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Cut to Care: A Collection of Little Hurts
An agency that sends social workers into the homes of grieving families to impersonate dead loved ones...The kind old woman who saved a teenager's life but now finds herself haunted by the weight of a cheated suicide...And the daughter of a candlestick maker as she tries to survive a painful existence after her father's execution for making human chandeliers of drunken cowboys...These stories and more-ranging from supernatural to the frighteningly domestic, Splatterpunk to the weird and cosmic-stain the pages of CUT TO A COLLECTION OF LITTLE HURTS by Aaron Dries. They serve as a timely reminder of the cost of caring too much. Or not caring enough. Of how we mask cruelties behind kindness. And of our willingness to rip ourselves apart in the hope of satisfying a world that doesn't always care for you back. Featuring an exclusive introduction by Mick Garris, creator of MASTERS OF HORROR and director of Stephen King's THE STAND, this unforgettable collection truly cuts deep.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2022
6 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Dries
19 books297 followersAvid traveler, former pizza boy, retail clerk, kitchen hand, aged care worker, video director and copywriter, Aaron Dries was born and raised in New South Wales, Australia. When asked why he writes horror, his standard reply is that when it comes to scaring people, writing pays slightly better than jumping out from behind doors. He is the author of the award-winning House of Sighs, and his subsequent novels, The Fallen Boys and A Place for Sinners are just as--if not more--twisted than his debut. Feel free to drop him a line at aarondries.com. He won't bite. Much.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 26, 2024
4.5 stars
What an absolute gut punch of a short story collection. Complex and emotional. The imagery and the feelings of these stories will definitely stick with me.
What an absolute gut punch of a short story collection. Complex and emotional. The imagery and the feelings of these stories will definitely stick with me.
September 25, 2022
The thing about Aaron Dries that sets him apart from many authors is that every single thing he writes makes you feel emotions so deeply. This collection is a perfect example of that. It touches on so many different topics and every story is hauntingly beautiful. The short stories Cut to Care and Damage, Inc really spoke to me on a deep level. A great reminder that if you are only filling other’s cups and ignoring your own, eventually your cup will run dry while theirs are overflowing. Balance is key. Burnout is real. Self care is important.
August 16, 2024
Wow! Cut To Care was mesmerising, petrifying, and powerfully moving.
This book carries an elegance about its writing. It is demanding yet soothing. I am unsure if my heart was being warmed by the horror or the passion in the stories.
If I had to choose a favourite, it would be Tallow-Maker, Tallow Made, or Love Amongst The Redback spiders. Odd choices are even for me on account of the lack of emotion, albeit spirited at times.
Shadow Debt is another that really tugged on my heart strings.
The best thing about this book and with most of Aaron's books is that they are based in Australia, places I could relate to. It's probably the first time I've heard Canberra mentioned in a book.
I watched Aaron's tiktok on how this book came to be. Not only did it explain more about the book but also who Aaron is as a person.
I am used to reading novels that are more nefarious from Aaron, so these emotionally depressing short stories are a change of pace, and yes, I like it.
I highly recommend you pick this book up.
This book carries an elegance about its writing. It is demanding yet soothing. I am unsure if my heart was being warmed by the horror or the passion in the stories.
If I had to choose a favourite, it would be Tallow-Maker, Tallow Made, or Love Amongst The Redback spiders. Odd choices are even for me on account of the lack of emotion, albeit spirited at times.
Shadow Debt is another that really tugged on my heart strings.
The best thing about this book and with most of Aaron's books is that they are based in Australia, places I could relate to. It's probably the first time I've heard Canberra mentioned in a book.
I watched Aaron's tiktok on how this book came to be. Not only did it explain more about the book but also who Aaron is as a person.
I am used to reading novels that are more nefarious from Aaron, so these emotionally depressing short stories are a change of pace, and yes, I like it.
I highly recommend you pick this book up.
August 2, 2022
Cut to Care by Aaron Dries, is an utterly compelling work of short fiction, exploring themes of grief, loss, belonging, and otherness. Very highly recommended.
July 31, 2022
I have long been a fan of Aaron Dries' novels, but as a short story lover I became ecstatic when I found out he was coming out with a full collection. Once I started Cut to Care, I devoured it. Each story was so strong, so raw, so powerful, I actually felt in awe of the talent on display here. Dries' strengths are multiple, but one of the greatest is his ability to make the reader feel true emotion. The stories feel genuine and personal and grab you by the short-hairs and punch you in the gut (in the best possible way). The concepts behind the stories are original and bold. I also love that he doesn't shy away from queer topics and characters. Some of my favorite stories were "Damage, Inc.", "Nona Doesn't Dance", "The Acknowledged", "Too Old for Ice-Cream", "Love Amongst the Redback Spiders", and "Shadow Debt". Aaron Dries has more talent in his little finger than most of us have in our entire bodies, and this collection proves that.
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July 28, 2023Why I read this:
Wanting to read more Australian fiction. Dipping my toe into horror's various sub-genres.
My Impression:
I feel divided about this one. I loved Cut to Care–its originality and heart– yet there were parts that didn't work for me at all. Let me explain... Dries is a brilliant writer, make no mistake. What he is able to conjure on the first page of a short story is nothing short of magic. I found myself drawn into worlds that felt familiar (as a fellow Aussie), yet strange. In each story I enjoyed it until the 75% mark when THE HORRIBLE THING would happen. At that point, with everything turned up to eleven, I drew back from the story, repelled by the horror of the scene or, at times, a tone of absurdity. I wanted to go back to that earlier style and pace where my heart and mind were receptive. I suppose some of this comes from the fact that I am one of those people who cover their face at the sight of gore and don't enjoy body horror at all. Also, this collection goes for the soft spots, and there is real pain there. I'm talking grannies, children, kittens, guilt ridden gays, victims of domestic violence, and none of them really deserve their fate.
This collection comprises an impressive variety of stories with interesting twists. Nothing here feels derivative. Cut to Care will make you face your trauma, and while things may not end well for all the characters, the afterword (where the author explains the inspiration for each story) will hearten you as you close the book. Many of the stories draw on Dries' work in hospices caring for the aged, where compassion and horror are always holding hands. In all of these stories you can feel the authenticity of some personal experience or feeling. It is not horror for horror's sake, but a certain love for the genre (in all its bloody and murderous glory) helps in appreciating this collection to the fullest.
Craft-Related Notes:
-I would love to see Dries write a non-horror novel. I want to spend more time in Dries general style (where it is not so amped up) because it is here that you get all the great character work, local flavour and the feeling of menace. Menace and mood are more my cup of tea. It is for this reason that the last (and longer) story, Shadow Debt, is my favourite.
Wanting to read more Australian fiction. Dipping my toe into horror's various sub-genres.
My Impression:
I feel divided about this one. I loved Cut to Care–its originality and heart– yet there were parts that didn't work for me at all. Let me explain... Dries is a brilliant writer, make no mistake. What he is able to conjure on the first page of a short story is nothing short of magic. I found myself drawn into worlds that felt familiar (as a fellow Aussie), yet strange. In each story I enjoyed it until the 75% mark when THE HORRIBLE THING would happen. At that point, with everything turned up to eleven, I drew back from the story, repelled by the horror of the scene or, at times, a tone of absurdity. I wanted to go back to that earlier style and pace where my heart and mind were receptive. I suppose some of this comes from the fact that I am one of those people who cover their face at the sight of gore and don't enjoy body horror at all. Also, this collection goes for the soft spots, and there is real pain there. I'm talking grannies, children, kittens, guilt ridden gays, victims of domestic violence, and none of them really deserve their fate.
This collection comprises an impressive variety of stories with interesting twists. Nothing here feels derivative. Cut to Care will make you face your trauma, and while things may not end well for all the characters, the afterword (where the author explains the inspiration for each story) will hearten you as you close the book. Many of the stories draw on Dries' work in hospices caring for the aged, where compassion and horror are always holding hands. In all of these stories you can feel the authenticity of some personal experience or feeling. It is not horror for horror's sake, but a certain love for the genre (in all its bloody and murderous glory) helps in appreciating this collection to the fullest.
Craft-Related Notes:
-I would love to see Dries write a non-horror novel. I want to spend more time in Dries general style (where it is not so amped up) because it is here that you get all the great character work, local flavour and the feeling of menace. Menace and mood are more my cup of tea. It is for this reason that the last (and longer) story, Shadow Debt, is my favourite.
June 4, 2022
This was an absolutely heartbreaking read, as intended.
The introduction by Mick Garris really hits the nail on the head when it comes to what stands out about this collection; emotional resonance. He talks about the difference between latex monsters and the deeper emotional fears that are harder to depict on a surface level.
Though “Cut to Care” often delves into surrealistic monster design and occasionally the supernatural, it is grounded in the pain behind each story. The characters, while not always likable, are always sympathetic. You ache for them as they are subjected to the parts of our world most capable of harming them.
Even the more “satirical” entry for which the collection is named stems from a real place that asks some of the most difficult questions from the entire book. If they don’t make you look in at yourself as a person, then perhaps you ought to ask why.
This was a hard hitting read with haunting imagery and important messages regarding the human condition. It was beautifully written, presented, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The introduction by Mick Garris really hits the nail on the head when it comes to what stands out about this collection; emotional resonance. He talks about the difference between latex monsters and the deeper emotional fears that are harder to depict on a surface level.
Though “Cut to Care” often delves into surrealistic monster design and occasionally the supernatural, it is grounded in the pain behind each story. The characters, while not always likable, are always sympathetic. You ache for them as they are subjected to the parts of our world most capable of harming them.
Even the more “satirical” entry for which the collection is named stems from a real place that asks some of the most difficult questions from the entire book. If they don’t make you look in at yourself as a person, then perhaps you ought to ask why.
This was a hard hitting read with haunting imagery and important messages regarding the human condition. It was beautifully written, presented, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
November 15, 2022
CUT TO CARE: A COLLECTION OF LITTLE HURTS has the horror tropes that are psychologically alarming – the replacement of a lost daughter, the neglect of others who transformed into something monstrous. And the things that wait in the cold dark, stark and the real human monsters.
I needed a few days to consider the breadth of work that is in the Cut to Care. It was a brilliant read- moody atmospheres, dark and deceptive characters and situations- all the tropes we expect of horror. Yet there was also a very raw revealing of the soul and a question of what happens in a world where we care too greatly that it breaks us, spread our strength too far that there’s no left to sustain us? And the flip side, what happens when we ignore the hurt of others? Or deliberately inflict it on others for our own relief of pain or gratification?
Final Thoughts
Cut to Care: A Collection of Little Hurts reveals all these dark and innermost reflections of society and ourselves. It is gritty and intense in its goal of what makes us care? Can we care too much that we stop caring?
Conclusion
A highly recommended collection which is as fascinating as disturbing. A dark web of horror and honesty and a great read for anyone who enjoys psychological horror at its most potent.
I needed a few days to consider the breadth of work that is in the Cut to Care. It was a brilliant read- moody atmospheres, dark and deceptive characters and situations- all the tropes we expect of horror. Yet there was also a very raw revealing of the soul and a question of what happens in a world where we care too greatly that it breaks us, spread our strength too far that there’s no left to sustain us? And the flip side, what happens when we ignore the hurt of others? Or deliberately inflict it on others for our own relief of pain or gratification?
Final Thoughts
Cut to Care: A Collection of Little Hurts reveals all these dark and innermost reflections of society and ourselves. It is gritty and intense in its goal of what makes us care? Can we care too much that we stop caring?
Conclusion
A highly recommended collection which is as fascinating as disturbing. A dark web of horror and honesty and a great read for anyone who enjoys psychological horror at its most potent.
June 14, 2022
* the author provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review *
Ill start by saying that i love Aaron's books so when the opportunity arose to read his latest release, i jumped at the chance. His writing is so unique, it's like a breath of fresh air in the horror works. I've never read anything like it - the words he uses, the structure of sentences/paragraphs, the similies and metaphors. All pull together to provide the reader with heartfelt, often creepy, tales to immerse themselves in.
I genuinely couldn't pick out a favourite from this collection, and nor would i want to. Each one is unique and intriguing in it's own way. I loved them all. The story notes at the end of the book provided a nice peak behind the curtains of each tale as well.
Would HIGHLY recommend this collection to all fans of psychological literature. If you haven't read any Aaron Dries yet...why not?!
Ill start by saying that i love Aaron's books so when the opportunity arose to read his latest release, i jumped at the chance. His writing is so unique, it's like a breath of fresh air in the horror works. I've never read anything like it - the words he uses, the structure of sentences/paragraphs, the similies and metaphors. All pull together to provide the reader with heartfelt, often creepy, tales to immerse themselves in.
I genuinely couldn't pick out a favourite from this collection, and nor would i want to. Each one is unique and intriguing in it's own way. I loved them all. The story notes at the end of the book provided a nice peak behind the curtains of each tale as well.
Would HIGHLY recommend this collection to all fans of psychological literature. If you haven't read any Aaron Dries yet...why not?!
June 20, 2022
Ooft, this is a collection of stories that does indeed cut deep. It's also the mark of a writer who has evolved. Where his early stories traded on physical devastation as much as emotional trauma, this collection of "little hurts" is a treasure trove of small revelatory moments, whether they be embedded in magical realism or the ultra-real.
The final story in particular, Shadow Debt, faces the subject of dementia in an especially profound way and is perhaps the most moving piece of writing I've read in Dries' work.
But there are other gems, whether it be the shocking crash in Eels or the gloriously gruesome finale to the dystopic Nona Doesn't Dance, a tale rooted in genuine melancholy and empathy for the plight of the elderly. This a fantastic and diverse collection.
The final story in particular, Shadow Debt, faces the subject of dementia in an especially profound way and is perhaps the most moving piece of writing I've read in Dries' work.
But there are other gems, whether it be the shocking crash in Eels or the gloriously gruesome finale to the dystopic Nona Doesn't Dance, a tale rooted in genuine melancholy and empathy for the plight of the elderly. This a fantastic and diverse collection.
December 23, 2023
What a delight it was to meet the charming Aaron Dries at Asylumfest and purchase this cool collection from him. A solid collection of tales that do indeed cut deep into the soul. You can sense the author has put his own heart and soul into the stories too.
'Nona Doesn't Dance' was perhaps the standout for me in a really strong collection. Indeed, it brought home a lot of buried recent cuts of my own, in watching both my parents decline over several years in a nursing home. Ouch!
Aaron's work gave me pause to consider why I haven't yet explored two themes he utilizes so well, the subtle horror and sadness of nursing homes, and the use of Canberra, that weird artificial city where I too lived and worked for 6 years in the 1990s, as a setting for horror stories.
'Nona Doesn't Dance' was perhaps the standout for me in a really strong collection. Indeed, it brought home a lot of buried recent cuts of my own, in watching both my parents decline over several years in a nursing home. Ouch!
Aaron's work gave me pause to consider why I haven't yet explored two themes he utilizes so well, the subtle horror and sadness of nursing homes, and the use of Canberra, that weird artificial city where I too lived and worked for 6 years in the 1990s, as a setting for horror stories.
December 11, 2022
This is my first introduction to Dries and I wasn't sure what to expect. The author has set out to construct a collection that illustrates the cost of caring - or caring too much - and the subtle cruelties and hurts we inflict upon one another in life. In this he has succeeded admirably: this is not a comfortable collection to read.
There is a lot of talent at work here and the various stories are all well crafted. Probably the most horrific for me was “Nona Doesn’t Dance”, which is based in an aged care facility, an environment that Dries apparently knows quite well.
Overall 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up to 4 given how this collection got under my skin.
There is a lot of talent at work here and the various stories are all well crafted. Probably the most horrific for me was “Nona Doesn’t Dance”, which is based in an aged care facility, an environment that Dries apparently knows quite well.
Overall 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up to 4 given how this collection got under my skin.
January 28, 2023
Cut to Care is a horrifying book that I think everyone who loves horror should read at least once in their life. The stories in this collection are amazing, and even though months have passed since I read them, I still think about them and their shocking endings. It has a balance of horror and heart, and that's one of the reasons I enjoyed every story, because I was incapable of stopping reading them when what was happening was horrifying, all thanks to the realistic and complex characters. I especially loved how diverse the stories are from each other, touching on different themes and subgenres but accomplishing to be gut-punching in their own special way. I really recommend it!
November 5, 2023
**Disclaimer: I joined Goodreads November 2023, and I’m uploading a stack of read books from the last year or so when I started reading, so my reviews won’t be as in depth at times as I have clouded memory from reading so much**
The author, such a lovely man, sent me a copy of this free - not to review, but because I was in a post, sad, and very financially effed up place, but it doesn’t reflect that I loved this. Cut to Care…yeah, these stories will cut you, hurt you, stab you in the heart and make you bleed, and I’m hear for it
The author, such a lovely man, sent me a copy of this free - not to review, but because I was in a post, sad, and very financially effed up place, but it doesn’t reflect that I loved this. Cut to Care…yeah, these stories will cut you, hurt you, stab you in the heart and make you bleed, and I’m hear for it
January 9, 2023
It isn’t easy for me to be impressed with short story collections. I usually can settle with being ok that I only liked one or two of the stories.
Not the case with Cut to Care. I was truly engrossed in every single story.
Aaron Dries is an incredible writer with a gift for really inviting you into the world of the story he’s telling and the emotions that the characters are experiencing.
These stories were creepy, gory at times, upsetting and thought provoking.
Not the case with Cut to Care. I was truly engrossed in every single story.
Aaron Dries is an incredible writer with a gift for really inviting you into the world of the story he’s telling and the emotions that the characters are experiencing.
These stories were creepy, gory at times, upsetting and thought provoking.
January 17, 2023
Gorgeous prose and a great variety of haunting explorations of grief.
December 22, 2025
great little meditations on the limits of humanity
July 13, 2022
If I ever had to explain the writing style of Aaron Dries to someone unfamiliar, I don't think I could. He doesn't just write stories - he invites you on whole experiences that fully consume all of your senses. His writing is thought-provoking, intentional, powerful, haunting, and quite impressive. This collection, CUT TO CARE: A COLLECTION OF LITTLE HURTS, showcases some of the best I've read from Dries so far. It was quite a feeling to cozy up to this micro-universe being created within each story only to know it will not end happy or without having me stare into the abyss. I loved Tallow-Maker, Tallow Made, Little Balloons, and Nona Doesn't Dance the most... but each story is its own bite-sized gut punch that will stay with you. I took my time reading this collection because I simply had to. I wanted to truly absorb the way each story made me feel and think about them. I did not want to rush through these emotions or the lives and journeys of the characters Dries writes.
Just pick this up - you will not regret it!
Just pick this up - you will not regret it!
December 9, 2024
An engrossing collection of taut, unsettling, and quietly nasty tales, beautifully related in Dries' trademark literary prose. For a solid snapshot of the best of the current Aussie horror scene, you'd be hard pressed to find a better example than this book.
May 7, 2024
I'm acquainted with Aaron, so I'll refrain from a numerical rating, I will say it's fun to see him trying new styles and genres.
Love Among the Redback Spiders was definitely my favourite.
Love Among the Redback Spiders was definitely my favourite.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews