I could not get through the complete book. The writing feels unfortunately very unpolished and all the plots of the stories I have so far read have all been done before, and better at that. Nothing ever really felt engaging, "With Grace" especially felt borderline racist.

Each short story felt so new and interesting. Some very emotional about what our protagonist will do in the mists of an affair to a Thanksgiving during 1966. There was one story that felt jarring compared to the others "Keeping Abreast." Every story had a clear relatability or sympathy for the cast of characters. Everything was very detailed and well written!

“The Madness of Ida Mae” by Christine Bagley is a book of short stories that shows how reading can be like real life.

The stories are all different, but they’re about people you can really connect with. They’re really deep and make you think a lot about what it means to be human.

I loved these stories, but sometimes I had to stop reading for a while to really think about what I’d just read. They’re that good!

Christine Bagley’s short story collection, “The Madness of Ida Mae”, is a powerful reminder of the entanglement between reading and life.

I was blown away by the eclectic nature of the short stories, as well as by the relatable and character-driven narratives. The profound understanding of human nature and the psychological depth that these stories displayed rendered me speechless at times.

Moreover, and as much as I enjoyed reading these stories, I had to put the book aside more often than not, in order for one story to sink in and garner the mental space and contemplation that it deserves.

For me, the only flaw in this short story collection is that it ended. I definitely wanted more insight into Christine Bagley’s mind; a mind that is nothing short of a depot of brilliance, which might make her my new favorite author.

This is a thoughtful short story collection that examines some difficult and diverse themes. The characters are well done, often intriguing, and in some cases relatable.

Worth checking out for those who enjoy stories, as well as those who might want to try out this genre for themselves.