Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this collection of short stories from Adam Berlin!

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ | 1/5

Now let's talk about why I gave this such a low rating. First off, the fact that these short stories were already published in a litmag, and clearly did not have very good editing attached to them - a fact I found out AFTER I had already begrudgingly finished this - did not make me feel accomplished about reading this. In fact, it only made me more upset that I sat through this book when I really should have DNF'ed it. But I don't DNF books, espeicially ARCs, and I wanted to be able to give a full-rounded perspective and review on this. Honestly.

Secondly, each short story, which I am going off the assumption was made to be a different Male MC, felt so flat. Every male had the same drinking problem, sleeping with their students problem (how this is an issue in the book bothers me by far the most), abusing women and running away problem, AND doing random pushups in random places problem (??????) just...felt like an overall mess. Nothing about these short stories felt unique or stand-out; all the characters had the same voice and while YES I get it, these stories are meant to be stories about men who feel like they can MakeIt, that are every day to day people that some other men either are, or people have experienced, NONE of them had any nuance to them. I genuinely could not tell if the men were different or the same, as the only descriptors we get - aside from the issues they need to address in therapy - is the fact they're blond. Blond, by the way, without the e is masculine, and WITH the e - blonde - is feminine. It comes from the French.

It all felt very one note throughout the entire collection, each one getting worse and worse, and I got bored and bored. Additionally, the setting remaining only New York - except for the vacation story in Hawai'i, which I will say, was my absolute favorite and I enjoyed a large majority of that story- also did not help the one note feeling. If this had taken place in other parts of the states or the world, I would be able to connect better and be like "oohhh I get it, there are men like this everywhere, so true" but the fact they were ALL in New York felt rather lazy. ESPECIALLY if they were already published elsewhere before coming to this collection.

Overall poor character arcs, poor editing, and if I have to read some alcoholic macho man who sleeps with his students do push ups in a subway train again, I may never pick a book back up.

All Around They’re Taking Down The Lights by Adam Berlin is a collection of short pieces exploring masculinity. These men are flawed, making them relatable. You might know some of them, you might even be one of these fellas.

They are presented to us as is and without judgment. Some reflect on themselves and their masculinity, others don't. Deciding if they're good people or not is up to the reader. I don't think that's the point of the presentation but I'm not standing in the way if someone wants to call some of these guys what they are.

The idea of masculinity and the tropes that come with it are on full display in these pages. This isn't a celebration though. You can't, or at least shouldn't, come away from this collection thinking about how great conventional ideas about masculinity are. At the same time, this isn't a condemnation.

This is a collection about making it. The reader is given the chance to consider what we mean when we say: Make It. Those two magical, powerful words that seem to mostly come from people who haven't made it.

This collection is a sort of purgatory for men who keep repeating the mantra that they're going to make it. At the same time, if Hollywood is a boulevard of broken dreams, this collection is a graveyard. Each story a tombstone for some victim who either didn't make it or is stuck in a futile infinite loop of trying to make it, always this close to making it, thinking that making it is just around the corner.

These don't always go where you expect, and they don't always end how you would guess. I think there's a nuanced struggle at the core of what I call ‘masculinity under patriarchy’, and these stories tap into or hint at that uncomfortable truth. I enjoyed these.

„The memories linger, but they offer no solace, only a reminder of what’s been lost“

I had to dnf "All Around They're Taking Down the Lights". the story was too slow and repetitive. the constant introspection made it hard to stay engaged, and despite the vivid New York City setting, the plot just didn't pick up. if you're looking for a gripping read, this one might not be it.

thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an arc :)