RaveThe Portland Book ReviewTaylor demonstrates that his talent is not limited to just the novel form. In these stories, Taylor applies his keen observation of the human condition to a cast of characters navigating a slew of challenges: a recent mental health crisis, a career-threatening injury, a fraught relationship dynamic, a complicated job situation ... Many of the stories are set in Wisconsin, and many stories are linked, with characters from earlier stories resurfacing in later ones. The effect is a collection that depicts a community of people and their relationship to their Midwestern setting with detail and depth. Taylor’s authentic dialogue, resonant imagery, and thoughtful observation combine to form a volume that readers will savor for its rich explorations of the everyday. Filthy Animals further solidifies that Taylor’s future writings are ones to look out for, in whatever form they come.
Christie Tate
MixedManhattan Book Review... incredibly readable—there’s something both touching and addictive about getting to sit in on group meetings and witness the superficial details and the deeper, more painful vulnerabilities of Tate and her group members. With candor and humor, Tate lifts back the curtain on the complexities of personal growth. At times, though, the book is missing a deeper examination of Dr. Rosen’s unconventional group therapy format—the groups are not confidential, and Dr. Rosen attends his patients’ weddings and invites them over for dinner. While Tate sometimes acknowledges this unconventionality—and acquaintances’ taken-aback responses to it—she doesn’t dig deeper into its ethical implications. One can’t help but wish that more reflection on the therapy format made its way into the book.
Linda Holmes
RaveThe Seattle Book Review... pure delight. Linda Holmes weaves a coziness into the small-town setting and the characters that populate it, lending even the novel’s hard moments a kind of warmth. Evvie’s character is funny and real, and her friends, her family, and Dean are all drawn with detail and complexity that make them feel familiar and make the moments the reader spends with them feel like quality time. With humor and heart, Holmes tells a story about granting yourself joy and liberation, about building the kind of home you always wanted with the people you love.
Ling Ma
PositiveManhattan Book Review\"Ling Ma’s hand as a writer is light and masterful, characterized by a solemnity touched with humor. Candace’s memories and descriptions are vivid and touching and have a specificity that grounds the reader in Candace’s emotional experience as they read about an apocalyptic version of their world ... Prompting consideration of religion, family, life, death, and memory, Severance is rich and thoughtful, limited only by its ending, which may leave some readers unsatisfied.\
