Nim’s Reviews > The Trees Grew Because I Bled There > Status Update

Where Flames Burn As Emerald As Grass is a a little bit strange. Stranger danger with a potential paranormal side? Although the clairvoyance was explained, some of the stuff happening seemed too hard to predict.
I'll Be Gone By Then was short and very human. An easier story to read, as nothing graphic happened. But the realism kind of makes it seem scarier. The fear of cracking under pressure, failing a loved one.

"You're Not Supposed To Be Here" is kind of different from the stories that came before it in this collection. Before the stories were more internal, to do with the darkest impulses ourselves and those we love. Here it at least starts out as an external threat, an us against them situation.

Very Saw-esque. This also reminded me a little of of an earlier LaRocca story "You'll Find It's Like That All Over".

The Strange Thing We Become is also thematically something I enjoy. "Each thing we love takes a piece of us whether we give it willingly or not. By the time we find the person we were meant to be with, we're a honeycombed shell of what we once were. Each person we love turns us into the strange thing we become."
Love is scary, very likely wounding. In worst cases even mutilating. And you can't know it beforehand.

"Bodies Are For Burning" is my favorite LaRocca story so far. Intrusive thoughts and a fascination with fire are both kind of relatable, although luckily not in this combination nor in the way described here. I've spent my fair share of time wondering how much of our thoughts are us and how much of us is our thoughts. Ending was surprisingly pleasant, saw it coming before Hailey herself did, but I'm glad it was this.

You Follow Wherever They Go was very short. I wonder if the body carried out was tha main character's Dad or if it was his own. The hospice car idling nearby kind of makes me think it would have to be the Dad. If the Dad just died recently, were they both already ghosts when he sent his son to join the band? If so, why wouldn't he go with him? Or did he just kill himself the moment the son's ghost left?