Status Updates From Filthy Animals

I was extremely put off by Taylor’s first novel because of his obsession with the seemingly straight man hooking up with the gay friend trope (or should I say fetish? Since it certainly is fetishization of and obsession with the straight male). It is MIND BOGGLING to me that he would begin this short story collection with the exact same fetish. I want to like Taylor so bad but I don’t think I do.

short story books like this are always risky. because they are often done so poorly, but brandon taylor is a fabulous storyteller

Is it bad that I thought the strongest story was the stand alone, Anne of Cleves? The interlinked ones are a pleasure to recognize— “oh you’re coming at it from this angle” — but ultimately the Lionel and Charles arc wasn’t very credible to me. I’m not sure what Charles sees in him other than pity.