Synopsis:
One Eye Opened in That Other Place collects Christi Nogle’s best weird and fantastical stories. The collection focuses on liminal spaces and the borders between places and states of mind. Though you might not find a traditional portal fantasy here, you will travel across thresholds and arrive at other places and times that are by turns disquieting, terrifying, and wonderful. Get up close with the local flora and fauna, peruse the weird art exhibits and special shows, and consider taking a dip in the mossy, snail-filled tank of water. Make sure to bring your special glasses
This new collection will appeal to readers of Jeff VanderMeer, Charles Wilkinson, Steve Rasnic Tem, M. Rickert, Lynda E. Rucker and Stephen King’s novel Lisey’s Story.
Review:
Thank you Flametree Press for sending me an ARC copy of, “One Eye Opened In That Other Place,” it hits shelves March 12th. As I am sure you will very quickly determine, these are my honest thoughts and feelings.
“One Eye Opened In That Other Place,” is a short story collection that truly frustrated me. I felt like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, confused… and perpetually on the edge. I can tell Nogle is a fantastic writer due to the lyrical prose, and occasional diamond in the rough, but there ultimately were not enough hidden gems to redeem it for me.
I’ve always been one to focus on the positives, and there are two stories in the collection that truly blew me away. “The Portrait of Basil Hallward,” is a very experimental and very short addition, told through the eyes of a sentient oil portrait, who becomes infatuated with its artist- talk about thinking outside the frame! Each story shares a common theme of eyes, whether literal or metaphorical, and I felt reading through the eyes of a painting was frankly a stroke of genius. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and in this story we were able to glimpse Nogle’s true ability, creativity and prowess.
The show was stolen however by the second story in the collection “Everyday’s A Party (With You)” and honestly I finished all of the others by holding onto how much I enjoyed this one. We follow Sara- a mother who seems to be going through a turbulent time with her daughter Char. Meanwhile, her gorgeous friend Gloria and her thriving relationship with her suspiciously delightful teenage girl Mira leaves Sara feeling like she’s on the wrong side of a Hallmark movie. The ending blew me away, to the extent where I went back and read it again, combing through the pages for clues like some mad man. You can really see the thought that went into it. The “Black Mirror,” vibes were definitely there, and it was just a great time.
That initial glimmer of brilliance filled me with hope, but unfortunately the remainder of the stories ranged from forgettable to nonsensical. My disappointment reached its peak when the title story, “One Eye Opened In That Other Place,” (which I expected to sit back and enjoy) left me doing mental gymnastics, with little to show for it.
Nogle dives in (no life jacket in sight) and tries to tackle some very heavy, very complex, very challenging themes. I can tell from her gorgeous prose and glowing reputation (I still plan on reading Beulah) these are subjects she probably could tackle, and I think the main issue here is the short story format itself.
I don’t know about you, but one of the reasons I adore a short story collection is because it’s easy, it’s digestible, you don’t have to think particularly hard, and the serotonin boost of reaching a conclusion happens frequently enough that you can put it down and pick it back up whenever you so please.
However, delving into the cosmos, tiptoeing through parallel dimensions and questioning the very fabric of the universe? These are things that belong in epic sagas, it is near impossible to effectively shoehorn them into 5 page flash fiction. Cosmic horror as a general rule, demands elbow room, breathing space- here it felt like trying to fit an elephant into a matchbox. It’s difficult to even approach these themes, nevermind fully unpack them, and “One Eye Opened In That Other Place,” unfortunately proves this.
You must believe me when I say this was a really difficult review to write… hell I even struggled to slap a rating on it. The prose is a pleasure to read, and is borderline orgasmic. The good stories, whilst few and far between, were REALLY great. It could be said that the downfall of this collection is simply over-ambition, and really, as far as downfalls go, being ambitious and different is a pretty good one. If you’re looking for a collection that is boundary-pushing, experimental, and challenging, my word is not FACT, and you may very well love this. If you’re a cosmic horror fanatic, but don’t fancy slogging your way through a Lovecraft or Ligotti, perhaps you’d enjoy this too. My opinion is simply my opinion, and whether you find yourself nodding in agreement or completely and utterly outraged by everything I’ve said- it’s part of the joy of reading. It’s subjective, it’s messy and it’s deliciously unpredictable.
In conclusion, with prose so tantalizing it’s practically sinful, and a handful of stories that blew me away, it’s obvious that Christi is an upcoming voice in horror and a force to be reckoned with. Whilst some may relish in and soar through the cosmic mysteries that appear throughout, others, like me, may find themselves longing for more grounded narratives. You may find yourself bewitched by its charm, or baffled by its ambition, and isn’t that what makes a book truly unforgettable?
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