The Ill-Fitting Skin by Shannon Robinson
Press 53 (May 2024)
Reviewed by Chandra Claypool (Instagram) (TikTok)
Twelve stories about women navigating their everyday situations, each a unique story covering different areas of a woman’s life. We get tales of a mother whose baby bites a lot and how she tries to handle the situation. A woman who gives birth to rabbits and instead of this being a strange thing, it’s a tale of misunderstanding. There’s even a story that gives you that “choose your own adventure” feel where you have to shuffle through pages to see what may come up. The best part of this is where the author sometimes chastises you for making a decision — or at least it feels this way. I found this to be very humorous and a lot of fun.
It’s impressive how Robinson takes mundane situations and melds them with speculative fiction. Each story has a touch of magical realism and journeys in the dark side of the human experience. Those who have experienced miscarriages, struggles with caring for their parents with dementia…. perhaps even have a son that turns into a werewolf, will find themselves within this story. I certainly found myself in a few of these. Only one story doesn’t feature a female as the main character. However, when the girl is introduced to the story, she completely assumes control not only of the narrative but of the game within the story.
The author’s writing is brutally honest and gives us a reflection of the trials and tribulations that come with being a woman. In a nutshell, these stories and the imaginative way they are told, gives us a deep dive into every day life and the struggles underneath the layer most people get a glimpse of. For those looking to live within the skin of these women, I highly recommend this. You’ll likely find yourself within these pages in one way or another.
