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Open Up
The new collection from a literary star - five achingly tender, innovative and dazzling stories of (dis)connection.
From a child attending his first football match, buoyed by secret magic, and a wincingly humane portrait of adolescence, to the perplexity of grief and loss through the eyes of a seahorse, Thomas Morris seeks to find grace, hope and benevolence in the churning tumult of self-discovery.
Philosophically acute. Wincingly humane. Strikingly original. This outstanding suite of stories is bursting with a bracing emotional depth. Open Up cracks the heart as it expands the short story form.
From a child attending his first football match, buoyed by secret magic, and a wincingly humane portrait of adolescence, to the perplexity of grief and loss through the eyes of a seahorse, Thomas Morris seeks to find grace, hope and benevolence in the churning tumult of self-discovery.
Philosophically acute. Wincingly humane. Strikingly original. This outstanding suite of stories is bursting with a bracing emotional depth. Open Up cracks the heart as it expands the short story form.
198 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2023
29 people are currently reading
1517 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 16, 2023
A collection of stories by award-winning, Welsh author and editor, Thomas Morris, recently singled out by Granta on their list of the best, young British writers. In one of these stories a character’s glimpsed reading Shirley Jackson, and there’s something of Jackson in Morris’s approach - although Jackson’s invoked more in spirit than in style. But like Jackson, Morris’s writing blurs the boundaries between the gothic and the domestic, intent on exposing the everyday “horrors” lurking in relationships or in seemingly-ordinary families. Morris frequently mines aspects of his own life: his passion for football; and growing up in a comparatively poor, single-parent household. His protagonists are all male - even the ones who aren’t human - often reeling from the fallout of fracturing or fractured families, in which mothers or fathers are absent or dead or too emotionally stunted to count.
In his opening story “Wales” a young boy Gareth is waiting for his estranged father to take him to a football match, caught up in magical thinking Gareth pins his hope on Wales winning the match. A victory he believes could save him and his mother from the repo man. It’s a likeable piece, if somewhat slight, but its emphasis on isolation, anxiety and vulnerability sets the stage for the stories that follow. “Little Wizard” revolves around Big Mike, a lonely, resentful office worker, who attributes his lack of success with women to the fact that he's short. He plugs the gaps in his life with fast food and snacks from the local supermarket, worries about making his mortgage payments and dreams of getting a girlfriend. At first a sympathetic character, things take a turn when Mike’s attitudes to women suggest he may be an incel in the making.
In “Passenger” Geraint’s on holiday with Niamh in Croatia but their relationship is floundering and so is he, sparking a crisis that morphs into the stuff of nightmares. “Birthday Teeth” deals with Glynn who lives with his agoraphobic mother. He’s unemployed, apparently adrift but finds meaning via an online vampire community. His desire for transformation invested in finding someone who can turn his teeth into literal fangs. Glynn’s experiences touch on issues of urban alienation, the lure of the pseudo-philosophical, quick fix as a substitute for ultimate lack of meaning or intimate connection - here represented in the many references to wellness culture.
“Passenger” is promising, if uneven, and “Birthday Teeth” is admirably inventive, filled with pleasing details from the diabetic dog to Glynn’s mum’s tea drinking. There’s a sensibility that at times reminded me of reading work from the fin de siècle, there’s a similar focus on enervated men struggling to find a footing in a hostile, decaying world. But neither story totally worked for me, particularly Morris’s blend of the real and the surreal. The different elements seemed awkwardly sutured together, and the commentary on the character’s inner lives could feel forced and overstated. Although these, along with the earlier narratives, combine to form an interesting critique of aspects of contemporary masculinity and the stifling weight of conventional gender roles.
For me “Aberkariad” is by far the stand-out here, enough to make the entire book worthwhile. Set in a fantasy, undersea world, it’s close to novella in length and presented from the point of view of a young seahorse eager to become an adult. Admirably detailed, drawing directly on the life cycles and mating rituals of actual seahorses, it’s a complex variation on a coming-of-age narrative, fresh and fluid, intense, intimate and often incredibly moving.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Faber for an ARC
In his opening story “Wales” a young boy Gareth is waiting for his estranged father to take him to a football match, caught up in magical thinking Gareth pins his hope on Wales winning the match. A victory he believes could save him and his mother from the repo man. It’s a likeable piece, if somewhat slight, but its emphasis on isolation, anxiety and vulnerability sets the stage for the stories that follow. “Little Wizard” revolves around Big Mike, a lonely, resentful office worker, who attributes his lack of success with women to the fact that he's short. He plugs the gaps in his life with fast food and snacks from the local supermarket, worries about making his mortgage payments and dreams of getting a girlfriend. At first a sympathetic character, things take a turn when Mike’s attitudes to women suggest he may be an incel in the making.
In “Passenger” Geraint’s on holiday with Niamh in Croatia but their relationship is floundering and so is he, sparking a crisis that morphs into the stuff of nightmares. “Birthday Teeth” deals with Glynn who lives with his agoraphobic mother. He’s unemployed, apparently adrift but finds meaning via an online vampire community. His desire for transformation invested in finding someone who can turn his teeth into literal fangs. Glynn’s experiences touch on issues of urban alienation, the lure of the pseudo-philosophical, quick fix as a substitute for ultimate lack of meaning or intimate connection - here represented in the many references to wellness culture.
“Passenger” is promising, if uneven, and “Birthday Teeth” is admirably inventive, filled with pleasing details from the diabetic dog to Glynn’s mum’s tea drinking. There’s a sensibility that at times reminded me of reading work from the fin de siècle, there’s a similar focus on enervated men struggling to find a footing in a hostile, decaying world. But neither story totally worked for me, particularly Morris’s blend of the real and the surreal. The different elements seemed awkwardly sutured together, and the commentary on the character’s inner lives could feel forced and overstated. Although these, along with the earlier narratives, combine to form an interesting critique of aspects of contemporary masculinity and the stifling weight of conventional gender roles.
For me “Aberkariad” is by far the stand-out here, enough to make the entire book worthwhile. Set in a fantasy, undersea world, it’s close to novella in length and presented from the point of view of a young seahorse eager to become an adult. Admirably detailed, drawing directly on the life cycles and mating rituals of actual seahorses, it’s a complex variation on a coming-of-age narrative, fresh and fluid, intense, intimate and often incredibly moving.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Faber for an ARC
June 29, 2023
Tom Morris has literally now produced two of the most perfect short story collections, like, ever.
November 27, 2023
Somebody stop this man cos why am I crying about seahorse
August 24, 2023
So odd but also outstandingly good. Really, really enjoyed this collection. The first story ‘Wales’ was the weakest which made me nervous that I wasn’t going to enjoy it but the rest of the stories were completely brilliant. Morris writes about the human condition with such a unique outlook on life and his stories force you to confront your own inner demons. One story follows a family of seahorses and at its core is about grief, loneliness and abandonment - never thought I would be able to sympathise with a seahorse so much but Morris’s writing just completely sucked me in. The other three stories in the collection are a deep and humorous comment on relationships, identity crises and how we connect with each other in a world of social media and virtual distractions telling us that everything we do and say is wrong.
Truly and pleasantly surprised by this collection and will be eagerly awaiting more from Morris as he has genuinely mastered the art of short story writing. Thank you Faber for sending me an advance proof copy of this for review.
Truly and pleasantly surprised by this collection and will be eagerly awaiting more from Morris as he has genuinely mastered the art of short story writing. Thank you Faber for sending me an advance proof copy of this for review.
May 2, 2023
"Just because an experience is common, it doesn't make it any less painful to go through."
A beautiful collection of five short stories that invoke an entire range of emotions in a dazzling, highly conceptual and striking way.
A young boy watches his first football match with his dad and tries to summon magic, a sentient Welsh seahorse tries to understand love and loss for the first time, a bitter, below average height office worker tries to fix his life, a conversation between lovers leads to them realising how their childhoods have shaped them, a young vampire gets their internet cut off by their mother — each of these stories paint a hauntingly evocative portrait of aspects of the human condition and the ways we uncover ourselves and learn more about who we are. Each is a snapshot of a life, a transient moment of self-exploration and discovery. Of course each story has its own merits, some longer than others and they have different styles of storytelling so you may not like every one but the themes and feelings woven through them make this an interesting, impactful read.
Thomas Morris has a distinct voice, with beautifully poetic prose that is layered with nuance and vivid imagery, with deep meaning and achingly authentic ideas that reach into the reader to create a genuine connection and recognition.
A beautiful collection of five short stories that invoke an entire range of emotions in a dazzling, highly conceptual and striking way.
A young boy watches his first football match with his dad and tries to summon magic, a sentient Welsh seahorse tries to understand love and loss for the first time, a bitter, below average height office worker tries to fix his life, a conversation between lovers leads to them realising how their childhoods have shaped them, a young vampire gets their internet cut off by their mother — each of these stories paint a hauntingly evocative portrait of aspects of the human condition and the ways we uncover ourselves and learn more about who we are. Each is a snapshot of a life, a transient moment of self-exploration and discovery. Of course each story has its own merits, some longer than others and they have different styles of storytelling so you may not like every one but the themes and feelings woven through them make this an interesting, impactful read.
Thomas Morris has a distinct voice, with beautifully poetic prose that is layered with nuance and vivid imagery, with deep meaning and achingly authentic ideas that reach into the reader to create a genuine connection and recognition.
March 30, 2025
The first two stories were loves. Seriously I would recommend this for the seahorse coming of age story alone. That one stuck a vulnerable cord with me and I think it’s now one of my favorite short stories.
It was hard for the other stories to live up to it, though I did mostly like them. They were just harder to follow and grasp.
3.5 stars.
It was hard for the other stories to live up to it, though I did mostly like them. They were just harder to follow and grasp.
3.5 stars.
July 31, 2024
Short stories, including one from the point of view of a seahorse which genuinely nearly made me cry. So much emotion in every sentence
August 15, 2023
Open Up is a compelling and richly textured collection of short stories loosely connected by strands of profound disenfranchisement and disconnection between the characters and the world around them. It highlights the melancholy, the yearning, and their outsiderdom, and not only is Morris a great writer, but he is also a fantastic short story crafter, a hurdle that even great writing pioneers have fallen at. The opener, "Wales", is a powerful and tender ode to maintaining hope in a hopeless world - through fandom and football, set at Euro 2016. Against a backdrop of poverty and adversity, a boy attends his first live international football match with his father and realises following his team has the benefits of being part of something even for a few hours giving him hope for the future. He finds release and magic in the chanting, singing and excited screams that erupt around him. In juxtaposition to this freeness and jubilation, the boy must come to terms with his parents break-up and the fact that he and his mother will lose their home before the year is out.
"Aberkariad" is a bizarre, surrealist meditation on love, loss, coming of age and the meaning of life as well as a social commentary on the culture of one-night stands and meaningless liaisons between people. Told through the perspective of an amorous seahorse (and his family) who is in pain due to the disappearance of his mother, we learn about the meaning of life. And in the last three stories we encounter Big Mike ("Little Wizard"), a football prodigy who has been told he is too short in stature to become a professional. Having just turned 30, he is frustrated at his dead-end job in an office and asks his best friend out on a date via text message due to running out of potential matches on Tinder; in "Passenger", Geraint is also on the cusp of an age milestone as he stumbles through life thinking about his fading youth and imminent middle age. His stunning girlfriend, Niamh, tries to support him and they travel to Croatia for a holiday together, but Geraint doesn't feel worthy of his other half which leads to neglecting her at her most vulnerable moments. He begins to have anxiety about the past and terrifying visions that haunt him psychologically.
Lastly, in "Birthday Teeth" we meet Glyn, an online forum moderator who decides to head to a backstreet dentist and get his teeth sharpened to resemble a pair of vampire fangs as a present to himself on his special day. This is an entertaining, unusual and often surreal five-story anthology by one of the up-and-comers of the literary sphere. Replete with emotion, originality, humour and humanity, we are treated to truth and tenderness against the backdrop of an unsettled and strangely dislocated world. The focus here is on men on the edge, the precipice. Grief, loss, love, self-doubt, adversity and past trauma are just some of the issues explored throughout by Morris' deft hand. Recurring characters include a variety of anxious men who have a yearning to belong and to fare better with women, absent fathers, failed relationships and other solitary figures - this is what thematically connects each story to its predecessor. Dark, realistic and beautifully portrayed, this is a poignant and dazzling collection from a writer to watch.
"Aberkariad" is a bizarre, surrealist meditation on love, loss, coming of age and the meaning of life as well as a social commentary on the culture of one-night stands and meaningless liaisons between people. Told through the perspective of an amorous seahorse (and his family) who is in pain due to the disappearance of his mother, we learn about the meaning of life. And in the last three stories we encounter Big Mike ("Little Wizard"), a football prodigy who has been told he is too short in stature to become a professional. Having just turned 30, he is frustrated at his dead-end job in an office and asks his best friend out on a date via text message due to running out of potential matches on Tinder; in "Passenger", Geraint is also on the cusp of an age milestone as he stumbles through life thinking about his fading youth and imminent middle age. His stunning girlfriend, Niamh, tries to support him and they travel to Croatia for a holiday together, but Geraint doesn't feel worthy of his other half which leads to neglecting her at her most vulnerable moments. He begins to have anxiety about the past and terrifying visions that haunt him psychologically.
Lastly, in "Birthday Teeth" we meet Glyn, an online forum moderator who decides to head to a backstreet dentist and get his teeth sharpened to resemble a pair of vampire fangs as a present to himself on his special day. This is an entertaining, unusual and often surreal five-story anthology by one of the up-and-comers of the literary sphere. Replete with emotion, originality, humour and humanity, we are treated to truth and tenderness against the backdrop of an unsettled and strangely dislocated world. The focus here is on men on the edge, the precipice. Grief, loss, love, self-doubt, adversity and past trauma are just some of the issues explored throughout by Morris' deft hand. Recurring characters include a variety of anxious men who have a yearning to belong and to fare better with women, absent fathers, failed relationships and other solitary figures - this is what thematically connects each story to its predecessor. Dark, realistic and beautifully portrayed, this is a poignant and dazzling collection from a writer to watch.
September 26, 2023
Enjoyed this brief collection of stories. Explores themes of existentialism, grief and belonging with wit, empathy and surreal tonal shifts that unmoored me in otherwise familiar dynamics. Most memorable is easily Aberkariad - a tale of a teenage seahorse’s coming of age that finds humanity and crushing sadness in a story that could have simply been quirky and comic, but instead manages to be all of the above.
March 5, 2024
A collection of bizarre short stories. I’m definitely be thinking about them for a while.
February 10, 2025
1.5 stars really, rounded up. (See, I do round up occasionally.)
August 30, 2024
Don’t bother.
Read
March 30, 2024A well-deserved 3.5 stars!
The subject matter of the last two stories wasn't my favourite, but Morris knows how to tell a short story. Although I picked this up for Dewithon, it has ended up being a collection that has stuck with me. I think younger, heterosexual men (and quite frankly older, heterosexual men) would benefit from reading this collection.
Ah, I'm SO glad that my partner was gifted this short story collection from faber!!!
[Physical, borrowed from my partner]
The subject matter of the last two stories wasn't my favourite, but Morris knows how to tell a short story. Although I picked this up for Dewithon, it has ended up being a collection that has stuck with me. I think younger, heterosexual men (and quite frankly older, heterosexual men) would benefit from reading this collection.
Ah, I'm SO glad that my partner was gifted this short story collection from faber!!!
[Physical, borrowed from my partner]
August 21, 2024
von seepferdchen und ihren liebesleben zu menschen die sich vampirzähne machen lassen - absolut wild und jede einzelne geschichte leider auch irgendwie traurig
March 18, 2024
was sweet until it was thoroughly uncomfortable 😵💫
June 10, 2023
I read this on the strength of Thomas Morris being named one of Granta's 20 best young British Novelists. This is his second collection of short stories, but my introduction to his work.
As an aside, it seems a bit odd that he's been included on a list of the best young novelists when he is a short story writer who has never published a novel. But that isn't to suggest he doesn't deserve the accolade and if more people read the book as a result that's all to the good.
'Wales' is a simple story of a child attending his first football match with his father. It’s the shortest in the collection and is perhaps a little slight, though it has all the heart that characterises the collection.
'Aberkariad' is a coming of age tale about family and loss, told from the perspective of a sea horse. If you had explained the conceit to me I may have rolled my eyes, but it is well done and absolutely works.
'The Wizard' is about an office worker, disappointed in life and unable to find love, who blames his (lack of) height for holding him back. This story reminded me somewhat of David Szalay in tone and the way that he captures male frustration.
In 'Passenger' a young man spends a holiday in Croatia with his girlfriend. He is crippled by a lack of self-confidence and assertiveness. For me the writing, already strong, went up a notch as the young struggled with his imagined, but for him very real, inner demons.
'Birthday Teeth' features a vampire going to the dentist to get their fangs. That sounds a bit out there, but the story never makes entirely clear whether the protagonist is a vampire or, in my preferred reading of the story, a young goth getting some body modification. For me this was a story of a young man who feels alienated in his home time who relies on and has found some kinship with an online community.
I have a difficulty with short story collections in that the individual stories rarely stay with me. Stories often blur together and I am left enjoying the collection as a whole without individual stories making an impact. I'm happy to say that wasn't the case here, perhaps because the stories are mostly a little longer and so have time to breathe. And while the stories are distinct (covering as they do seahorses and vampiric dentistry) there are common threads that that mean they work as a collection: growing up, alienation, masculinity, the effect of poverty and difficult family relationships.
Overall I enjoyed this collection a great deal. The writing is very strong but the stories are made by the sensitivity and heart with which they are written.
As an aside, it seems a bit odd that he's been included on a list of the best young novelists when he is a short story writer who has never published a novel. But that isn't to suggest he doesn't deserve the accolade and if more people read the book as a result that's all to the good.
'Wales' is a simple story of a child attending his first football match with his father. It’s the shortest in the collection and is perhaps a little slight, though it has all the heart that characterises the collection.
'Aberkariad' is a coming of age tale about family and loss, told from the perspective of a sea horse. If you had explained the conceit to me I may have rolled my eyes, but it is well done and absolutely works.
'The Wizard' is about an office worker, disappointed in life and unable to find love, who blames his (lack of) height for holding him back. This story reminded me somewhat of David Szalay in tone and the way that he captures male frustration.
In 'Passenger' a young man spends a holiday in Croatia with his girlfriend. He is crippled by a lack of self-confidence and assertiveness. For me the writing, already strong, went up a notch as the young struggled with his imagined, but for him very real, inner demons.
'Birthday Teeth' features a vampire going to the dentist to get their fangs. That sounds a bit out there, but the story never makes entirely clear whether the protagonist is a vampire or, in my preferred reading of the story, a young goth getting some body modification. For me this was a story of a young man who feels alienated in his home time who relies on and has found some kinship with an online community.
I have a difficulty with short story collections in that the individual stories rarely stay with me. Stories often blur together and I am left enjoying the collection as a whole without individual stories making an impact. I'm happy to say that wasn't the case here, perhaps because the stories are mostly a little longer and so have time to breathe. And while the stories are distinct (covering as they do seahorses and vampiric dentistry) there are common threads that that mean they work as a collection: growing up, alienation, masculinity, the effect of poverty and difficult family relationships.
Overall I enjoyed this collection a great deal. The writing is very strong but the stories are made by the sensitivity and heart with which they are written.
September 12, 2023
Hm
Interesting premise “creatively and innovatively exploring themes of masculinity”
However -executional wise, what we have instead is a rather self indulgent, “literary” (aka abstract or “quirky” for no real sake) emotionally detached series of short stories, that offers up no real gravitas or innovation in terms of storytelling when it comes to the plight of many men (of all ages) today.
A disappointingly underwhelming and superficial account of yet another white middle class male moaning about issues (some somewhat interesting, yet sadly undeveloped -or just not fully explored to their potential), that (imo) could’ve been far more “radical” and vulnerable than was initially led to believe.
1 star
Interesting premise “creatively and innovatively exploring themes of masculinity”
However -executional wise, what we have instead is a rather self indulgent, “literary” (aka abstract or “quirky” for no real sake) emotionally detached series of short stories, that offers up no real gravitas or innovation in terms of storytelling when it comes to the plight of many men (of all ages) today.
A disappointingly underwhelming and superficial account of yet another white middle class male moaning about issues (some somewhat interesting, yet sadly undeveloped -or just not fully explored to their potential), that (imo) could’ve been far more “radical” and vulnerable than was initially led to believe.
1 star
October 7, 2023
Starts slowly - wade through the sea horse story and you end up with two unsettling 5 star stories - one about a holiday, one about a trip to the dentist - both with weird dream sequences… the holiday one was particularly striking…
March 7, 2024
So unbelievably strange! Im not usually a fan/into short stories but I think these were so bizarre that you can’t not like them. I liked the writing style and strange symbolism through. Easy read but fcking weird
June 27, 2024
Definitely worth reading, especially Aberkariad. What a great story.
August 26, 2023
Well, this is the only Granta 20 author I've read so far who I outright hated. Thomas Morris undoubtedly wooed the judges with his taut and pared down prose. But he knows very little about life and has nothing but pedestrian characters and obvious behavioral cues to offer us. Every trope is here. Radical honesty, people who Google things, cube slaves, people who pick apart language and offer superficial takeaways. Yeah, I've seen this all before, motherfucker. You're nothing special. Morris is one of those insufferable young men who thinks he's so smart, but who lacks anything in the way of originality, social know-how, and humility. I can't stand this type of writer or person. I did like the way he described sports in the first story and "Passenger" has its moments. But this book largely comes across as a big shaggy dog who continues to salivate over you after you have walked and fed him. Really? THIS guy is your anointed Young Literary Superstar?
December 28, 2024
I read this as part of a book club with a friend. It's not something I would have picked up on my own, so I appreciated the change of pace and different voice.
This diverse anthology of short stories explores different aspects of masculinity and mental health in sometimes surreal and unpredictable ways. I never thought that I would be reading a book with a seahorse main character and vampire teeth sharpening procedures.
Morris has an incredible understanding and ability to describe what it is to be human - more often than not I was shocked at how relatable the characters and their experiences felt to me, despite how niche and unique these stories could be.
I rated this two stars because on an individual level some of these short stories were not as enjoyable for me to read. Overall I think Morris is a fantastic author, but I personally find it hard to connect with short stories, especially when they are this abstract.
Would definitely say give this a go if you're interested in something a little bit different or the fragility of the male voice.
This diverse anthology of short stories explores different aspects of masculinity and mental health in sometimes surreal and unpredictable ways. I never thought that I would be reading a book with a seahorse main character and vampire teeth sharpening procedures.
Morris has an incredible understanding and ability to describe what it is to be human - more often than not I was shocked at how relatable the characters and their experiences felt to me, despite how niche and unique these stories could be.
I rated this two stars because on an individual level some of these short stories were not as enjoyable for me to read. Overall I think Morris is a fantastic author, but I personally find it hard to connect with short stories, especially when they are this abstract.
Would definitely say give this a go if you're interested in something a little bit different or the fragility of the male voice.
November 14, 2024
This book displayed a variety of different territories and the destruction and construction of masculinity within them, i was confused, heartbroken, and somber throughout this book. At times the concepts were complex and too strange to gather a whole full understanding of. Therefore I rate this book with 3 stars.
September 24, 2025
While I did not enjoy this as much as his first collection, We Don’t Know What We’re Doing, I remain so fond of Morris’ quietly melancholy and slightly off-kilter stories. Will continue to read everything he writes!
September 9, 2023
This was such a beautiful read. I can’t wait to see where this author goes from here. Thought provoking touching short stories. I really resonated with some and it was just beautifully written . Must read
August 2, 2024
Coole, erfrischende Geschichten. Vor allem die Seepferdchen 🐟🐴
September 11, 2024
Weird book, didn’t really get the last short story, enjoyed the first 4 more than the 5th, not quite 4 stars for me. 3.75
October 12, 2024
A rather curious & surreal set of short stories, exploring the common theme of absentee parents.
Well-written & very imaginative.
Well-written & very imaginative.
December 27, 2024
fundamentally don’t like short stories and should probably just stop reading them
January 31, 2025
stories about white men complaining? no thanks
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews