The Ill-Fitting Skin by Shannon Robinson – Book Review
I like to think that those who read Ginger Nuts of Horror are open-minded readers, open to books that, to some, might “not be for them.” Shannon Robinson’s award-winning debut collection, The Ill-Fitting Skin, which won the Press 53 Award for Short Fiction, is undoubtedly one that, on the surface, might sound like it isn’t for a specific type of reader. Why is that, you ask? Well, this collection of short stories firmly puts the female experience front and centre; Robinson delves into emotional themes such as the pain of a parent’s dementia diagnosis, the heartbreak of miscarriage, the anguish of losing a child to a poorly-understood disorder, unrequited love, and many more powerful emotional deep dives into the psyche of what women have to endure in modern society.
Shannon Robinson’s ‘The Ill-Fitting Skin’ is a unique blend of genres, featuring twelve stories that seamlessly blend horror, magic realism, humour, and even a short choose-your-own-adventure with Gothic tropes. This diverse mix ensures that every story in this collection is a captivating and thought-provoking read, with each narrative working on multiple levels. For instance, at first glance, what may seem like a simple werewolf story unfolds into a powerful and heartbreaking tale of a family torn apart by a ‘problem child’ and a mother’s unwavering love and protection.
A tale of a zombie enthusiast who enters into an illicit affair with a man already in a relationship and has to deal with its fallout.
In the profoundly moving “Miscarriages,” Robinson tries to make sense of the devasting effect of miscarriages. This story will be difficult to read for many, but it is handled with such a deftly sensitive touch that it is a must-read that will leave you emotionally drained.
“A Doom of Her Own.” a choose-your-own-adventure story that uses a woman being trapped in a toxic relationship as its central theme, is an absorbing and damning story that will have you re-reading it just so you can
“Rabbits” is almost like a fairy tale in its Victorian setting, but don’t let the light narrative tone of this story of a woman who gives birth to rabbits fool you into thinking this is a happy tale. Darkness oozes out from the spaces between the words.
Shannon Robinson’s ‘The Ill-Fitting Skin‘ is a masterclass in character development. Through her skilful storytelling, Robinson draws readers into the emotional journeys of her characters, allowing us to empathize with their struggles and triumphs. The themes of identity, feminine worth, loss, parenthood and transformation are expertly woven throughout the narrative, leaving a profound and lasting impact on the reader.
Robinson’s storytelling prowess lies in her ability to create profoundly relatable characters and explore complex themes with unparalleled nuance and sensitivity.
There is anger here, anger that women still face the same issues they have always had to endure at the actions of thoughtless men. I can see Robinson going into the woods purposefully looking for that bear. And if you believe John Lydon that anger is an energy, Then The Ill-Fitting Skin, has enough power to power a small nation.
The Ill-Fitting Skin by Shannon Robinson
The Ill-Fitting Skin is layered with surreal story telling but remains an extraordinarily realistic read, in the sense that even the most solid realities of life-and death-tend to blur and shimmer at their raw edges. The talkative bird that nests in a woman’s womb is as real as the “previous tenant.” The love of a mother for her uncontrollable son is as real as the wildness that is in her too. The women of The Ill-Fitting Skin are real women-who work and grieve and create and destroy, who love and do not love, whether at the roll of the dice or because “the pages are paths, and you will have to choose among them.”
EARLY PRAISE FOR THE ILL-FITTING SKIN
The stories in The Ill-Fitting Skin are funny, unflinching, and strange. The mundane and the magical rub together until they’re transformed into pearls in Shannon Robinson’s sharp and lucid prose. Mordant and morbid, these stories will stay with you and take up residence in a dark chamber of your heart.
—Katya Apekina, author of The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish and Mother Doll
Clever, harrowing, bitingly funny, imaginative, absurd, anatomical, and wise, these stories expertly shift from the magical realms of werewolves and zombies to the stark realities of trying to claw out a semblance of existence one can live with. Robinson’s inventive tales are sure to delight admirers of Kelly Link and Aimee Bender.
—Melinda Moustakis, author of Homestead and Bear Down, Bear North: Alaska Stories
With sharp insight, and heartbreaking humor, Shannon Robinson’s stunning debut story collection explores desire, motherhood, and the way that every connection a woman makes can become both a way to be seen and a way to disappear. Robinson shifts seamlessly between approaching the world with a visceral clarity and building fantasy worlds that illuminate the strangeness of our own. The Ill-Fitting Skin is a biting, breathtaking catalogue of the many ways being a human can feel beastly.
—Danielle Evans, author of Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self and The Office of Historical Corrections
