Rickey – 4 stars
This is a literal look at what inclusivity in a school means, the ending was just too sad to contemplate. It is the kind of tale that can be dissected by a group read for several hours.

The Unicorn In Captivity – 4 Stars
A tapestry is a witness to the rise and fall of almost civilizations and we watch along with it, all the way to a possible future where it is an artifact to be looked at. It is a perfect tool to show us how some things have changed over time and how the world looks at each stage of the narrative, including a possible dystopian future.

At the Moment of Condensation – 4 stars
Another possible dystopian scenario, that plays out in a very technical report of rain being a prized commodity.

The Observer’s Cage – 3 stars
This is the story of an isolated team of three scientists who made a surprising discovery and how the process was part of their lives. It is longer than I cared for, but the way the author wrote it definitely felt like an actual old man was narrating it.

Yellow Ball Python – 4 stars
A short story of how the end result is not always the point of things. In its very brief narrative, we can see our own mirrored thoughts about certain things in life.

The Midden – 4 stars
A touching tale of a mother and daughter thrown into a different balance than they were used to.

How We Became Forest Creatures – 3 stars
The story is ambiguous enough to be about a lot of things. One group is afraid of another, and what happens when one of the former faces their fears.

Reentry – 4 stars
A good teacher leaves an impact like no other. This story begins in a simple fashion with our protagonist finding her rhythm in a pottery class. How it factors in later in her life is how the chapter ends.

En plein air – 3 stars
A ghost who haunts an artist’s retreat does not have a nice character. She picks on one person consistently, until that person finds something which has been hidden for a long time.

The Wedding Table – 2 stars
Although the concept of giving and receiving at a wedding was novel, it was a little too dark for me.

Mouse Number Six – 4 stars
Although supposed to be about a play that shows the same thing over and over again, the emotions work for the tale.

The Man in the Banana Trees – 2 stars
About miscarriages and related plotline. It was too strange and too long. Compared to the rest of the collection, I was surprised this was chosen to be the title!

Midnight Revolt at Bertrand’s Year-Round Christmas Store – 2 stars
About finding a new direction, also not for me.

In the Style of Miriam Ackerman – 3 stars
A little dark, took some time getting to the point but was very realistic. A nephew found his aunt’s previously unknown collection of photos and is now regretting letting the world see it.

The Pantheon of Flavors – 5 stars
I never imagined a dystopian ice-cream related conference could feel so stark, or that that combination of words would work well together.

Local Speciality 2 stars
I had high hopes for this odd tale of two people trying to make a quick buck with a ‘local speciality’. But I didn’t get the point at the end.

The Disgrace of the Commodore – 4 stars
A tale of a man being forced to look back at his life. I really enjoyed the way the story moved.

Tiger on my Roof -3 stars
I thought the concept of a tiger attaching itself to a mourners phone could have been shorter. It’s a deep story but I think a few instances in between didn’t add much to the overall narrative.

I highly recommend this book for people who like short stories. Lots of emotions and debatable points are within the chapters.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I am so thankful to the University of Iowa Press, Marguerite Sheffer, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this galley before publication day. I really enjoyed the dialogue and plot of this book and can’t wait to chat this one up with my friends!

The Man in the Banana Trees is one of those short story collections where you want to binge every story and you still get something from each one. They vary greatly in genre and plot, and each one is a good time. The stories have a common thread of being about ordinary people going through life and pulling meaning from every situation.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this.

I should probably stop requesting short story books since I almost never enjoy them. This is no fault of the author, usually. There were three stories that I did enjoy in this collection. Those being:
Mouse Nr 6, The Observer’s Cage and Tiger on My Roof (while I do think this last one could have been shorter.)

Overall, I think this was well-written, had diverse stories and can imagine that plenty of people will enjoy reading it.

Thank you #netgalley and #universityofiowapress for "The Man in the Banana Trees." I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to have read this GORGEOUS collection of stories prior to its release in two days (a gift to readers on ELECTION DAY 2o24 and hopefully it brings with it positive results). I zipped through these diverse and addictive stories - from flash to fuller length - and could not have enjoyed it more. I recommend it to anyone who loves CREATIVE writing, well-told tales on the speculative side of the spectrum, filled with unforgettable characters, joy and heartbreak. Kooky, otherwordly scenarios and powerful reversals of fortune. I have been hitting the jackpot with short story collections this year and have also learned that a few of the authors are loosely interconnected (either by education, mentorship, or just as fans of one another).

Well, Marguerite Sheffer is an amazing talent. Standout stories for me were the title story, Reentry, Rickey, Tiger on My Roof, Mouse Number Six, and Local Specialty. Two other favorites were based on historical events that I will be following up on now in real life and Sheffer says, beautifully, in her acknowledgements: "One of the dangers of writing historical fiction is that the true story is often more interesting than my made-up version." How true!!

I am a giant fan of short/flash fiction and a few of the stories were flash perfection. This collection won the Iowa Short Fiction Award and that says so much in itself. Another favorite writer of mine summed it up best: “Haunting and hilarious, horrifying and heartwarming, this is short story gold."

I can't wait to read more from this author and wholeheartedly recommend this debut collection. I have quotes to share in the coming days (once the book is released) and #brava to you, Marguerite Sheffer.

I enjoyed reading this collection of stories. It was very heartwarming and talked about themes of grief, which was interesting and profound to read. Thank you Marguerite Sheffer, NetGalley, and University of Iowa Press for this ARC.

These stories were delightfully weird. I couldn't look away from the pages even if I ocassionally was thinking "what the hell am I reading?" Completely orginal and written in such a captivating way.

This is an eclectic and enjoyable short story collection. I appreciated the variety and never felt jerked around, which sometimes happens when stories are not linked in any way. But here we have diverse settings and time periods (even dipping into the future and outer space) but we still feel grounded enough to avoid disorientation. In other words the writing keeps us on our toes but never makes us dizzy. I like the thread of the fantastical that is woven throughout the collection. I will look forward to more from this talented author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

An eclectic, honest and beautifully written collection about grieving parents, a nephew that re-discovers his aunt through art, two co-workers desperate to leave what they know behind, a teacher struggling with the loss of a student and so much more. Even though each story had its own uniqueness, they all blended wonderfully.

"Do whatever you need to do to get away from what hurts you, to solve the puzzle of staying alive, to find a way."

It’s not an easy read on your kindle. The format is weird and I hope it’s only a kindle thing. This is a short read but fully packed. I really recommend it.

This was a good book. I really enjoyed the plot, the writing, the characters.Dont skip this one on publication day.