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Fen
Fen | Daisy Johnson
The Fen e" a strange, flat, shape-shifting land. The kind of place where people mind their business, but where stories do get told. Like that one about the girl who fell in love with a house. Or the girl who starved herself into the shape of an eel. That one about a woman who gave birth to a e" well, what? In her debut collection, twenty-five-year-old Daisy Johnson has taken a swathe of the contemporary British landscape, recreated it with combustible invention and stylistic bite, and forged a sequence of startling new myths. They show the full force of a true imagination at work e" an imagination which makes these tales of voracious desire, sex and animal instinct indelible, beautiful and somehow true.
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AnneCecilie
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

For me, this short story collection is about women, women who goes after what they want, several have a special connection with water or the sea, several have a special connection with animals.

I live the way Johnson tells a story and I‘m looking forward to her next novel.

58 likes1 stack add
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quietlycuriouskate
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

Black mud, brackish water, foxes, eels, hunger and desire! As with Everything Under, there's the feeling of a myth running beneath these stories and unifying them, although here that myth remains submerged throughout and never quite breaks the surface. It all adds up to a collection of strange and unsettling stories that some irresistible impulse had me reading aloud to myself beneath my breath. A fantastic read of an October night!

readordierachel Sounds fantastic! I really enjoyed Everything Under. Must try this one. 4y
39 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Thndrstd
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

A collection of short stories about women in rural areas dealing with life, love, men, sex, and parenthood. Living a bit removed from civilization, these women often interact with animals in strange, almost magical ways. Beautifully written.

35 likes2 stack adds
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DreesReads
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

The stories in this collection take place in England‘s fens. Most of the stories focus on the boundary between people and animals. They are unsettled, a little creepy, and not quite resolved. #shortstories

28 likes1 stack add
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Lindy
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Something swampy, something blue, something translated, something true. #ReadingEnvySummerChallenge (June edition completed)

Cathythoughts It looks like the tagged book is your ‘something swampy‘ ... I have my other 3 choices read for this challenge, but I‘m undecided about swampy ... I‘m stacking this one 👍🏻 (edited) 5y
andrew61 Great choices. 5y
Lindy @andrew61 Thanks. I saw that you also chose a book set in the fenland for the swampy category. 👍 5y
See All 7 Comments
Lindy @Cathythoughts Yes, Fen is my choice for swampy. The stories are surprising and creepy and the writing is spectacular. 5y
Cathythoughts @Lindy thankyou !! I‘m going to read it anyway as it sounds good. Meanwhile I went with Quick Sand ...... great post & interesting choices ! Must investigate them 👍🏻 5y
ReadingEnvy Lovely! 5y
35 likes7 comments
review
Lindy
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

“He‘d come to her with a story burning so hot in his mouth he couldn‘t help but tell it: the house that fell in love with a girl, the girl that starved into a fish.” In this collection of sly stories all set in same village in the English fenland, words can scald, coming of age can be brutal, and a fox is not necessarily just a fox.

Tanisha_A This sounds supremely weird, just what I'd like. Thanks! 😃 5y
Lindy @Tanisha_A Weird and wonderful. 😁 5y
44 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Lindy
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Virginity was a half-starved dog you were looking after, wanted to give away as quickly as possible so you could forget it ever existed.

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Lindy
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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I like cocks, she said, but I‘m trying to be bisexual, even if it doesn‘t take. I think, in this day and age, it‘s wrong to be straight.
(Internet photo)

tpixie Hmm 🤔 she should be more tolerant of different types of sexual preferences? 5y
Lindy @tpixie 😆 The author grasps the weirdness of humans. 5y
saresmoore 😂 Everybody skews a little bi, anyway. 5y
See All 8 Comments
tpixie @Lindy 👍🏻 5y
tpixie @saresmoore Jodi Foster- since we were girls! Lol 😆 5y
Lindy @tpixie Good crush choice! 5y
tpixie @Lindy yes!!! And she went to the Sorbonne to study French and I wanted to do that so badly also!! 5y
42 likes8 comments
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Lindy
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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You have to call a hare a langlugs, he‘d said. And you can‘t ever let them on the boat. Not ever.

DivineDiana Who knew? 🤔 5y
Lindy @DivineDiana Chalk it up with a long list of weird superstitions. 🤪 5y
41 likes1 stack add2 comments
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mreads
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Mehso-so

Don't judge by me, there's some quality writing here just not for me.

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mreads
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Up to 10:19 for the weekend so far. Today read from the tagged, The last black unicorn and Midwives.

#24b4monday @ANDREW65 @TheReadingMermaid

BeansPage Very nice 👍🏻 5y
Andrew65 Fantastic, well done! 😊😂 5y
35 likes2 comments
blurb
BookladyOnTheMove
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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A little something a wee bit creepy and a little bit spooky for October.

1 like2 stack adds
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BookishFeminist
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Double snuggle while I curl up with my next book. Meet Bruce! We adopted him in April. 🐹🐹

#24in48 #readathon #bookishferrets

Tianarose So cute! I adore ferrets! 6y
BookishFeminist @Tianarose They‘re the best! So full of personality ☺️ 6y
VeganCleopatra ❤️ ferrets, too cute. 6y
See All 8 Comments
LeahBergen Awww! Bruce! 💕💕 6y
Shortstack I face this one! How is it?! 6y
obviateit Aww! 😍 6y
BookishFeminist @Shortstack face? Do you mean have? Im enjoying it! 6y
Shortstack My autocorrect/typos have been awful lately lol yes have 6y
114 likes3 stack adds8 comments
review
DoonTheGoon
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

Reading these stories was like looking at a series of abstract figurative paintings. Each was so vivid and tangible - yet so mysterious and mindfully unsettling. Multiple readings are sure to reveal even more treasures to be discovered... and I know that I'll be back.

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DoonTheGoon
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Bedtime stories, not for the faint of heart.

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DoonTheGoon
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Enjoying this one so far... So happy I can finally sit outside and read on my break!!!

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theandydavidson
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

Can‘t put it down.

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Lacythebookworm
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

A bit of an uneven collection, but overall I would rate this a pick. Stand out stories include Starver and A Bruise the Shape and Size of a Door Handle.I look forward to seeing what Johnson publishes next.

74 likes1 stack add
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Lacythebookworm
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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It‘s a short story kind of afternoon 🙌

73 likes1 stack add
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thelizflynn
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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It's time for creepy books. 👻 #octoberreads

7 likes1 stack add
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Karen
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Day 22: Cosy #30daysofreadathon

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Karen
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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My next read! Day 26: short stories #30daysofreadathon

Tamra The blurb sounds interesting! 7y
16 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lacythebookworm
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Weekend book haul from Deep Vellum. I really love their carefully curated selection! Heard one of the stories from Fen on Levar Burton's podcast. Excited for Home, an Indonesian translation. And finally got my hands on a copy of Black Wave!

MoniqueChristine Those are some handsome looking books! *swoon* I really do love a good cover 😊 7y
See All 8 Comments
saresmoore Oooo, good choices! 7y
Redwritinghood Those all look interesting. 7y
batsy Some great choices here. I'm very interested in Home. 7y
88 likes4 stack adds8 comments
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Batakris
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

What a wonderful set of stories! Reminiscent of life in a small town where histories become mythologies and people are built from mud and sweat... we are foxes and fish, we come from birds and smell of dirt. This book is a keeper and one to reread.

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Chelsey
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Episode 2!! I love his story telling! This might be how I get into short stories.

Texreader I haven't heard him tell stories but love him as an actor. I'll bet he's awesome 7y
Ruri_kaichou 😮 I'm going to have to check this out! 7y
Bookishaf I love this podcast! LeVar Burton is the best! Lol 7y
30 likes3 comments
blurb
BillBlume
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Only two episodes into the new podcast "LeVar Burton Reads," and I'm already loving. LeVar brings his passion for the written word into his reading, and the production quality is top notch. The second episode "The Lighthouse Keeper" by Daisy Johnson was an intriguing story. I'm looking forward to future stories. #LeVarBurtonReads #LBR #podcast #shortstories

WordWaller Oh!! I need to listen to this! 7y
24 likes1 comment
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Abailliekaras
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

An extraordinary collection. Spare, accomplished writing with wonderfully controlled weirdness. Characters are raw, honest and sometimes turn into animals. Despite these magical elements, the stories feel poignant, true and rooted in the earth.

26 likes1 stack add
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SarahK
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Mehso-so

A collection of surreal short stories set in a place called Fen. I mean, I liked it ok, but I'm just not into short stories. So for me, it's just so-so, but if you like short stories and weird tales I would definitely recommend this.

mrsthilkey I've really disliked all the short stories I've tried, but I'm not giving up! On my Kindle I have these two. Here's hoping! 7y
SarahK @mrsthilkey I'm not ready to give up on the form because sometimes I find a collection I really like. They are just few and far between 7y
24 likes3 comments
blurb
Abailliekaras
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Inspired to read some #shortstories for day 17 of #Booktober I picked up Fen. Wowee are these strong, inspired and original. ??

"We dressed Greta. This was not the occasion for polo shirts or wellington boots. We painted her mouth a red church."

RealLifeReading Ok I'm intrigued! Added! 7y
24 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Abailliekaras
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Inspired to read some #shortstories for day 17 of #Booktober I picked up Fen. Wowee are these strong, inspired and original. ??

"We dressed Greta. This was not the occasion for polo shirts or wellington boots. We painted her mouth a red church."

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Abailliekaras
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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I just dived into this inspired by #shortstories and wow. So impressed. This for example:

What do you mean?
There were three years between us and I was used to the look she gave me.

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Abailliekaras
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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I love the light touch of Teffi's #shortstories, looking forward to this collection by Stefan Zweig a favourite author, and have heard great things about Fen.

#somethingforsept #septphotochallenge #translatedbooks

Heather_Reads I ❤️ Stefan Zweig so much. I've had nothing but good experiences with his work. 7y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Rick_Eaglestone
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick
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SavidgeReads
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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Pickpick

Spent the morning in bed with tea finishing this surreal and slightly magical collection of short stories. Talking foxes, possessive houses, relationships, monsters and more in Daisy Johnson's debut Fen.

Lindy You had me at talking foxes. 8y
27 likes8 stack adds1 comment
blurb
SavidgeReads
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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And now for some grown up fairy tales in bed.

27 likes7 stack adds
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RowanHisayo
Fen | Daisy Johnson
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"The house did not love the way a dog would love, unthinking, beating back up after a cuff to the nose; or the way a child did , through lack of choice and necessity."

7 likes1 stack add