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The People Who Report More Stress: Stories
The People Who Report More Stress is a collection of interconnected stories brimming with the anxieties of people who retreat into themselves while living in the margins, acutely aware of the stresses that modern life takes upon the body and the body politic.
In “Midtown-West Side Story,” Álvaro, a restaurant worker struggling to support his family, begins selling high-end designer clothes to his co-workers, friends, neighbors, and the restaurant’s regulars in preparation for a move to the suburbs.
“The Man in 512” tracks Manny, the childcare worker for a Swedish family, as he observes the comings and goings of an affluent co-op building, all the while teaching the children Spanish through Selena’s music catalog.
“Comrades” follows a queer man with radical politics who just ended a long-term relationship and is now on the hunt for a life partner. With little tolerance for political moderates, his series of speed dates devolve into awkward confrontations that leave him wondering if his approach is the correct one.
A collection of humorous, sexy, and highly neurotic tales about parenting, long-term relationships, systemic and interpersonal racism, and class conflict from the author of The Town of Babylon, The People Who Report More Stress deftly and poignantly expresses the frustration of knowing the problems and solutions to our society’s inequities but being unable to do anything about them.
In “Midtown-West Side Story,” Álvaro, a restaurant worker struggling to support his family, begins selling high-end designer clothes to his co-workers, friends, neighbors, and the restaurant’s regulars in preparation for a move to the suburbs.
“The Man in 512” tracks Manny, the childcare worker for a Swedish family, as he observes the comings and goings of an affluent co-op building, all the while teaching the children Spanish through Selena’s music catalog.
“Comrades” follows a queer man with radical politics who just ended a long-term relationship and is now on the hunt for a life partner. With little tolerance for political moderates, his series of speed dates devolve into awkward confrontations that leave him wondering if his approach is the correct one.
A collection of humorous, sexy, and highly neurotic tales about parenting, long-term relationships, systemic and interpersonal racism, and class conflict from the author of The Town of Babylon, The People Who Report More Stress deftly and poignantly expresses the frustration of knowing the problems and solutions to our society’s inequities but being unable to do anything about them.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2023
83 people are currently reading
7384 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
April 29, 2023
Such interesting and unique concepts in these short stories. I liked how Alejandro Varela focused on the queer Latinx experience, in particular queer Latinx men who exist at the intersection of race and class. I found his writing gripping and energetic, each story delivering a scenario or a conflict rarely seen in literature before. From a restaurant worker who sells high-end designer clothes to support his family, to a childcare worker for a well-meaning yet awkward and occasionally problematic Swedish family in an affluent co-op building, to a queer man in an interracial relationship trying and failing to break up with his yikes-worthy therapist, Varela holds our interest with prose that is smart and self-aware.
Unfortunately there were a couple of elements of this short story collection that dampened my enthusiasm. First, I found the stories sometimes veered into intellectualism a bit too much at the cost of more emotional connection or payoff from the characters. Perhaps this intellectualism is a feature of some of Varela’s characters who come from more educated backgrounds, though I think the discussion of social justice issues in the abstract may have precluded the inclusion of scenes that could have felt more heartrending. I also felt puzzled by the centering of whiteness and white male romantic partners in the queer relationships in The People Who Report More Stress. White men take up a decent amount of space in these stories and for the most part I don’t think they do so in a way that really challenges white male supremacy or the idealization of white men within the queer community. Books with queer men of color that felt more empowering to read include Tell Me How to Be by Neel Patel, Boys Come First by Aaron Foley, and Such a Lonely, Lovely Road by Kagiso Lesego Molope.
Overall, an okay collection. I would still probably check out Varela’s future works. As stated in his acknowledgements at the end, he does seem committed to addressing social justice issues in a thoughtful and comprehensive way, though I’m not sure that translated 100% to these stories.
Unfortunately there were a couple of elements of this short story collection that dampened my enthusiasm. First, I found the stories sometimes veered into intellectualism a bit too much at the cost of more emotional connection or payoff from the characters. Perhaps this intellectualism is a feature of some of Varela’s characters who come from more educated backgrounds, though I think the discussion of social justice issues in the abstract may have precluded the inclusion of scenes that could have felt more heartrending. I also felt puzzled by the centering of whiteness and white male romantic partners in the queer relationships in The People Who Report More Stress. White men take up a decent amount of space in these stories and for the most part I don’t think they do so in a way that really challenges white male supremacy or the idealization of white men within the queer community. Books with queer men of color that felt more empowering to read include Tell Me How to Be by Neel Patel, Boys Come First by Aaron Foley, and Such a Lonely, Lovely Road by Kagiso Lesego Molope.
Overall, an okay collection. I would still probably check out Varela’s future works. As stated in his acknowledgements at the end, he does seem committed to addressing social justice issues in a thoughtful and comprehensive way, though I’m not sure that translated 100% to these stories.
April 24, 2023
The most inventive and revolutionary set of short stories I’ve read in a long time. At times funny, at time dark, this is the type of literature that propels us forward. I’ll come back with a longer review.
January 18, 2023
* Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending this ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book*
There are thirteen different stories in the book, which are all interconnected, but they mostly revolve around an interracial gay couple.
I was very curious to read “The People Who Report More Stress” as I have heard amazing things about the author’s debut.
What I appreciated the most were the subject matters of the stories as they are all very important and current issues such as immigration, racism, homophobia, housing, and more. It’s not very common to treat such issues with the respect and honesty they deserve and I admire the way the author presented them in his stories: he did it in a poignant yet incredibly moving way.
The main reason I didn't enjoy this book as much as I could have was the writing: it wasn't very cohesive, and the stories weren't well connected, they felt like they were a bit all over the place.
Even though style of the book probably supposed to make me relate more to the story and identify to the various characters, it actually did the opposite: I felt very emotionally distant and the sentences felt a bit brusque, the rhythm was a bit choppy and it read more like a screenplay filled with stage directions.
In my opinion the big potential and the immense emotional charge of the book weren’t fully put to fruition, but I will definitely read Varela’s debut as I feel like he has an interesting and insightful take on these crucial topics that affect our society.
There are thirteen different stories in the book, which are all interconnected, but they mostly revolve around an interracial gay couple.
I was very curious to read “The People Who Report More Stress” as I have heard amazing things about the author’s debut.
What I appreciated the most were the subject matters of the stories as they are all very important and current issues such as immigration, racism, homophobia, housing, and more. It’s not very common to treat such issues with the respect and honesty they deserve and I admire the way the author presented them in his stories: he did it in a poignant yet incredibly moving way.
The main reason I didn't enjoy this book as much as I could have was the writing: it wasn't very cohesive, and the stories weren't well connected, they felt like they were a bit all over the place.
Even though style of the book probably supposed to make me relate more to the story and identify to the various characters, it actually did the opposite: I felt very emotionally distant and the sentences felt a bit brusque, the rhythm was a bit choppy and it read more like a screenplay filled with stage directions.
In my opinion the big potential and the immense emotional charge of the book weren’t fully put to fruition, but I will definitely read Varela’s debut as I feel like he has an interesting and insightful take on these crucial topics that affect our society.
September 30, 2023
All hits, no skips. A day later, I’m still thinking about “Comrades” and the title story, which, like each story in this collection, are profound.
May 23, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this.
February 12, 2023
Alejandro Varela is a gifted short story writer. Having enjoyed his novel Town of Babylon, I was excited to read his new collection, and I enjoyed it even more than his novel. In a series of interconnected short stories set in NYC, Varela explores racism, sexuality, and gentrification. I love how he uses the lens of public health in different ways throughout his fiction, and the tension that builds around knowing what needs changing without the ability to change it. I particularly enjoyed the stories that involved parenting, often bringing the direct experience of everyday racism for the main characters into these stories. Valera’s writing captures the impact on these characters of living with the stress of American social inequities while still maintaining some hope for future reparations and change. These stories lingered in my mind. It is a collection where each story has the potential to be a favorite. Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for the early copy.
May 16, 2023
It hurts to give this a low rating because I loved "The Town of Babylon" so much, but these stories started to feel samey VERY quickly and nearly all of them got bogged down in long missives about public health, race, socioeconomic class, and politics which worked well and I related to in Babylon but presented back-to-back-to-back in short story format just got a little exhausting for me.
June 1, 2023
I think I wanted to like this book more than I ended up liking it. The author is speaking at SPH graduation so I figured I should probably read his book. I liked the public health intersections but found some of the short stories distracting.
May 1, 2023
3.5*, some of these really hit and the depiction of systemic/interpersonal racism and global/domestic politics was really interesting. but it was a little all over the place and felt pedantic at times, but maybe the protagonist is supposed to be insufferably overeducated (i did like that about the town of babylon). i also loved the relatable depiction of that claustrophobic paranoid anxious feeling that eduardo is experiencing 24/7
September 20, 2023
really visceral and accurate stories of what it feels like to live in NYC
November 4, 2023
A mesmerizing collection.
August 24, 2024
So I did go completely off the deep end with this one and create a red string map explaining my conspiracy theory that every single chapter in this book ties back to Eduardo and Gus. Welcome to the inside of my brain:
Chapter 1: An Other Man
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist goes on dating app with approval of husband
- Implicit: The protagonist is Eduardo, husband is Gus
Details:
- When asked to describe his type, the husband describes the protagonist (p 5), which connects to “Waiting” when Gus (named) says he’s just attracted to guys that remind him of Eduardo
- Husband is reading a sci-fi novel by Octavia Butler. In “Waiting,” Gus (named) loves to read sci-fi (p 167)
- The f*cking basil plant, which is mentioned in: “An Other Man” (p 5), “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” (p 24), “The 6 Times of Alan ” (p 147), “Waiting” (p 174) where Gus and Eduardo are named
Chapter 2: She and Her Kid and Me and Mine
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist’s kid Julio has a playdate
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Protagonist’s mother’s side is Salvadorian, father’s side is Columbian (p 20), which is the same as the protagonist in “All the Bullets were Made in My Country” (92, 95)
- Protagonist works in public health (p 21), just like the protagonist in “The Great Potato Famine” (p 77), and the protagonist in “Comrades” who is a health researcher whose fun fact is about the stress of inequality
- The f*cking basil plant, which is mentioned in: “An Other Man” (p 5), “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” (p 24), “The 6 Times of Alan ” (p 147), “Waiting” (p 174) where Gus and Eduardo are named
Chapter 3: Midtown- West Side Story
Overview:
- Explicit: Vilma and Jorge sell clothes while kids wait in the car
- Implicit: Vilma and Jorge are Eduardo’s parents
Details:
- The oldest son’s name is Eduardo (p 32)
- Takes place in the 1980s (p 41)
Chapter 4: Carlitos in Charge
Overview:
- Explicit: Carlitos is a UN employee
- Implicit: Carlitos is one of Gus’s dates when Gus and Eduardo are separated
Details:
- Charles in “Waiting” is a biostatistician and works in public health, similar appearance to Eduardo (174, 177)
- Carlitos’s family is from El Salvador (p 65) - Could be just a coincidence that Eduardo’s family is also Salvadorian, or could be that Carlitos is Charles in “Waiting” and this detail further enforces the theme that he looks like Eduardo and Gus has a type
Chapter 5: The Great Potato Famine
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist is sick, boyfriend catches cab, cab driver is racist, protagonist runs without paying
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo and boyfriend is Gus
Details:
- Protagonist works in public health (p 77), just like the protagonist in “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine ” (p 21), and the protagonist in “Comrades” who is a health researcher whose fun fact is about the stress of inequality
- In “Waiting,” Gus starts hailing cabs for Gus and Eduardo (p 169)
- Theme of struggle to catch a cab repeats in last chapter “The People Who Report More Stress” (p 237) where protagonist’s husband is explicitly named Gus
Chapter 6: All the Bullets were Made in My Country
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist visits El Salvador for grandmother’s death
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Maternal family is Salvadorian, paternal family is Columbian, which is the same as the protagonist in “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” (20)
- 3 of 4 grandparents survived bullets (p 95), which connects to the protagonist in “The Caretakers” who has a grandmother (in Columbia no less) with a bullet still in her body (p 130)
Chapter 7: The Man in 512
Overview:
- Explicit: Manny works for Swedish family and neighbor Artie dies and apartment is robbed
- Implicit: Manny is Eduardo’s cousin
Details:
- Fun little connection: Swedish father works at UN (p 103), as did Carlitos in Charge - plz DM Kayli if you find anywhere where they interact
- Manny went to grandfather’s funeral in San Salvador (p 107) and the protagonists of “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” and “All the Bullets were Made in My Country” had grandparents in El Salvador
- Antonio is Artie’s friend (p 111), and Antonio shows up as one of the lovers in “Grand Openings”
- Antonio says to the protagonist “I’ll ask your uncle or the other super” (p 117) which means that Manny’s uncle is the super of the building. In the next chapter, “The Caretakers”, the protagonist’s uncle is a super at a nearby apartment building (p 137). So Eduardo and Manny share an uncle, making them cousins
Chapter 8: The Caretakers
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist’s aunt is in hospital in Queens
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Protagonist has a grandmother with bullet still in Columbia (p 130), which is also true for the protagonist in “All the Bullets were Made in My Country” (p 95)
- Protagonist has severe aerophobia (p 124) that became subway-phobia over time as well (p 125), which connects to “The 6 Times of Alan” where protagonist has aerophobia (p 153)
Chapter 9: The 6 Times of Alan
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist breaks up with therapist and returns 6 times
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Husband is explicitly named as Gus, and kid is Jules
- Protagonist has aerophobia (p 153) which connects to “The Caretakers” (p 124)
- The f*cking basil plant, which is mentioned in: “An Other Man” (p 5), “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” (p 24), “The 6 Times of Alan ” (p 147), “Waiting” (p 174) where Gus and Eduardo are named
Chapter 10: Waiting
Overview:
- Explicit: Gus drinks tea, goes out with Charles, and gets appendicitis while on a break with Eduardo (while married)
- Implicit: Charles is Carlitos in Charge from “Carlitos in Charge”
Details:
- Charles is a biostatistician and works in public health, similar appearance to Eduardo (174, 177)
- Carlitos’s family is from El Salvador (p 65) - Could be just a coincidence that Eduardo’s family is also Salvadorian, or could be that Carlitos is Charles in “Waiting” and this detail further enforces the theme that he looks like Eduardo and Gus has a type
Chapter 11: Comrades
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist comes on dates right after separating from partner
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo during separation with Gus, “P-Value” is Charles who is also Carlitos
Details:
- Protagonist is a health researcher whose fun fact is about the stress of inequality
- Says polyamory doesn’t work (p 188)
- One of the dates’ profile is “Ricky Martin’s Dad”, which connects to how the protagonist in “An Other Man” is told he has “a Ricky Martin vibe” (p 3)
- “P-Value” is a biostatistician and is very similar to Eduardo
Chapter 12: Grand Openings
Overview:
- Explicit: Different versions of eduardo and gus’s relationship
- Implicit: N/A (Names them both explicitly)
Details:
- Includes a version where Eduardo has cancer (like the protagonist in “The People who Report More Stress”)
- Antonio is a lover in one of the potential versions, and Antonio is in “The Man in 512”
Chapter 13: The People who Report More Stress
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist has cancer
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Husband is Gus (named explicitly) and they have kids
Chapter 1: An Other Man
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist goes on dating app with approval of husband
- Implicit: The protagonist is Eduardo, husband is Gus
Details:
- When asked to describe his type, the husband describes the protagonist (p 5), which connects to “Waiting” when Gus (named) says he’s just attracted to guys that remind him of Eduardo
- Husband is reading a sci-fi novel by Octavia Butler. In “Waiting,” Gus (named) loves to read sci-fi (p 167)
- The f*cking basil plant, which is mentioned in: “An Other Man” (p 5), “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” (p 24), “The 6 Times of Alan ” (p 147), “Waiting” (p 174) where Gus and Eduardo are named
Chapter 2: She and Her Kid and Me and Mine
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist’s kid Julio has a playdate
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Protagonist’s mother’s side is Salvadorian, father’s side is Columbian (p 20), which is the same as the protagonist in “All the Bullets were Made in My Country” (92, 95)
- Protagonist works in public health (p 21), just like the protagonist in “The Great Potato Famine” (p 77), and the protagonist in “Comrades” who is a health researcher whose fun fact is about the stress of inequality
- The f*cking basil plant, which is mentioned in: “An Other Man” (p 5), “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” (p 24), “The 6 Times of Alan ” (p 147), “Waiting” (p 174) where Gus and Eduardo are named
Chapter 3: Midtown- West Side Story
Overview:
- Explicit: Vilma and Jorge sell clothes while kids wait in the car
- Implicit: Vilma and Jorge are Eduardo’s parents
Details:
- The oldest son’s name is Eduardo (p 32)
- Takes place in the 1980s (p 41)
Chapter 4: Carlitos in Charge
Overview:
- Explicit: Carlitos is a UN employee
- Implicit: Carlitos is one of Gus’s dates when Gus and Eduardo are separated
Details:
- Charles in “Waiting” is a biostatistician and works in public health, similar appearance to Eduardo (174, 177)
- Carlitos’s family is from El Salvador (p 65) - Could be just a coincidence that Eduardo’s family is also Salvadorian, or could be that Carlitos is Charles in “Waiting” and this detail further enforces the theme that he looks like Eduardo and Gus has a type
Chapter 5: The Great Potato Famine
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist is sick, boyfriend catches cab, cab driver is racist, protagonist runs without paying
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo and boyfriend is Gus
Details:
- Protagonist works in public health (p 77), just like the protagonist in “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine ” (p 21), and the protagonist in “Comrades” who is a health researcher whose fun fact is about the stress of inequality
- In “Waiting,” Gus starts hailing cabs for Gus and Eduardo (p 169)
- Theme of struggle to catch a cab repeats in last chapter “The People Who Report More Stress” (p 237) where protagonist’s husband is explicitly named Gus
Chapter 6: All the Bullets were Made in My Country
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist visits El Salvador for grandmother’s death
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Maternal family is Salvadorian, paternal family is Columbian, which is the same as the protagonist in “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” (20)
- 3 of 4 grandparents survived bullets (p 95), which connects to the protagonist in “The Caretakers” who has a grandmother (in Columbia no less) with a bullet still in her body (p 130)
Chapter 7: The Man in 512
Overview:
- Explicit: Manny works for Swedish family and neighbor Artie dies and apartment is robbed
- Implicit: Manny is Eduardo’s cousin
Details:
- Fun little connection: Swedish father works at UN (p 103), as did Carlitos in Charge - plz DM Kayli if you find anywhere where they interact
- Manny went to grandfather’s funeral in San Salvador (p 107) and the protagonists of “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” and “All the Bullets were Made in My Country” had grandparents in El Salvador
- Antonio is Artie’s friend (p 111), and Antonio shows up as one of the lovers in “Grand Openings”
- Antonio says to the protagonist “I’ll ask your uncle or the other super” (p 117) which means that Manny’s uncle is the super of the building. In the next chapter, “The Caretakers”, the protagonist’s uncle is a super at a nearby apartment building (p 137). So Eduardo and Manny share an uncle, making them cousins
Chapter 8: The Caretakers
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist’s aunt is in hospital in Queens
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Protagonist has a grandmother with bullet still in Columbia (p 130), which is also true for the protagonist in “All the Bullets were Made in My Country” (p 95)
- Protagonist has severe aerophobia (p 124) that became subway-phobia over time as well (p 125), which connects to “The 6 Times of Alan” where protagonist has aerophobia (p 153)
Chapter 9: The 6 Times of Alan
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist breaks up with therapist and returns 6 times
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Husband is explicitly named as Gus, and kid is Jules
- Protagonist has aerophobia (p 153) which connects to “The Caretakers” (p 124)
- The f*cking basil plant, which is mentioned in: “An Other Man” (p 5), “She and Her Kid and Me and Mine” (p 24), “The 6 Times of Alan ” (p 147), “Waiting” (p 174) where Gus and Eduardo are named
Chapter 10: Waiting
Overview:
- Explicit: Gus drinks tea, goes out with Charles, and gets appendicitis while on a break with Eduardo (while married)
- Implicit: Charles is Carlitos in Charge from “Carlitos in Charge”
Details:
- Charles is a biostatistician and works in public health, similar appearance to Eduardo (174, 177)
- Carlitos’s family is from El Salvador (p 65) - Could be just a coincidence that Eduardo’s family is also Salvadorian, or could be that Carlitos is Charles in “Waiting” and this detail further enforces the theme that he looks like Eduardo and Gus has a type
Chapter 11: Comrades
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist comes on dates right after separating from partner
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo during separation with Gus, “P-Value” is Charles who is also Carlitos
Details:
- Protagonist is a health researcher whose fun fact is about the stress of inequality
- Says polyamory doesn’t work (p 188)
- One of the dates’ profile is “Ricky Martin’s Dad”, which connects to how the protagonist in “An Other Man” is told he has “a Ricky Martin vibe” (p 3)
- “P-Value” is a biostatistician and is very similar to Eduardo
Chapter 12: Grand Openings
Overview:
- Explicit: Different versions of eduardo and gus’s relationship
- Implicit: N/A (Names them both explicitly)
Details:
- Includes a version where Eduardo has cancer (like the protagonist in “The People who Report More Stress”)
- Antonio is a lover in one of the potential versions, and Antonio is in “The Man in 512”
Chapter 13: The People who Report More Stress
Overview:
- Explicit: Protagonist has cancer
- Implicit: Protagonist is Eduardo
Details:
- Husband is Gus (named explicitly) and they have kids
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2024
Wonderfully written stories that I realized too late were all connected, so I already want to go back and reread them
Read
May 15, 2024From the UN 🇺🇳 cruising blackmail story (“Carlitos in Charge”) to the lefty online dating story (“Comrades”), it’s like damn, I’m in love. In love with seeing the world through Varela’s sociological, structural eye. And in love with Varela, obv. He’s so hot!
March 1, 2024
A brilliant collection of short stories. Humour and heavy subjects in conversation with each other. Loved it.
July 27, 2023
Mind is buzzing living in this world of idiosyncrasies. This book now harbors a special place in my heart
April 4, 2023
I loved this book. As someone who deals with a lot of stress and anxiety, it was a perfect portrayal of the various stories of that life. I really loved all the different aspects to stress and anxiety this book managed to reflect. I’m also a sucker for any short story collection and this wasn’t an exception.
April 14, 2023
Sexy, smart, and perceptive. Loved this collection. “Carlitos in Charge” was my favorite story, and I need more.
October 5, 2023
Could not put this down. He’s an incredible writer. I loved these nuanced stories of race/class intersections and so much heart. I also love his pacing in storytelling. 10/10
December 31, 2023
As I've mentioned in my other book reviews, I absolutely love a short story collection, especially one that plays/experiments with form, that has stories that are connected, and one that makes me strongly resonate with the overall book. Alejandro Varela does such a great job doing all of that in The People Who Report More Stress. I love Varela's clever writing that discusses important social issues while being able to weave in humor, tenderness, and seriousness. I also liked how it followed a general trajectory of the main characters' lives and relationship throughout these short stories. There's something intriguing to me when there are main characters that show up in and out of a short story collection. It reminds me how in real life we (and others) exist and can fade as life progresses. This was my first exposure to Varela's writing, so I can't wait to read Varela's other works.
Thanks to Astra House and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to Astra House and NetGalley for the ARC!
dnf-d
June 30, 2024DNF'd at 71%
This was a disappointing read. I don't know why people who don't know what a short story is decide to take a stab at writing "short stories." Not only are these not short stories, but they're not even stories in the most basic sense. How do you publish fiction if you don't know the basic structure of a story???
What was wose was that I felt like I was being hit over the head over and over again with the multitude of over-arching themes without creating an actual story arc, including one main event, minimal number of characters (who do or do not undergo any development), setting, literary elements, or short story characteristiscs, such has having an ending (even if it's ambiguous). This letdown was compounded by the fact that Varela's actual writing is super clean, crisp, and clear (What? There's a writer out there who either has an editor or actually knows how to use a comma?!? AMAZING!!!), which is a rarity.
This is a collection of what seem more like overly long vignettes trying to hit too many hot-button topics (race, class, queer relationships, etc.) without any real direction. I should have DNF'd much sooner, but I kept thinking that it would get better and I was buddy reading this collection.
If I'm being honest, I'd rather see Varela write essays or a memoir where his writing would actually shine. Please don't give us more fiction. Please give us nonfiction.
I wouldn't recommend this collection to anyone who loves reading short stories, and for those who don't know any better then sure, try this out: you won't know better anyway.
[Ebook, borrowed from library]
This was a disappointing read. I don't know why people who don't know what a short story is decide to take a stab at writing "short stories." Not only are these not short stories, but they're not even stories in the most basic sense. How do you publish fiction if you don't know the basic structure of a story???
What was wose was that I felt like I was being hit over the head over and over again with the multitude of over-arching themes without creating an actual story arc, including one main event, minimal number of characters (who do or do not undergo any development), setting, literary elements, or short story characteristiscs, such has having an ending (even if it's ambiguous). This letdown was compounded by the fact that Varela's actual writing is super clean, crisp, and clear (What? There's a writer out there who either has an editor or actually knows how to use a comma?!? AMAZING!!!), which is a rarity.
This is a collection of what seem more like overly long vignettes trying to hit too many hot-button topics (race, class, queer relationships, etc.) without any real direction. I should have DNF'd much sooner, but I kept thinking that it would get better and I was buddy reading this collection.
If I'm being honest, I'd rather see Varela write essays or a memoir where his writing would actually shine. Please don't give us more fiction. Please give us nonfiction.
I wouldn't recommend this collection to anyone who loves reading short stories, and for those who don't know any better then sure, try this out: you won't know better anyway.
[Ebook, borrowed from library]
May 5, 2023
An Other Man - 3
She And Her Kid And Me and Mine - 3
Mid-Town West Side Story - 3.5
All The Bullets Were Made In My Country - 4
Carlitos In Charge - 4.5
The Great Potato Famine - 4
The Man In 512 - 4
A Litany Of My Fears - 4
The Six Times Of Alan (And The First Two Hundred Of Eduardo) - 4
Comrades - 4
Grand Openings - 4.5
The People Who Report More Stress - 3
Well written but some of the stories felt as though they cut off in the middle of the plot, but that's just an issue I often have with short stories. I loved Carlitos In Charge, The Great Potato Famine and Grand Openings, the first was a fascinating look at the guts of the UN, I really liked the speaker in the second and the third was a really enjoyable evocation of Atwood. The focus on race, sexuality, domesticity and class was interesting, very fresh. What I liked most of all is the way in which the vast majority of these stories are connected, it makes me want to reread the collection while looking for connections.
She And Her Kid And Me and Mine - 3
Mid-Town West Side Story - 3.5
All The Bullets Were Made In My Country - 4
Carlitos In Charge - 4.5
The Great Potato Famine - 4
The Man In 512 - 4
A Litany Of My Fears - 4
The Six Times Of Alan (And The First Two Hundred Of Eduardo) - 4
Comrades - 4
Grand Openings - 4.5
The People Who Report More Stress - 3
Well written but some of the stories felt as though they cut off in the middle of the plot, but that's just an issue I often have with short stories. I loved Carlitos In Charge, The Great Potato Famine and Grand Openings, the first was a fascinating look at the guts of the UN, I really liked the speaker in the second and the third was a really enjoyable evocation of Atwood. The focus on race, sexuality, domesticity and class was interesting, very fresh. What I liked most of all is the way in which the vast majority of these stories are connected, it makes me want to reread the collection while looking for connections.
August 2, 2023
finally done—this is a short story collection i had to work through; few of the stories were particularly bingeable or enthralling, but this collection was nevertheless insightful, biting, witty, and full of heart.
this collection follows characters in all walks of life, from united nations workers to everyday parents. much of the book centers on queer latine experiences. the voice is funny and sharp, digging into the neurosis of nycers living in today’s world—varela captures the absurdities and anxieties of this moment in time. he really deftly splays out the thought spirals of his characters, who are concerned with the issues of modern-day USA and their place in society. i could relate to a lot of the narrators’ monologues, thought patterns, dilemmas, and actions, and varela paints these societal/political/interpersonal situations in a very tongue in cheek but relatable light. an enjoyable and often humorous read. picked this up because i read “the caretakers” while at BOMB mag and it still remains a jewel in the collection.
this collection follows characters in all walks of life, from united nations workers to everyday parents. much of the book centers on queer latine experiences. the voice is funny and sharp, digging into the neurosis of nycers living in today’s world—varela captures the absurdities and anxieties of this moment in time. he really deftly splays out the thought spirals of his characters, who are concerned with the issues of modern-day USA and their place in society. i could relate to a lot of the narrators’ monologues, thought patterns, dilemmas, and actions, and varela paints these societal/political/interpersonal situations in a very tongue in cheek but relatable light. an enjoyable and often humorous read. picked this up because i read “the caretakers” while at BOMB mag and it still remains a jewel in the collection.
January 23, 2024
An interesting array of inter-related short stories, following a few gay latino men and their relationships, lives, and politics. At first I was a little reluctant to keep reading, but all in all I found the author's way of exploring politics and how they show up in people's lives entertaining and unique. Honestly my description of the book does not do it justice, as it strikes a good balance between personal values/ethics/politics and the messiness of relationships and how that all intersects. I would definitely recommend this, especially to anyone with a lot of thoughts around leftist politics or anyone in grad school!
April 18, 2023
4.5*
A gorgeous arrangement of interlinked stories that really worked well for me. There was some beautiful writing that captured the characters and themes, and I really loved the thoughtfulness about different types of love, family, belonging and identity. I have returned to reread several parts of it already.
Highly recommended!
*I received a free ARC and I have chosen to leave a review*
A gorgeous arrangement of interlinked stories that really worked well for me. There was some beautiful writing that captured the characters and themes, and I really loved the thoughtfulness about different types of love, family, belonging and identity. I have returned to reread several parts of it already.
Highly recommended!
*I received a free ARC and I have chosen to leave a review*
April 10, 2023
I love the public health aspect of each essay and the racial commentary. I was sucked into each essay and all felt complete. I love Varela’s writing and he’s definitely an auto-buy for me after this sophomore book!
Hard to pick a favorite. I think I loved “All the Bullets Were Made in My Country” and “The Caretakers” best.
“The Six Times of Alan” enraged me.
Hard to pick a favorite. I think I loved “All the Bullets Were Made in My Country” and “The Caretakers” best.
“The Six Times of Alan” enraged me.
March 14, 2024
It was hard to come up with a single rating of this book when I felt so differently about the different short stories. Some were great and some were terrible.
...As an aside, I totally thought this was a self-help book for people dealing with high levels of stress, and that wasn't the case at all!
...As an aside, I totally thought this was a self-help book for people dealing with high levels of stress, and that wasn't the case at all!
April 13, 2024
Really strong collection, with excellent narrative voice. I have seen the author's work described as Public Health Fiction, and while I don't know if that is actually a genre, the idea fits. Racism and classism are addressed, but so is modern dating and family relationships. Will definitely read more by this author. (2024 Aspen Words Longlist)
June 8, 2023
Ok I actually enjoyed this collection of short stories so much more than Varela’s 1st book. I loved that there were reoccurring characters and themes in the short stories. Some of the stories were definitely better than others but overall a much better book than The Town of Babylon.
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