Her Body and Other Parties

by Carmen Maria Machado
Her Body and Other Parties cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Short Story Collections
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Technical
  • ID: 1870
  • Added: 2025-10-10
  • Updated: 2025-10-31
  • ISBN: 9781555979805
  • Publisher: Graywolf Press
  • Published: 2017-10-03
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Carmen Maria Machado's debut collection, Her Body and Other Parties, defies conventional genre boundaries, weaving together psychological realism, science fiction, horror, and fabulism. Each story is a unique exploration of women's lives, their desires, and the violence they often face. The narratives are as diverse as they are unsettling, ranging from a wife's mysterious green ribbon to a plague that consumes humanity during a series of sexual encounters. Machado's voice is distinctly her own, blending the earthy with the otherworldly, the comic with the deadly serious. /n/n The collection's standout piece, the novella 'Especially Heinous,' reimagines every episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, transforming it into a phantasmagoric police procedural filled with doppelgängers and ghosts. Machado's work is celebrated for its explosive originality, enlarging the possibilities of contemporary fiction and leaving readers with a profound sense of both horror and beauty.

Reviews
What is Quinn Reading · 2025-03-29
haunting 4.00

The book is described as haunting, abstract, darkly funny, and sensual, offering a unique and strange reading experience. The reviewer enjoyed the collection's ability to blend different emotions and themes.

What is Quinn Reading's review captures the essence of Machado's collection as a haunting and abstract journey. The reviewer appreciates the dark humor and sensuality that permeate the stories, creating a strange and captivating reading experience. The collection is praised for its ability to blend different emotions and themes seamlessly, making it a memorable and thought-provoking read. The reviewer enjoyed the collection's unique approach to storytelling, which sets it apart in the literary landscape.

Quick quotes

    Haunting, abstract, darkly funny, sensual — what a strange, strange book Carmen Maria Machado's Her Body and Other Parties is.

    I really enjoyed the collection's ability to blend different emotions and themes seamlessly.

    The stories are strange and captivating, offering a unique reading experience.

Bookish Coffee Blog · 2021-10-29
mixed 3.00

The collection is described as grim and unsettling, with a focus on the realities of being a woman. The reviewer has mixed feelings about the book, finding some stories more impactful than others.

The reviewer notes that the collection deals with very grim and unsettling stories, focusing on the realities of being a woman. They mention having mixed feelings about the book, with some stories leaving a stronger impact than others. The reviewer appreciates the raw and honest portrayal of women's experiences but finds some of the stories too dark and disturbing. They also note that the collection is not an easy read and requires a strong stomach.

Quick quotes

    This story tells very grim stories of the realities of holding the identity of being a woman.

    I have very mixed feelings about this book, with some stories leaving a stronger impact than others.

    The collection is not an easy read and requires a strong stomach.

Literary Elephant · 2020-07-23
thought-provoking 4.00

The short story collection is praised for its productivity and impact, with the reviewer highlighting it as one of their most productive reads. The stories are described as thought-provoking and engaging.

The reviewer found Carmen Maria Machado's short story collection to be one of the most productive reads of the year. The stories are noted for their ability to provoke thought and engage the reader, making it a standout collection. The reviewer appreciates the variety and depth of the narratives, which offer a rich and rewarding reading experience. The collection is seen as a testament to Machado's skill as a writer, capable of tackling a wide range of themes and styles.

Quick quotes

    Carmen Maria Machado's short story collection Her Body and Other Parties was one of my most productive reads so far this year.

    It was a 2018 National Book Award finalist, and it's easy to see why.

    The stories are thought-provoking and engaging, offering a rich and rewarding reading experience.

The Guardian · 2018-01-18
excellent 5.00

The collection is described as the reviewer's favorite book of the year and one of the best short story collections in over a decade. The stories are praised for their originality and impact.

The reviewer describes Her Body and Other Parties as their favorite book of the year and one of the best short story collections they have read in over a decade. The stories are noted for their originality and the powerful impact they have on the reader. The reviewer appreciates the way Machado blends different genres and styles to create a unique and compelling collection. The stories are seen as a testament to the author's skill and creativity, offering a fresh and exciting reading experience.

Quick quotes

    This collection was my favorite book of last year and my favorite short story collection in more than a decade.

    Most of the stories are brilliant, but a few are just very good.

    Machado's writing is sharp, insightful, and deeply affecting.

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