Summary reviewed by:
Terrence Timmons
Terrence Timmons
Analyst
Bachelor of Arts (BA), University Of California, Santa Barbara 2019
With over 4 years of experience as an analyst. Terrence Timmons is committed to analyzing summaries without compromising on quality.
Hold your breath! "I Hold a Wolf by the Ears" uncovers unsettlingly beautiful realities you never imagined. In Laura van den Berg's collection of captivating stories, we navigate the mysterious streets of Rome, Barcelona, Florida, and Mexico, to unknown towns draped in foggy uncertainty. Van den Berg guides us through a world where women find themselves caught between past traumas and uncertain futures, wrestling with their own sanity in a world that consistently refuses to grant them clarity.
These short stories, told from the perspectives of women on the precipice of unraveling, are portals into lives brimming with paradox. Some grapple with grief and loss, their worlds colored in varying shades of absence. Others see their past traumas blurring the lines between reality and paranoia. Each narrative is an elegantly crafted psychological exploration that vacillates between the hauntingly real and the terrifyingly surreal.
Van den Berg's women are caught in the jaws of life's most profound dilemmas, standing at the edge of reason and madness. "I Hold a Wolf by the Ears" evokes raw emotions, underscoring the challenging navigation through the labyrinth of human mind, capturing the tangible essence of the ethereal. It's a journey that reveals the raw intensity of existence, where the women must confront the wolves — both real and metaphoric — lurking in their lives.
Date Published: July 28, 2020
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Fiction
Literary Fiction
Short Stories
Psychological Fiction
Women's Fiction
Magical Realism
Rachel from “Your Second Wife”: Rachel is a woman grappling with grief and loss. She portrays her determination when confronting her illusions about her deceased lover.
The protagonist from “I Hold a Wolf by the Ears”: This unnamed woman stands as a testament to resilience. Facing the apparition of her husband, she navigates the thin line between life and death, affirming her strength.
Maria from “Last Night”: Maria, fighting with her own sense of reality, is a profound picture of human vulnerability. Her dedication to her husband, despite her doubts about his fidelity, showcases her undying loyalty.
The Uncanny: This collection blurs the lines between reality and the surreal, like in “Last Night,” where Maria grapples with her suspicions about her husband’s fidelity.
Grief and Loss: A recurring theme in the book is the women’s struggle with grief and loss. In “Your Second Wife,” Rachel is coping with the loss of her lover.
The Feminine Struggle: Each story explores different aspects of women’s struggles, from loss and grief to identity and reality, offering an in-depth exploration of female experiences in a male-dominated world.
