What do you think?
Rate this book
Night Beast
A masterful collection from an important new voice in American fiction, Night Beast is a gorgeously written work of profound originality and vision. These doomed love stories and twisted fairytales explore the lives of women--particularly queer women and mothers--and reveal the monsters lurking in our daily lives: the madness, isolation, betrayals, and regrets that arise as we seek human connection.
Through this collection, readers are taken to places where the sun never sets, where cornfields rustle ominously and sleepwalkers prowl the night. In "Weekend," the lead actors of an avant-garde television show begin to confuse their characters' identities with their own; in "Go West, and Grow Up," a young girl living in a car with her mother is forced to shed her innocence too soon; and in "Safekeeping," a woman trapped inside a futuristic safehouse gradually unravels as she waits for her lover, who may never return.
With exquisite prose and transfixing imagery, Joffre explores worlds both strange and familiar, homing in on the darker side of humanity. Powerful, unsettling, and wildly imaginative, Night Beast is a mind-bending, genre-hopping debut, a provocative and uncommonly raw examination of relationships and sexuality, trauma and redemption, the meaning of family, and coming-of-age--and growing old--as an outsider.
Through this collection, readers are taken to places where the sun never sets, where cornfields rustle ominously and sleepwalkers prowl the night. In "Weekend," the lead actors of an avant-garde television show begin to confuse their characters' identities with their own; in "Go West, and Grow Up," a young girl living in a car with her mother is forced to shed her innocence too soon; and in "Safekeeping," a woman trapped inside a futuristic safehouse gradually unravels as she waits for her lover, who may never return.
With exquisite prose and transfixing imagery, Joffre explores worlds both strange and familiar, homing in on the darker side of humanity. Powerful, unsettling, and wildly imaginative, Night Beast is a mind-bending, genre-hopping debut, a provocative and uncommonly raw examination of relationships and sexuality, trauma and redemption, the meaning of family, and coming-of-age--and growing old--as an outsider.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2018
6 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 10, 2019
When I saw this book cover, I was in awe and when I read the synopsis, I felt I could relate to the stories. Unfortunately, the stories triggered me. I also felt the writing style and setup was just not for me.
October 1, 2018
I think I was under the impression that this anthology had more speculative fiction in it than it actually did. Instead it's largely literary fiction, which is less my thing because it seems to tend towards little actually happening and depressing endings. Which...was the case here, too.
My thoughts on the stories individually:
Nitrate Nocturnes: Soulmate timers? Here is a person from fandom ;) well actually I suppose you see similar premises in original fiction sometimes, but it's rare. I thought it was a decent exploration of the concept. It's a soulmate story with no real romance, though, and I wish we were allowed a little bit more.
Softening: Very brief. TW for pedophilia.
Go West, and Grow Up: This was one of a couple stories that I felt wandered a lot without a decisive plot arc. The language was good and the themes were dark, but I still couldn't tell what exactly I was supposed to be getting out of it. TW for pedophilia and sexual assault.
Two Lies I Tell My Children: Lols flash fiction. But also, spooky.
General, Minister, Horse, Cannon: Theta is kind of a stereotypical Asian kid, but I still liked him. Seemed a little clueless for a fourteen year old, though. I did think this story had more of an actual arc than most of them did. TW for child neglect.
The Ithaca Moment: Relatable coming home for Christmas break and being like ehhh this is weird, but I still think stories do not become more interesting or deep just because there's sex in them. Also all the stories where Joffre avoids gendered pronouns for her characters even when the gender is pretty clear from context are something I kind of like...I think it's kind of a queer thing to strip gender away from stories in large part, so that you have to pick up clues and in a way it could be both at once.
I'm Unarmed: One thing that strikes me about this story (and about a number of these stories) is how little romance there is, considering it has a powerful relationship at its center. It's definitely a coming of age story and involves our MC discovering her sexuality, yet I feel like we know so little about the girl she loves. We get a sense of the relationship but I still wanted more. Eh, guess that's why I read a lot of romance lols. This was still one of my favorites, but it is pretty dark. TW for rape and implied pedophilia.
Safekeeping: At last some speculative fiction. But nothing happened in it, and I was kind of bored.
The Twilight Hotel: I'm still confused about what happened in this one. TW for miscarriage.
Weekend: This one was kind of WTF but I still liked it, partly bc I thought the concept was good, partly bc I liked the MC, who for once was a dude. That said it gave me strong Bojack Horseman vibes which kept on distracting me.
Night Beast: Again, I'm not really sure what happened in this one, but maybe it's just because the prose was starting to overwhelm me after reading all these stories in a row.
In the end, I would have liked more plot and more thematic clarity but I still admired the prose and there were a couple I really did enjoy. Borrowed on HooplaDigital so I read for free and can't complain.
My thoughts on the stories individually:
Nitrate Nocturnes: Soulmate timers? Here is a person from fandom ;) well actually I suppose you see similar premises in original fiction sometimes, but it's rare. I thought it was a decent exploration of the concept. It's a soulmate story with no real romance, though, and I wish we were allowed a little bit more.
Softening: Very brief. TW for pedophilia.
Go West, and Grow Up: This was one of a couple stories that I felt wandered a lot without a decisive plot arc. The language was good and the themes were dark, but I still couldn't tell what exactly I was supposed to be getting out of it. TW for pedophilia and sexual assault.
Two Lies I Tell My Children: Lols flash fiction. But also, spooky.
General, Minister, Horse, Cannon: Theta is kind of a stereotypical Asian kid, but I still liked him. Seemed a little clueless for a fourteen year old, though. I did think this story had more of an actual arc than most of them did. TW for child neglect.
The Ithaca Moment: Relatable coming home for Christmas break and being like ehhh this is weird, but I still think stories do not become more interesting or deep just because there's sex in them. Also all the stories where Joffre avoids gendered pronouns for her characters even when the gender is pretty clear from context are something I kind of like...I think it's kind of a queer thing to strip gender away from stories in large part, so that you have to pick up clues and in a way it could be both at once.
I'm Unarmed: One thing that strikes me about this story (and about a number of these stories) is how little romance there is, considering it has a powerful relationship at its center. It's definitely a coming of age story and involves our MC discovering her sexuality, yet I feel like we know so little about the girl she loves. We get a sense of the relationship but I still wanted more. Eh, guess that's why I read a lot of romance lols. This was still one of my favorites, but it is pretty dark. TW for rape and implied pedophilia.
Safekeeping: At last some speculative fiction. But nothing happened in it, and I was kind of bored.
The Twilight Hotel: I'm still confused about what happened in this one. TW for miscarriage.
Weekend: This one was kind of WTF but I still liked it, partly bc I thought the concept was good, partly bc I liked the MC, who for once was a dude. That said it gave me strong Bojack Horseman vibes which kept on distracting me.
Night Beast: Again, I'm not really sure what happened in this one, but maybe it's just because the prose was starting to overwhelm me after reading all these stories in a row.
In the end, I would have liked more plot and more thematic clarity but I still admired the prose and there were a couple I really did enjoy. Borrowed on HooplaDigital so I read for free and can't complain.
June 11, 2018
Night Beast is a compilation of eleven short stories with a diverse genre that ranges from scifi, and fantasy, to romance and slice of life. Focusing on the lives of queer women and mothers, this book will take you to dark alleys and hidden alcoves of a woman’s thoughts.
The title, “Night Beast” is something that easily caught my attention, making me curious about the type of beasts kept in this book’s pages. There are many out there, but which ones? And so the journey to discovery began.
I can’t say disappointing, nor can I say boring to this book. Partly, a couple of stories captured my attention as well as my emotions. It touched my emphatic-less soul! One of my favourites was the story entitled “Go West and Grow Up". It tells about the life of a girl at a young age and her mother, doing what needs to be done just to survive. The mother did what she could to protect her daughter from the harsh world to the point of putting herself in vulnerability. But it was not enough. It was only a matter of time for the girl’s innocence to be forcefully stripped away from her. This story was a tough one that it stuck to my memory for quite a while now. What was very clear here, was the love of the mother to her child. It was whole.
The rest of the stories went on in a blur. It’s not that the stories aren’t interesting. It’s just that it didn’t suck me in enough to be deeply immersed in it. Each story was unique and new and it will take some thinking to understand them.
Night Beast is a book that encompasses the norms of this world. With women as the main characters, this book will be enjoyable for the ladies out there to whom some may find the stories relatable.
The title, “Night Beast” is something that easily caught my attention, making me curious about the type of beasts kept in this book’s pages. There are many out there, but which ones? And so the journey to discovery began.
I can’t say disappointing, nor can I say boring to this book. Partly, a couple of stories captured my attention as well as my emotions. It touched my emphatic-less soul! One of my favourites was the story entitled “Go West and Grow Up". It tells about the life of a girl at a young age and her mother, doing what needs to be done just to survive. The mother did what she could to protect her daughter from the harsh world to the point of putting herself in vulnerability. But it was not enough. It was only a matter of time for the girl’s innocence to be forcefully stripped away from her. This story was a tough one that it stuck to my memory for quite a while now. What was very clear here, was the love of the mother to her child. It was whole.
The rest of the stories went on in a blur. It’s not that the stories aren’t interesting. It’s just that it didn’t suck me in enough to be deeply immersed in it. Each story was unique and new and it will take some thinking to understand them.
Night Beast is a book that encompasses the norms of this world. With women as the main characters, this book will be enjoyable for the ladies out there to whom some may find the stories relatable.
June 24, 2018
Solid collection of stories about queer women (which is strangely not anywhere on the actual book) but be warned sad, sad, sad.
October 2, 2023
I went into this book with no expectations and I loved it! I felt each story stood well on its own, though I liked the interconnected ones the most.
One of my favorite stories was “Safekeeping,” in which a woman is hidden away in a bunker (we don’t know how long, only that the world may be unsafe, likely dystopian/apocalyptic). I generally don’t gravitate toward stories that focus on character with not much plot, but this one was so short that it worked well. I also thought it was interesting that one of the actresses in “Weekend” had spent time in a bunker in preparation for a role—same woman? Maybe, maybe not…
I really enjoyed “Go West, and Grow Up” and “I’m Unarmed.” It was clear these two were set in the same world with the same characters (“Softening” may be part of this series as well, it’s unclear). I thought it was very interesting that “I’m Unarmed” was placed four stories after “Go West, and Grow Up” but I think this placement worked really well with the other stories included in the book.
Another favorite of mine was “Nitrate Nocturnes,” the first story in the book. What a great starter! I was really invested in Fiona’s story and the way Joffre writes had me feeling all of her emotions through the timer process. I would recommend this book!
One of my favorite stories was “Safekeeping,” in which a woman is hidden away in a bunker (we don’t know how long, only that the world may be unsafe, likely dystopian/apocalyptic). I generally don’t gravitate toward stories that focus on character with not much plot, but this one was so short that it worked well. I also thought it was interesting that one of the actresses in “Weekend” had spent time in a bunker in preparation for a role—same woman? Maybe, maybe not…
I really enjoyed “Go West, and Grow Up” and “I’m Unarmed.” It was clear these two were set in the same world with the same characters (“Softening” may be part of this series as well, it’s unclear). I thought it was very interesting that “I’m Unarmed” was placed four stories after “Go West, and Grow Up” but I think this placement worked really well with the other stories included in the book.
Another favorite of mine was “Nitrate Nocturnes,” the first story in the book. What a great starter! I was really invested in Fiona’s story and the way Joffre writes had me feeling all of her emotions through the timer process. I would recommend this book!
October 8, 2018
Love, lust, and loss. Three fundamental human emotions that connect us all. We’ve all experienced them, in one form or another. I can’t predict when we will be affected by them. Some embrace this, others avoid them as best they can.
Night Beast by Ruth Joffre envelops all that surrounds these three little words. As a collection of short stories, each tale weaves its own unique perspective. Some take place in the normalcy of the everyday, others explore the potential future of our species. But each stays true to the heartache of love.
I am coming to realize that I love collections of short stories. I rarely pick them up to read, but always find myself engrossed in their brevity. From the start, Joffre introduces us to worlds that are so similar, and yet unlike our own that you can’t help but be intrigued. But then, it just ends. She only gives us a snippet or a window into the life of the characters. They don’t do anything extraordinary, they are just living. At first, this bothered me. I wanted a big, punchy ending. But the more I thought about the stories, the more I realized that just wouldn’t fit. There couldn’t be an ending, because they kept on living, regardless of their situation. They persisted. There’s no fanfare for that. And yet, the stories and their players are extraordinarily personal. In fact, there was one story that connected to a recent experience of my own, and the story made it raw again. It brought all that emotion to the forefront of my conscious.
I felt the advertised description for this book was a little misleading, as it made me believe going into it that it would focus on relationships between mothers and daughters. While this was the case in a couple of the stories, I would by no means pick that out specifically over any of the other expressions of love provided throughout the pages. But the representations of love were beautiful in these stories, and I applaud the F/F depictions. These are the kinds of stories our society needs more of.
*I would like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Night Beast by Ruth Joffre envelops all that surrounds these three little words. As a collection of short stories, each tale weaves its own unique perspective. Some take place in the normalcy of the everyday, others explore the potential future of our species. But each stays true to the heartache of love.
I am coming to realize that I love collections of short stories. I rarely pick them up to read, but always find myself engrossed in their brevity. From the start, Joffre introduces us to worlds that are so similar, and yet unlike our own that you can’t help but be intrigued. But then, it just ends. She only gives us a snippet or a window into the life of the characters. They don’t do anything extraordinary, they are just living. At first, this bothered me. I wanted a big, punchy ending. But the more I thought about the stories, the more I realized that just wouldn’t fit. There couldn’t be an ending, because they kept on living, regardless of their situation. They persisted. There’s no fanfare for that. And yet, the stories and their players are extraordinarily personal. In fact, there was one story that connected to a recent experience of my own, and the story made it raw again. It brought all that emotion to the forefront of my conscious.
I felt the advertised description for this book was a little misleading, as it made me believe going into it that it would focus on relationships between mothers and daughters. While this was the case in a couple of the stories, I would by no means pick that out specifically over any of the other expressions of love provided throughout the pages. But the representations of love were beautiful in these stories, and I applaud the F/F depictions. These are the kinds of stories our society needs more of.
*I would like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
July 27, 2018
Full disclose - I didn't actually finish this book. I had really high hopes, after reading the description, and I thorough enjoyed the first story. The writing itself is very good. But then it became confusing that these stories were described as being sci-fi. Many of them are not. And there are only so many stories of incest/rape that one collection needs. Maybe I will return to the book one day to finish the last third and see if there were any more speculative fiction tales. For folks looking for really stunning spec fic collections (that leave out lurid details of child sexual abuse), I recommend Kelly Barnhill's excellent collection "Dreadful Young Ladies", and Julia Elliot's stunning "The Wilds".
May 14, 2018
***I was provided these ARCs in exchange for an honest review and all of the thoughts and expression are my own***
I was super excited to read this collection of stories! I found that they were hit and miss though and never really finished. Not one of them was life-changing and made me want to run out and buy this book. I wanted to stop a few times but I made myself finish to see if all the stories came together to make one big picture but that did not happen. It was more like a collection of shorts found unfinished and then bound together quickly to have a full-length novel.
It is so hard to critique a collect as there will be stories for everyone and no one at the same time. I do commend the author for trying to put together a cohesive collection but it kind of fell short. I will read more books if she puts them out just to see her grow as an author.
I was super excited to read this collection of stories! I found that they were hit and miss though and never really finished. Not one of them was life-changing and made me want to run out and buy this book. I wanted to stop a few times but I made myself finish to see if all the stories came together to make one big picture but that did not happen. It was more like a collection of shorts found unfinished and then bound together quickly to have a full-length novel.
It is so hard to critique a collect as there will be stories for everyone and no one at the same time. I do commend the author for trying to put together a cohesive collection but it kind of fell short. I will read more books if she puts them out just to see her grow as an author.
May 12, 2018
Read my full review at Ploughshares!
If I had only one word to describe Ruth Joffre’s debut short story collection, Night Beast and Other Stories, I would choose “fluid.” In many ways this book resembles a river, always moving, constantly changing, but with steady force sufficient to grind stone into sand. Like water, these stories dance through—not around—their subject matter, seeping into every crack and crevice, making connections in one scene and dissolving them in the next.
Read my full review at Ploughshares!
If I had only one word to describe Ruth Joffre’s debut short story collection, Night Beast and Other Stories, I would choose “fluid.” In many ways this book resembles a river, always moving, constantly changing, but with steady force sufficient to grind stone into sand. Like water, these stories dance through—not around—their subject matter, seeping into every crack and crevice, making connections in one scene and dissolving them in the next.
Read my full review at Ploughshares!
March 12, 2018
This was a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the stories were so engrossing and emotionally affecting – though even then they just sort of ended, rather than coming to a real conclusion. Others, I've utterly forgotten even though I only read the book a couple of weeks ago. That said, there are a couple of stories that have really stayed with me (one about a woman in a strange post-apocalyptic safehouse, another about a couple who have lost a child) – they make the whole book worth a read. I'll certainly read more from Ruth Joffre.
June 13, 2018
A collection of darkish stories that, honestly, didn’t stay with me long after finishing each one. I really just wanted to get through the collection but felt compelled to finish it in hopes I found that one story that made the whole collection worth it for me. Unfortunately, I never found that story, hence the 2 stars. It wasn’t badly written and I do think there are good stories in here, they just couldn’t hold my interest. I’m guessing I’m just a little too jaded and desensitized when it comes to dark emotional drama.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2018
Short story collections are hard to review because you'll sometimes find one or more of the stories less satisfying than the others. Joffre has presented a slim volume here but it's ambitious. These are women with issues who are struggling with themselves and their situations. I'm a sucker for short stories because you can dip in and out of the book. This is well written and worth your time. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
May 24, 2018
I loved this collection. Joffre's lucid writing style allowed the interface of the book, the words on paper, to melt away seamlessly for me, so that I was completely immersed in the worlds of these close, real, breathing characters. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading this collection. Highly recommend.
May 31, 2018
I'm afraid I didn't identify with any of the characters in these stories and I found the stories somehow incomplete. I generally like short stories but these just felt more like character sketches or exercises than actual stories.
Just not for me. Sorry
Just not for me. Sorry
October 26, 2018
To me, the hardest book reviews to write are the ones where the book is just “meh,” neither one that is super praiseworthy or one that deserves utter scorn. But “meh” is where I am when it comes to Ruth Joffre’s collection of short stories in her book Night Beast.
In Night Beast, Joffre’s characters are caught up in various predicaments including coming in terms with one’s sexual identity, romantic heartbreak, the struggles of parenthood, challenges in the workplace, gut wrenching grief, and all kinds of abuse. And they are depicted using various genres such as sci-fi, fantasy, romance and true to life-some that work, some that don’t.
Some of Joffre’s stories show great promise but are written in a choppy, too short manner. They lack enticing plots, compelling character development and satisfying conclusions (think of bad sex with no orgasm). It’s as if Joffre got bored and decided to stop writing. I wish she would have just left these stories out of her book (or a good editor would have cut them out).
But there are a few stories I found entertaining and quite thought-provoking, showing Joffre’s strength as writer of fiction.
In the opening chapter Nitrate Nocturnes, everyone is outfitted with a timer that counts the exact amount of time in years, days, seconds and so on until they meet their true soul mate. But it is also a future where everything is timed out including death. This story was quite chilling in our day of digital media and technological “advances.” How long before something like this actually happens? I shudder to think!
In Go West and Grow up, Joffre tells a tale of a mother and daughter just trying to survive as they escape an abusive and alcoholic husband and father with very little resources and support. This story really got under my skin, and I hope if Joffre writes another collection of short stories she provides a sequel to Go West and Grow Up or perhaps this could inspire her to write a novel based on this story.
Another punch to the heart is the story I’m Not Asking, which tells the tale of two women coping with the loss of their unborn child and how it affects them as women, lovers and would-be mothers. I’m Not Asking would also make for a good novel.
Joffre is not a bad writer at all. I think she shows great promise and potential. She just needs to keep her fingers to the keyboard to fully shape the stories that are less than satisfying and a kindly editor who can help her round out her writing a bit more. Night Beast may be “meh,” but Joffre has the capability to become truly magnificent.
Originally published at The Book Self
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
In Night Beast, Joffre’s characters are caught up in various predicaments including coming in terms with one’s sexual identity, romantic heartbreak, the struggles of parenthood, challenges in the workplace, gut wrenching grief, and all kinds of abuse. And they are depicted using various genres such as sci-fi, fantasy, romance and true to life-some that work, some that don’t.
Some of Joffre’s stories show great promise but are written in a choppy, too short manner. They lack enticing plots, compelling character development and satisfying conclusions (think of bad sex with no orgasm). It’s as if Joffre got bored and decided to stop writing. I wish she would have just left these stories out of her book (or a good editor would have cut them out).
But there are a few stories I found entertaining and quite thought-provoking, showing Joffre’s strength as writer of fiction.
In the opening chapter Nitrate Nocturnes, everyone is outfitted with a timer that counts the exact amount of time in years, days, seconds and so on until they meet their true soul mate. But it is also a future where everything is timed out including death. This story was quite chilling in our day of digital media and technological “advances.” How long before something like this actually happens? I shudder to think!
In Go West and Grow up, Joffre tells a tale of a mother and daughter just trying to survive as they escape an abusive and alcoholic husband and father with very little resources and support. This story really got under my skin, and I hope if Joffre writes another collection of short stories she provides a sequel to Go West and Grow Up or perhaps this could inspire her to write a novel based on this story.
Another punch to the heart is the story I’m Not Asking, which tells the tale of two women coping with the loss of their unborn child and how it affects them as women, lovers and would-be mothers. I’m Not Asking would also make for a good novel.
Joffre is not a bad writer at all. I think she shows great promise and potential. She just needs to keep her fingers to the keyboard to fully shape the stories that are less than satisfying and a kindly editor who can help her round out her writing a bit more. Night Beast may be “meh,” but Joffre has the capability to become truly magnificent.
Originally published at The Book Self
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
September 22, 2023
I feel so mid about this collection of stories. They all had somewhat interesting premises, but each story became mired in its own dozen elements of shock value. Some of the stories referenced each other, or were continuations of previous stories, but there wasn't enough of that to really feel like it was an intentional theme of the book.
I really wish that the marketing for this book was more transparent about its continued references to sexual assault and abuse, instead of just selling it as stories about love.
I think it's really interesting that this was recommended for those who enjoyed Gideon the Ninth, because I did not see them as similar at all. Truly, the only connecting thread was that there were some toxic lesbian relationships in the stories. Which, granted, is certainly a theme of Gideon, but I always felt like it was a fuller exploration of what love can be, even when it is toxic. Night Beast, on the other hand, tends to portray love as a trap, a way to manipulate and hurt people. The feeling I am left with is distinctly negative, and I don't think I will be recommending this one.
I really wish that the marketing for this book was more transparent about its continued references to sexual assault and abuse, instead of just selling it as stories about love.
I think it's really interesting that this was recommended for those who enjoyed Gideon the Ninth, because I did not see them as similar at all. Truly, the only connecting thread was that there were some toxic lesbian relationships in the stories. Which, granted, is certainly a theme of Gideon, but I always felt like it was a fuller exploration of what love can be, even when it is toxic. Night Beast, on the other hand, tends to portray love as a trap, a way to manipulate and hurt people. The feeling I am left with is distinctly negative, and I don't think I will be recommending this one.
September 25, 2018
I picked out the book because of the cover. That's as honest a reason as I can give. In today's very visual book market, this one stands out.
I will readily admit I'm not a fan of "literary" fiction, as it is often pretentious and spends way too much time on the beauty of its language.
With that said, Joffre writes some very engaging stories. My favorites were "Nitrate Nocturnes," "General, minister, horse, cannon," and "Go West, grow up." The others were just as engaging, and are definitely appealing. But what drew me to my favorites was the sense that I could relate to these characters. I cared what happened to them when the stories ended. And these stories end. And yet, they feel like they've just begun.
Excellent storytelling.
Reviewed by Luis, Library Clerk.
Find it in the library, here.
I will readily admit I'm not a fan of "literary" fiction, as it is often pretentious and spends way too much time on the beauty of its language.
With that said, Joffre writes some very engaging stories. My favorites were "Nitrate Nocturnes," "General, minister, horse, cannon," and "Go West, grow up." The others were just as engaging, and are definitely appealing. But what drew me to my favorites was the sense that I could relate to these characters. I cared what happened to them when the stories ended. And these stories end. And yet, they feel like they've just begun.
Excellent storytelling.
Reviewed by Luis, Library Clerk.
Find it in the library, here.
February 22, 2019
I think I expected this to be more on the horror-side and thus I was pretty let down. The two occasions where the author does veer into that however (Two Lies and Safekeeping) are pretty much the highlights of this collection.
But most of the stories in here are literary fiction and...not very engaging literary fiction at that. I found myself thinking they were dull and many of them gave off the impression that they were purposely trying to be depressing for the sake of being depressing.
But most of the stories in here are literary fiction and...not very engaging literary fiction at that. I found myself thinking they were dull and many of them gave off the impression that they were purposely trying to be depressing for the sake of being depressing.
June 9, 2019
No time for review so you get my notes.
Thought I'd read her before but I guess not. Maybe a rec from another author whose good was really good, and the rest didn't reach me.
interesting premise
Go West is excellent
several forgettable
by Weekend I kind of get the sadness.
Night Beast pretty good.
"The point was not to see but not to fall. To instead remain as dark and quiet as life so your blood would always be your own."
Thought I'd read her before but I guess not. Maybe a rec from another author whose good was really good, and the rest didn't reach me.
interesting premise
Go West is excellent
several forgettable
by Weekend I kind of get the sadness.
Night Beast pretty good.
"The point was not to see but not to fall. To instead remain as dark and quiet as life so your blood would always be your own."
August 18, 2019
This is a solid collection of stories about queer women going through both extraordinary and ordinary events in their lives. The stories are somber and you won’t leave the book feeling satisfied with any of the conclusions. If you’re like me, though, you’ll leave it content that there are stories representing queer women just like everyone else. Ordinary women living their lives, not as props and not as punchlines. Just regular people.
September 12, 2018
A word I learned while reading this book: quotidian. It’s the aspect of most literature written today that makes it dull, pointless, and painful to read. That’s usually why I avoid it.
Although Night Beast has its fair share of the quotidian, there are enough stories here that engaged me enough to give the ultimate compliment: what happens to the characters after the story ends?
Although Night Beast has its fair share of the quotidian, there are enough stories here that engaged me enough to give the ultimate compliment: what happens to the characters after the story ends?
June 6, 2020
Holy mackerel! Do yourself a favor and read this collection of stories. I started reading this and had to put it down when I hit a very triggering point in one of the stories. It took me a year to return to it and finish the story in question, and keep going. I went back and re-read some of the stories and I suspect that this will be a book I go back to again and again.
August 5, 2021
I blew through these stories. The character’s feelings are immediate and each story has such a unique set up. There’s a beautiful lyricism to the shorter pieces and an even more striking realism to the longer ones, which are simultaneously sentimental and gritty. I will be excited to read Ruth Joffre’s next book!
November 14, 2023
Joffre's story collection is magical--it deals in both realist and speculative modes, examining intimacy--the intimacy between lovers and friends and family, the ways we reach toward each other, the wounds we receive along the way. The ways we escape what tries to destroy us. A vivid, smart collection!
April 7, 2025
Really loved this. Some stories are lit fic and others spec fic, but the variety didn’t bother me; the themes were what tied them all together, and I felt satisfied by the level of cohesion.
Really felt the depth of characters, even in the shorter stories. The intimacy and vulnerability of each character was crafted so well and brought each piece to life.
Really felt the depth of characters, even in the shorter stories. The intimacy and vulnerability of each character was crafted so well and brought each piece to life.
October 19, 2018
Startling, lovely, beguiling, dreamlike, sharp. Joffre is such a talent, and reading this collection of stories is like listening to a stranger’s heartbeat: so intimate, so strange, so familiar. I loved every page, but especially “Nitrate Nocturnes” and “Go West, and Grow Up”.
May 1, 2020
Ruth Joffre was my Speculative fiction teacher at Hugo House, and she's awesome! I was surprised that only a handful of these stories were speculative...and those were my favorite. The rest were more straightforward literary fiction...beautifully written but not necessarily my cup of tea.
December 28, 2020
Short stories that will appeal to some. Some of the stories were better than others. Overall, just an ok read. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.
January 29, 2021
This collection is not for me. The first story started strong, and I really thought I would enjoy it. This feeling diminished very quickly. I found most of the stories quite boring, and most were strange and not in a good way. 1 🌟
October 24, 2018
This is heady stuff, very potent. You forget the characters aren’t real and get lost in their yearning and pain. It’s addictive though, definitely worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews