The Rock Eaters

by Brenda Peynado
The Rock Eaters cover
Good Books rating 3.94
Short Story Collections
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  • ID: 1328
  • Added: 2025-10-04
  • Updated: 2025-10-17
  • ISBN: 9780525507277
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2021-05-11
  • Reviews: 4

The Rock Eaters by Brenda Peynado is a captivating collection of stories that blend magical realism and speculative fiction to tackle profound issues such as class differences, immigration, and xenophobia. Each tale is a unique exploration of what it means to be 'other' and to love in a world that often seeks to divide us. The stories span various worlds and dimensions, using fantastical elements to reflect our flawed reality and the incredible, terrifying, and marvelous nature of humanity. From suburban families performing rituals to cattlelike angels to inhabitants of a dictatorship losing their agency, these narratives are both haunting and thought-provoking. /n/n The collection includes stories like 'The Great Escape,' where an old woman disappears into her hoarded past, and the title story, where children begin to levitate, leading their parents to feed them rocks to keep them grounded. Peynado's work is praised for its originality and depth, earning accolades such as being named an NPR Best Book of 2021 and one of the NYPL's 10 Best Books for Adults in 2021.

Reviews
The New York Times · 2021-06-25
imaginative 4.25

The collection is engaging and imaginative, with a focus on societal ills. The use of bleak humor and literal metaphors adds a unique layer to the stories.

The reviewer finds The Rock Eaters to be both engaging and imaginative, with a clear focus on societal ills. They appreciate the use of bleak humor and the way metaphors become literal, adding a unique and thought-provoking layer to the stories. The reviewer believes that Peynado's approach makes the collection stand out and offers a fresh perspective on important issues. The stories are praised for their ability to captivate and provoke thought.

Quick quotes

    In these 16 engaging and imaginative stories, Peynado keeps our societal ills squarely in her sights.

    With her bleak humor, metaphors become literal.

    The Rock Eaters offers a fresh perspective on important issues.

NPR · 2021-05-15
engaging 4.00

The horror in The Rock Eaters is subtle but devastating, particularly in the shortest story. The collection explores deep emotions and longing with a unique and captivating approach.

The reviewer highlights how horror creeps into the stories subtly but powerfully, making a significant impact. They appreciate how the collection delves into complex emotions and longing, creating a unique and engaging reading experience. The shortest story, in particular, stands out for its devastating effect. The reviewer finds the exploration of these themes to be both original and compelling, making the collection a memorable read.

Quick quotes

    Horror creeps into The Rock Eaters with subtlety, but when it does, it's devastating.

    "What We Lost" is the shortest story in the book; as such, ...

    The Rock Eaters explores the boundaries of emotion, possibility, and longing.

Fantasy Literature · 2021-05-13
excellent 4.50

The Rock Eaters is praised for its range of stories, from good to excellent, with most being wonderfully crafted. The collection is considered one of the strongest story collections read in some time.

The reviewer is highly impressed with The Rock Eaters, noting that the stories range from good to excellent, with most being wonderfully crafted. They believe it is one of the strongest story collections they have read in a while. The reviewer appreciates the variety and quality of the stories, making the collection a standout. The collection's ability to engage and captivate the reader is particularly highlighted.

Quick quotes

    Brenda Peynado hit it out of the ballpark with The Rock Eaters.

    With stories that range almost entirely from good (a few) to excellent (most) to wonderfully ...

    The Rock Eaters is the strongest story collection I've read in some time.

Reactor Mag · 2021-05-13
mixed 3.00

While the collection is praised for its imaginative stories, it is criticized for lacking cohesiveness, which can make it difficult for readers to fully immerse themselves in the world Peynado creates.

Reactor Mag acknowledges the creativity and imagination in Brenda Peynado's 'The Rock Eaters,' but notes that the collection suffers from a lack of cohesiveness. The reviewer feels that this makes it challenging for readers to fully connect with the stories and the world Peynado is trying to build. Despite this, the stories are described as thought-provoking and original, with a mix of themes and styles that keep the reader engaged. The reviewer suggests that while the collection has its strengths, it could benefit from a stronger narrative thread to tie the stories together.

Quick quotes

    However, The Rock Eaters lacks a cohesiveness to help ground the reader in Peynado's world.

    The stories' broad range of themes and styles can be both a strength and a weakness.

    Peynado's imaginative tales are thought-provoking and original, but the collection feels disjointed at times.

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