Milk Blood Heat: Something Special

Every once in a while I encounter a new piece of literary fiction that is truly something special. One of the qualities that defines great literary fiction is the depiction of difficult to express emotions. Milk Blood Heat dives into complex and elusive feelings in a raw and visceral way. The writing is vivid, pulling the reader into the body of the story.

A powerful theme across these stories is the embodiment of experience and emotion. Moniz introduces and reincorporates phrases, ideas, and images in each story that return in satisfying ways. I’m being intentionally vague with my descriptions of these stories as they should be experienced first hand. To give some hint, themes include coming of age, loss, motherhood, gender, and love.

The writing style has a palpable quality to it. Moniz grounds each concept in the realities of a person’s life and how they manifest in a person’s body. She doesn’t merely express pain as a mental concept but translates these sensations into the physical sensations experienced by her characters. Different parts of the body symbolize the themes of each story. I found myself deeply affected by each story. Some of the stories were difficult to read because they brought up emotional pain for me. I greatly value stories that can have that kind of effect on me as I think they showcase the power that well made art has. I was never bored or uninterested. Each tale was immediately engaging.

I found myself continuously drawn back to these stories. One or two of the stories didn’t hit quite as hard as the others, but this didn’t diminish any of the overall effect. The rich descriptions and excellent word choice reminded me of Sandra Cisneros, and the intense bodily sensations and emotional poignancy reminded me of Jesmyn Ward.

These crafting of these stories showcase an enormous level of care and I recommend this collection to fans of contemporary and literary fiction. I am very excited to see what Dantiel W. Moniz releases next.

Milk Blood Heat
By Dantiel W. Moniz

The cover and title of this book drew me in at first sight. After reading the description, I immediately requested that NetGalley give me the opportunity to read it. Here is my honest review.

I tend to avoid short stories. Of the few I have read, I found that they left me with more questions than answers. I prefer to see the full arc of a story. Milk Blood Heat was a collection like no other I have read before, and I hope it is not the last for me.

Each of Moniz’s stories began strong. The reader is immediately drawn into a world that is detailed in such a way that I felt like I was there. The author then delves into the background for each story and the reader’s understanding of the characters and situations is beautifully expanded.

There was a common theme of struggle in these stories, stemming from psychological injury or distress of various kinds. Although it is effortless to be drawn in, this books is not a light and breezy reading experience. I was contemplative and even went back to reread portions of some stories to soak up the richness they held.

I rated this author’s debut book with five stars. I hope to read more from Muniz in the near future!

An absolutely excellent book that I would recommend to anyone. These stories are perfectly crafted and have important, incredible themes. I am rarely blown away by a book but this one completely captured my attention and impressed me. This writer is seriously gifted.

Loved this short story collection! Each story feels like a dream. I adore the use of language throughout this book. Some of the most beautiful sentences I've ever read. Can't wait to see what Moniz writes next!

Didn't hit the mark for me - I felt disconnected from the characters even though the synopsis had really intrigued me. If this had been packaged differently (maybe as short stories) or lengthened more, I could have become more invested. That being said, Moniz writes in a very beautiful way and I am excited to see what she releases in the future.