Dara’s Reviews > The Complete Short Stories: Volume One 1944-1953 > Status Update
Dara
is on page 340 of 596
The Visitor 2⭐
FUCK YES, the soldier stories are over. This was amazing. Interesting preface, compelling story-telling, hilarious ending. I couldn't decide if I liked Cornelius (because somehow it's so tempting for me to associate myself with this archetype of a Casanova and I liked his weird little obsessions with spiders and vases and the like) or to hate him because of his misogyny. Either way, fantastic.
— Apr 13, 2025 01:48AM
FUCK YES, the soldier stories are over. This was amazing. Interesting preface, compelling story-telling, hilarious ending. I couldn't decide if I liked Cornelius (because somehow it's so tempting for me to associate myself with this archetype of a Casanova and I liked his weird little obsessions with spiders and vases and the like) or to hate him because of his misogyny. Either way, fantastic.
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Dara’s Previous Updates
Dara
is on page 407 of 596
Bitch 2⭐
I mean, when it was written it was probably so original and tickled the unprepared reader's nerve? But I spent my formative years on ao3 and got a sex education through fanfiction because my country failed me in that regard. So a “sex pheromones fragrance” is something I've read about so many times… Overall, amusing, but just not for me. The ending was hilarious though.
— Jun 30, 2025 02:47AM
I mean, when it was written it was probably so original and tickled the unprepared reader's nerve? But I spent my formative years on ao3 and got a sex education through fanfiction because my country failed me in that regard. So a “sex pheromones fragrance” is something I've read about so many times… Overall, amusing, but just not for me. The ending was hilarious though.
Dara
is on page 383 of 596
The Last Act 4⭐
The part of the story about grief was sped through almost criminally, and the weird dialogue with the weird man who only commented on what she should and should not do because "she's a female" took most of the page count... And the perfect, ideal dead husband is such a funny unintentional trope inversion. I did like it though, and I am a sucker for sad stories so the ending was right up my alley.
— Jun 05, 2025 11:50PM
The part of the story about grief was sped through almost criminally, and the weird dialogue with the weird man who only commented on what she should and should not do because "she's a female" took most of the page count... And the perfect, ideal dead husband is such a funny unintentional trope inversion. I did like it though, and I am a sucker for sad stories so the ending was right up my alley.
Dara
is on page 300 of 596
Someone like you 2⭐
Finally, the “Over to you” compilation is done, and, hopefully, the next one will not be about the war. Nothing to say about the story itself, not my genre.
— Feb 14, 2025 04:54AM
Finally, the “Over to you” compilation is done, and, hopefully, the next one will not be about the war. Nothing to say about the story itself, not my genre.
Dara
is on page 292 of 596
Only this 4⭐
Thank goddess, one more story in this section and I hope we will leave the war theme behind. This was actually quite touching, if only because I always feel more empathy towards women rather than men. I liked the supernatural element a lot, but it is very sad that the woman of the story sees her only purpose in her son, not in herself.
— Feb 11, 2025 02:04AM
Thank goddess, one more story in this section and I hope we will leave the war theme behind. This was actually quite touching, if only because I always feel more empathy towards women rather than men. I liked the supernatural element a lot, but it is very sad that the woman of the story sees her only purpose in her son, not in herself.
Dara
is on page 286 of 596
Beware of the dog 2⭐
When will the soldier-stories end, I am begging on my knees… Still, this wasn't completely unbearable, I liked the sense of doom and implicit danger, never properly articulated, and the fact that the main character was being lied to by everyone.
— Jan 28, 2025 02:55PM
When will the soldier-stories end, I am begging on my knees… Still, this wasn't completely unbearable, I liked the sense of doom and implicit danger, never properly articulated, and the fact that the main character was being lied to by everyone.
Dara
is on page 276 of 596
They shall not grow old 1⭐
Nope, the other two stories were the exception. Still not interested in war stories.
— Jan 24, 2025 08:35AM
Nope, the other two stories were the exception. Still not interested in war stories.
Dara
is on page 262 of 596
Yesterday was beautiful 4 ⭐
I might have to eat my words about not liking stories about soldiers… This, along with the previous story (“Katina”), was amazing, but mainly because the main focus was on people's emotions and a bit on the unsettling atmosphere, not on the war itself or military operations.
— Jan 19, 2025 08:40AM
I might have to eat my words about not liking stories about soldiers… This, along with the previous story (“Katina”), was amazing, but mainly because the main focus was on people's emotions and a bit on the unsettling atmosphere, not on the war itself or military operations.
