What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky

by Lesley Nneka Arimah
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Short Story Collections
Technical:
  • ID: 1314
  • Added: 2025-10-04
  • Updated: 2025-10-04
  • ISBN: 9781472239617
  • Publisher: Tinder Press
  • Published: 2017-04-11
  • Reviews: 3

Lesley Nneka Arimah's debut collection, 'What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky,' is a dazzling array of short stories that seamlessly weave magic and realism. The stories feature women navigating extraordinary circumstances, from a mother's ghost appearing in a family photograph to a woman creating a charmed infant from human hair. Each tale is characterized by vivid imagery and a sense of yearning, set against a backdrop of a tough, unpredictable world. The collection has been praised for its luminous prose and mesmerizing storytelling, with critics highlighting its ability to conjure worlds that are both familiar and unsettlingly different. Arimah's work showcases her remarkable talent and promises a stellar literary career.

Reviews
Efsunland · 2021-01-05
impressive 4.50

The collection contains individually compelling stories that capture an impressive range of human experiences. The reviewer highlights the diversity and depth of the narratives.

The reviewer praises the book for its diverse and compelling stories, each offering a unique perspective on human experiences. They appreciate the range and depth of the narratives, which collectively create a rich tapestry of emotions and themes. The stories are not only individually strong but also contribute to a broader exploration of the ties that bind people together.

Quick quotes

    What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah not only contains individually compelling stories, but also captures an impressive range of ...

    Each story follows the life of a Nigerian woman and her unique ways ...

    It's a very short, very beautiful story that ends with a shock — the final sentence hits the reader hard, and it's almost impossible to resist ...

The Atlantic · 2017-04-11
thought-provoking 4.00

The collection takes a dystopic look at human life but avoids total bleakness. The reviewer appreciates the balance between pessimism and hope in the narratives.

The reviewer notes that the collection takes a dystopic view of human life, exploring themes of connection and disconnection. However, they appreciate that the stories pull back from total bleakness, offering moments of hope and resilience. The reviewer finds the balance between pessimism and optimism to be particularly compelling, making the collection a thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    Lesley Nneka Arimah's debut story collection takes a dystopic look at human life, but pulls back from the brink of total bleakness.

    The powerful pessimism of what it means when a man falls from the sky.

    Lesley Nneka Arimah's debut story collection takes a dystopic look at human life, but pulls back from the brink of total bleakness.

NPR · 2017-04-05
original 4.75

The collection is described as defiantly and electrically original, with stories that are beautifully written and impactful. The reviewer highlights the shock value of the final sentences in several stories.

The reviewer describes the collection as defiantly and electrically original, with each story offering a unique and impactful perspective. They particularly appreciate the beautifully written narratives that often conclude with a shocking final sentence, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. The collection is seen as a standout for its originality and emotional depth.

Quick quotes

    It's a very short, very beautiful story that ends with a shock — the final sentence hits the reader hard, and it's almost impossible to resist ...

    It's a very short, very beautiful story that ends with a shock — the final sentence hits the reader hard, and it's almost impossible to resist ...

    It's a very short, very beautiful story that ends with a shock — the final sentence hits the reader hard, and it's almost impossible to resist ...

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