frustrating manner. Largely a list of examples of the unjustness of the world, presented without analysis.
It Was Summer - 5
Beautiful and deeply human
Before It Disappears - 2
"With a tissue, he wipes his tears first and then his d---." Yuck.
One More Thing Coming Undone - 3
The "twist" felt like the narrator had been lying to me.
White Wine - 4
Magdala, Who Slips Sometimes - 3
I liked it, but the diorama made too much of a caricature
Codas - 4
The Love Story - 4
The Human World - 1
A ridiculous premise, explored in a frustrating manner. Largely a list of examples of the unjustness of the world, presented without analysis.
It Was Summer - 5
Beautiful and deeply human
January 14, 2019
This book deals with seven different aspects of love all taken from Ancient Greek concepts. Each of the stories has its own power but there are a couple which stood out for me: ‘Codas’ a simple heartfelt tale of love between mother and son and father and daughter and how this familial type of love endures where romantic love fades; the other story is ‘The Human World’ in which God, from his ‘lovely airborne capsule that orbits the globe’ keeps watch over humanity. This story focuses on altruistic love - sometimes light-hearted in tone but holding disturbing commentary on the state of the world today.
March 19, 2019
there's nothing wrong with it, but it's a way to sample writers for me. My favourite stories were Carys Bray followed by Claire McKeegan. Nikesh Shukla's story was good but was an 'issue' story so it wasn't 'fun as a story' but 'a lesson to learn' and i'd like to try something else by her, the other two i will definitely definitely read again. My favourite thing was the idea behind it and the quotes and definitions about different kinds of love, made me think. I only disliked the american story. A very good collection and idea, but short stories are always just bits to me. Seems to be in lots of libraries and a great way to sample these authors
May 17, 2023
Seven stories about seven kinds of love and all of them about the darker side. Grim tales that make me never want to love in any kind of way.
I was thinking, after I finished, that I should be better to edit (or write) a book with seven stories about seven kinds of happiness. I'd make them all about the lighter side of life. But then I did my research and found that these are the first ones listed on the first hit are "joy, excitement, gratitude, pride, optimism, contentment and love". The last one is love. How? Anyway, we've come full circle so why go further?
Read this if you like good writing that depresses you.
I was thinking, after I finished, that I should be better to edit (or write) a book with seven stories about seven kinds of happiness. I'd make them all about the lighter side of life. But then I did my research and found that these are the first ones listed on the first hit are "joy, excitement, gratitude, pride, optimism, contentment and love". The last one is love. How? Anyway, we've come full circle so why go further?
Read this if you like good writing that depresses you.
April 18, 2018
It is great that the book deals with the different types of love, however not all stories are good.
The highlights are Before It Disappears, Magdala Who Slips Sometimes, Codas and It Was Summer. The rest is not worth reading at all, which is a pity because it is half of the book. I would recommend to only read the four above mentioned stories, which are a pleasure to read.
The highlights are Before It Disappears, Magdala Who Slips Sometimes, Codas and It Was Summer. The rest is not worth reading at all, which is a pity because it is half of the book. I would recommend to only read the four above mentioned stories, which are a pleasure to read.
February 15, 2020
This is a fine collection of short stories on the theme of different types of love....unrequited, enduring,altruistic, familial, obsessive, self love, erotic. For me the standout stories were the ones by Carys Bray, Donal Ryan and Nikesh Shukla, plus in the paperback edition there's a bonus story from a competition winner which I found very moving.
February 22, 2024
CAWPILE score:
Before it disappears by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan - 3 stars
One more thing coming undone by D.W Wilson - 4 stars
White wine by Nikesh Shukla - 3 stars
Magdala, who slips sometimes by Donal Ryan - 2 stars
Codas by Cary's Bray - 3 stars
The love story by Grace McCleen - 2 stars
The human world by Bernardine Evaristo - 0 stars
It was summer by Phoebe Roy - 4 stars
Before it disappears by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan - 3 stars
One more thing coming undone by D.W Wilson - 4 stars
White wine by Nikesh Shukla - 3 stars
Magdala, who slips sometimes by Donal Ryan - 2 stars
Codas by Cary's Bray - 3 stars
The love story by Grace McCleen - 2 stars
The human world by Bernardine Evaristo - 0 stars
It was summer by Phoebe Roy - 4 stars
June 6, 2024
- loved the concept of exploring different types of love. although romantic love is stereotypically the most exciting and thrilling, there are so may more dimension to it (obsession, mania, unrequited, love tied to time).
- tbh i think i liked the idea of the stories more so than the execution.. the stories didn't resonate with me as much as I thought they would
- tbh i think i liked the idea of the stories more so than the execution.. the stories didn't resonate with me as much as I thought they would
October 18, 2024
it’s hard to give this book a rating as it contains 7 different pieces of work. some i found were really touching and easy to read and i found that it correlated to the love it was meant to be describing but a few others i found hard to read and i was getting lost and confused in a short story. and couldn’t pull out any meaning to do with it.
February 6, 2025
This was phenomenal. Even though I knew which concept of love the next story was going to highlight, each one ended up being so different from what I anticipated. So so good. If you want a completely different kind of love story this Valentine’s, grab this now.
Novella. Only 167 pages. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Novella. Only 167 pages. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
March 7, 2017
The 2 stories that stood out to me in this collection were those by Carys Bray and Grace McCleen, so I'll look out for more of their work.
On the whole though, I wasn't very impressed with this book.
On the whole though, I wasn't very impressed with this book.
February 7, 2019
As with most short story collections, some stories I loved and packed quite the emotional punch, and others I didn’t like at all. Giving it 4 stars because the ones I did like made me feel quite a lot, as even made me cry.
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