My Thoughts:
Reviewing short story collections is pretty hard, especially when there are so many included, so I apologize in advance.
"Graduating" is probably my favorite out of this collection. It is a sort of dystopian mixed with science fiction, where these kids are basically killed and brought back so many times. When they reach a certain point, they get 'the Gift', which supposedly makes them never die again. The ending is harsh and a big blow to read, which is why I like it so much.
"Effects Vary", the story that the title is named after, was good too. It revolves around a man with medical problems going to what people might call a witch doctor against the recommendation of his current doctor, hoping it will help more than what a regular doctor can do. His hopes are too high.
My only issue with this story collection is that some stories were TOO short. Some were only one or two pages, and often completely forgettable and the ideas barely explored.
That being said, I did enjoy Cohen's writing style and several of the stories.
My Rating: 3 stars
