Customer Reviews

How to Escape from a Leper Colony: A Novella and Stories

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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This is an intriguing collection of stories on off-beat topics that will pique your curiosity. While the title story is about people living in a leper colony, this book is full of stories about so much more. It's all about people in tough places, struggling to find meaning and purpose. The author's use of dark humor gives this book a unique flavor.

I really like this writer's style. I sometimes enjoy reading short stories. This book was suggested via an interview with the writer on NPR some months ago.

When I finally got around to getting it I was surprised and delighted by the freshness of the author's point of view. The stories have the usual points of interest but are tinged a the unique taste of humor. Spicy but not too hot. Great!

This collection of short stories was absolutely sensational. An excellent read. I would suggest this debut compilation to anyone. The perspectives of her characters has a tragic beauty which compels the reader to transcend their predispositions and judgments and attempt to understand a way of life so very unique to the Virgin Islands. Yanique's command of vernacular as a literary device is astounding in the short story "Streetman" as well as in her "Bridge Stories" and the "Saving Work".

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This author is excellent at her craft and I eagerly await her second novel. My favorites would have to be "The Bridge Stories" and "The International Shop of Coffins"

all of these stories are set in the virgin islands with the exception of one that takes place in london. yanique paints a vivid image of the complexities of life on the islands: black vs. white, Non-native vs. Islander, rich vs. poor.

there are characters here that are sharply drawn for short stories: cooper, xica, pinky, anexus corban and father simon. stand out stories for me are: "The Saving Work," "The International Shop of Coffins," and "Kill the Rabbits."

i am eager to read a novel by this eloquent writer.