Title: Thoroughly Modern Monsters
Author: Jennifer Rainey
Source: My personal library
Monster – (noun) an imaginary creature that is typically large, ugly, and frightening.
In Thoroughly Modern Monsters, most of the stories take place in the present time. Each story features a different monster. On first reading, they don’t meet The New Oxford American Dictionary definition of monster. On a second or third reading you ask, “Who are the real monsters? The werewolves, ghosts, or sirens? Or the humans who created the Monster Relocation and Employment Act which exploits the monsters?”
My only complaint about Thoroughly Modern Monsters is the length. It’s comprised of seven stories and I was not ready to let go of this alternate universe. The heart of the stories are the emotions. We can all identify with the desire for a fulfilling job, the wish to be left in peace, and the nervousness caused by a new path in life. If you’re a fan of literary fiction then you’ll probably like this one.