Scott F reviewed Imaginary Museums by Nicolette Polek
Bite-sized dark dreams
3 stars
A charcuterie board of weird fictions ranging from 1 to 8 pages long. All have some element of the absurd, of dream logic, and there's generally a menacing vibe. At their best, the stories are poignant and funny gems, with on-point observations about the foibles of human relationships. Others, especially the shorter vignettes, can occasionally tend to be a little forgettable. Overall an enjoyable collection that hits more than it misses.
Some favorites: "The Dance," about people tragically misunderstanding each other; "Field Notes," about a struggling, smartphone-addicted person's hike (I can relate); the faux-detective story "Thursdays at Waterhouse"; and the haunting last story, "Love Language."
