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Loath Letters

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Step into the world that exists inside all our heads. There are no secrets, no taboos, just humans being human. This book opens the door to our innermost sanctum so we can all gawk at the odd, horrific, fantastic side of human's less spoken of nature. In this collection of short stories, you'll both laugh and cringe, maybe be left feeling violated or finally understood. Dive into the minds of humanity and view a world through gray-tinted glasses. If women ruled the world there would be no war, but we would all have been aborted.

158 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2010

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Christy Leigh Stewart

12 books323 followers

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5 stars
56 (44%)
4 stars
29 (23%)
3 stars
19 (15%)
2 stars
6 (4%)
1 star
15 (12%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Stephen.
1,516 reviews12.4k followers
October 16, 2011
I can not, CAN NOT recommend this collection more strongly or with greater enthusiasm.  It is one of the great surprises of 2011 for me. Ms. Stewart's raw, amazingly keen insight into the darker aspects of the human condition left me feeling sliced open and psychologically coldcocked. Categorized as transgressive flash fiction (one of my first experiences with either), these extremely short stories are towering when it comes to their depiction of loneliness, pain and that dark inner voice that never (we hope) finds expression.

These stories shredded me and left a mark that will scab over and scar but never completely go away.

These pieces are snatches of dark thoughts, bitter memories and life-changing regrets. They are the conversations people have inside their head that never get uttered aloud. The internal monologues where people are free to confront their deepest fears, torments and disturbed fantasies. These are the uncensored thoughts we have at our darkest moments. They are emotional sucker punches and will leave you feeling raw and exposed. 
 
I’ve included two sample stories so you can get a sense of the writing style and the unvarnished and unapologetic intensity of the stories. Here is the first.
I Love, Love, Love You
 
I love you, I love you, I love you.
I’m sure I do.
I must.
I have to.
Sometimes though,
I want to put my hand over your mouth to muffle your voice.
I want to clamp my hand down so hard that I can’t even hear you whimper.
I want my nails to puncture your skin.
Make it bleed.
I want to feel your fragile bones break and burst under my palm.
I see you.
Beautiful,
Sweet.
Innocent.
But when I close my eyes I see you slick with blood.
Your whole body twisted and crushed to a pulp.
I want you.
I wanted you.
I want this to end.
I wasn’t like this before you.
I wasn’t disgusting,
Immoral,
Morbid.
My darling,
My baby,
My child.
I can’t look at you.
I know I’ll kill you.
A sufferer of post partum depression?...a regretful teenage mother?…a suburban housewife just having a bad day? Part of the answer to that may be what luggage you bring with you to the reading. One thing is clear, it screams of pain, out of control helplessness and a fear of falling down a dark pit from which no escape is possible. 

As amazing as that story was, there were so many pieces in tis collection that just oozed heartache and darkness and "things of which we do not speak" that I could almost randomly select a story whose reading would slam you in the gut and squeeze your heart. This next one...well judge for yourself.  
With Time
 
You can’t ignore things and expect them to go away. Everyone hears that throughout their life. It’s one of the main reasons women go in for pap smears, or breast exams, and men go in for prostate exams. Pretending you don’t have a problem, or not checking to find one, doesn’t make you healthy. I can only hope that doesn’t apply for things that aren’t physical.

It’s hard to stare something in the face that is so horrifying that it will change your life forever. You may judge someone for not stepping up and doing the right thing in those situations, but unless you are there, you can’t know what it’s like. We’re all just human; we can’t all be expected to be heroes.

Just like everyone else, I do what I can to live. Day to day, I would like to say I always did the right thing, but I can’t. I can say I’ve always done what I thought was right at the time though. I can’t help it if some of those things turned out to be the worst possible decisions.

I know now I shouldn’t have brought that man into my house, my bed. I know I should have allowed him alone with my daughter. I know I should have believed her when she said he touched her. I know I shouldn’t have felt jealous.

Knowing these things doesn’t change the past, but I hope time might. I hope that with time she will forget. I hope with time I will forget. I hope with time I can ignore her crying in the night, the sounds of her vomiting in her closet, the cuts along her forearms and stomach. 
Dark, beautiful, brilliant and full or emotion and violence....and life. I have rarely been this powerfully and lastingly affected by stories as I was by this literary masterpiece.

What a collection. Buy it...right now. This one is special.

5.0 stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!
Profile Image for Auntie Raye-Raye.
486 reviews59 followers
March 1, 2010
Christy and Megan make an excellent coupling. I don't mean this in a perverted lesbian way, either.

Megan's artwork fits insanely well with the stories. Every medium she used was fantastic! I was especially enamored with the photographs and colleges. It's beautiful work, that I want to look at again.

This is the third book I've read by Christy. Not one of them has bored or disappointed me. They have drawn me in so well that, I end up cramped, parched & starving in my computer chair. I can't be bothered to take care of my needs, until I've finished reading.

I loved, loved, LOVED this collection! The stories end in unexpected, unanticipated ways. Some of them caused me gasp in shock, others had me laughing like an insane rat.

My only complaint is that the book ended. I'm left wanting a hell of a lot more.

Profile Image for Lisette Brodey.
Author 20 books255 followers
March 1, 2010
Christy Leigh Stewart's "Loath Letters" is a surprisingly emotional powerhouse of writings that reveal the author's quirky, often irreverent wit. With unexpected insight, she exposes the uncomfortable and pulls the lid off the acceptable. Stewart doesn't "color within the lines" and that's precisely what draws the reader to this book. Artist Megan Hansen's edgy, contemporary illustrations couple brilliantly with Stewart's prose to make this a book that you just may find yourself reading more than once.
Profile Image for Megan Hansen.
Author 13 books29 followers
March 1, 2010
I was the cover artist, so I am completely unbiased when I say... Doesn't it look awesome?!!!

My ego aside, these short stories were fantastic! Each story was like a small, whiplashing masterpiece. Stewart took the reader into the darker side of the human psyche and makes one both laugh and want to cry. It's a deep honest look into human nature and society which was all at once entertaining and horrifying. Her way with words and her comedic timing was perfection!
Author 40 books94 followers
March 2, 2010
I love writing that makes the reader feel uncomfortable. If I read a book that makes me squirm then I think the author has succeeded in something. Let’s face it - a lot of fiction treads a fairly tried and true road, which although sometimes nice, never really challenges the reader. Christy Leigh Stewart’s ‘Loath Letters’ is not one of these books.

As the title implies, ‘Loath Letters’ is comprised of letters or vignettes that act as a confessional outpouring. Societal masks are stripped away, revealing writing so naked in its seeming honesty that it causes discomfort. The effect is like reading someone’s private journal and instills something akin to guilt. These ‘letters’ are bleak, shamelessly emotional, disturbing, sexual and dripping with pitch black angst.

The real power of Stewart’s prose is in the unwavering way its thrust into the reader. It’s like she’s pushing the book in your face and daring you to read it. It’s not much of a dare though. These stories flow into each other in short, sharp bursts and are so very readable. It’s a brave collection, and one that deserves to be read.

Special mention should be made of Megan Hansen’s brilliant artwork that, other than appearing on the striking cover, pepper the book in perfect accompaniment.

Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Sheri.
2,111 reviews
March 17, 2010
Loath Letters (Christy Leigh Stewart).
A fascinating and often macabre book of short stories. Each filled with emotions. Some intriguing , others sad, or happy. One thing for sure Loath Letters will stay in your memory for a long time. I tried to pick my favorite story, but that would be like trying to have a favorite child. But I must admit, BFF (beach front funeral) really got my attention, how true those words are!

Another great reason to read this book is the awesome artwork of Miss Megan Hansen. If the stories do not get you thinking, the artwork will leave you speechless. Fantastic read! I look forward to more Good Reads from Miss Stewart. Also visit meganhansen.deviantart.com (to view more of Ms Hansen's artwork.
Profile Image for Kate.
349 reviews84 followers
August 2, 2010
This is a book that begs to be read more than once.

The first time I read this book, I read it all the way through in one sitting and I didn't even realize I was holding my breath until the very end.

The second time I read it I took one story, read it, then contemplated on it for the remainder of the day and always came to the same conclusion that Christy Leigh Stewart is a master of the short short, since she can convey more emotion in one page then some writers can in a 200 page book and that Megan Hansen is a phenomenal illustrator/artist.

This is one of those books I'm glad I have in my permanent library to read over and over again.

I can't wait to see what they will come up with next!
Profile Image for Amber.
20 reviews3 followers
May 5, 2010
Recurring misuse of then/than aside... YES! YES! YES! The short stories that comprise Loath Letters are twisted, funny, sad, sweet, demented, biting, surprising...FANTASTIC.

I had actually read a number of these short stories a few years ago, and it was a joy to read them again. The short stories in Loath Letters showcase the kind of writing that made Christy Leigh Stewart one of my favorite writers.

Hats off to the artwork by Megan Hansen as well. I especially liked the mixed media/collage work!
Profile Image for Kevin Shamel.
Author 30 books55 followers
March 1, 2010
I had no idea what to expect when I opened this book. It amazed me when I did. This is excellent writing blended with excellent art. The stories and the artwork entwine and compliment each other perfectly. This is a gorgeous, honest book. GET IT NOW.
Profile Image for Danny Mcphillips.
15 reviews3 followers
March 3, 2010
This is a great book of short stories with some fantastic illustrations. It`s honesty will make you laugh and cringe on the same page. There are stories here that I think we can all relate to and some I hope we can`t.
Profile Image for Marzi Margo.
Author 24 books35 followers
April 21, 2010
First off, I WON!

Now that that is out of the way, I must begin by stating that little else in life thrills and enthralls me in the way that an incredible book from a still new or undiscovered author does. As an aspiring writer, I tend to have those occasional moments of doubt, panic, and uncertainty that I am sure any wannabe author has. Despite what people may say about my work or what praise I may receive, I sometimes wonder whether or not I will be able to actually make anything of myself one day. After all, Creative Writing is such a competitive field. Folks such as Christy Leigh Stewart (as well as Megan Hansen) then come along at just the necessary moment, helping me to keep my chin up and reminding me that it is still possible for someone to capture the dream of reaching out to others with writing. All sentimental fluff aside (which seems so unfitting for this particular book), "Loath Letters" is thoroughly impressive, every single page of it. Stewart's short stories tell of the macabre, the absurd, the surreal, the disheartening, and the hilarious in distinctly tongue-in-cheek mannerisms, and her flash fiction packs pure adrenaline and emotion within the context of spacious, detached sentences along with a vividly depraved imagination. Think the fanzines of Harmony Korine plus the transgressive fictions of Anthony Burgess multiplied by the empty narratives of Anton Chekhov. Whether the tale is that of a woman who cannot accept the reality behind her deformity, or a teenager who has "a problem fitting in," or a father who is struggling to separate his past from his future, you will be left somehow inescapably affected by this anthology.

As a side note, it seems that people dog Christy Leigh Stewart for her sparse mistakes and typos throughout this book, but for now "Loath Letters" is self-published and we are all human beings. However, I honestly believe that if the author wills it to happen, this publication shall become an early draft of an authentically published masterwork. Until then, consider this edition the "Stephen Hero" to James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man."
Profile Image for Jason.
Author 5 books14 followers
March 14, 2010
This is an amazing conglomeration of emotion. It literally holds every human characteristic and personality flaw that ever existed (I counted) - and all told with genuine honesty. I felt like this collection of thoughts served as a glove that housed my brain-hand. I felt like a voyeur who wanted to see more through peek-a-boo eyes. Whether the particular passage was based on a situation of strength or a weakness, they all ended with a middle finger.

Veracious, vengeful, vulnerable, and violent "Loath Letters" casts an unabashed statement of personal fortitude that Christy Stewart should be quite proud of. A book that can be as positive as it can be negative, as selfish as it can be giving, or as humane as it can be tyrannical is not an easy one to create. But Stewart did.
Profile Image for S..
7 reviews
December 11, 2013
Unlike a lot of the older reviews here I didn't win this book nor did I receive a free copy. I purchased the kindle edition after reading the raving reviews here; I wish I could return it for a refund.

There is nothing ghastly appalling here unless cable television drama (think law and order) jars you. These stories are mostly flash fiction, although a few of them were more than a page or two long. Almost all of them have a punch line. An ending twist sentence that is supposed to shock you. Some little blurb that's supposed to make the seemingly semi-normal few paragraphs you've read suddenly shine under some sort of new unforeseen gruesome light. But after the first or second story you can see it coming a mile away.

If you're shocked and unnerved by common "taboos" and brief stories with zero emotional development containing rape fantasies, child molestation, prostitution, kidnapping, emotional dependence and self loathing then by all means this is for you. Be shocked and awed!

But if you're like me and you're somebody who barely flinches at Irvine Welsh and Andersen Prunty this is probably not going to enthrall and entertain you. It's probably going to seem rather dull and repetitive.

Oh, and two stars instead of the dreaded one because the art work is lovely and while there's nothing notable about the writing style and word play there isn't anything truly flawed about it either.
Profile Image for Donald.
Author 4 books14 followers
May 15, 2010
I didn't win the paperback in the giveaway program, but I received this fine PDF to read on my Kindle. The first copy I tried to read was an unedited/under-edited version which I didn't finish. I received a second, more refined copy and got through it.

Loath Letters is a collection of shorts with clever twists or some angst to spill forth. They are sometimes angry, sometimes pained, and somewhat nihilistic. Quite a few of them are flash fiction at under a thousand words which make them quick reads. They deal with feelings and emotions that can be uncomfortable. They elicit a response, even if it is only to yourself.

There is a difference between the words 'then' and 'than'. 'Then' is used for time, and 'than' is a word regarding comparisons. Using then in lieu of than is just wrong when comparing things. It comes off as unrefined, a bit of Ikea in a room full of Queen Anne. This one error can be termed a pet peeve of mine and occurs nearly a dozen times in Loath Letters.

In spite of the problems, I enjoyed this short collection. It is sometimes a face-slap. Often it had me smirking and nodding. I have not read anything quite like this before. It is unique.
Profile Image for Kayla.
1,126 reviews69 followers
May 10, 2010
This book-well, ebook, is unlike any other that I can remmeber reading, in a good way. It startles and frightens the reader, but it’s not your typical happy love filled endings. It’s set apart from all else, can’t be judged by other books.
I thought it was very enjoyable. It was an eye-opener and was unique, above all else.
Though some stories were shocking and gruesome, they’re truthful, and unafraid to hold anything back.
The artwork, added in after every few stories, was fantastic and I loved it.
This collection of stories is something I definitely recommend.
“Loath Letters” gets 4/5 stars from me.
A little warning-some of these stories are too graphic and such for some readers.

Profile Image for Jason Bailey.
1 review
May 12, 2010
Christy Leigh Stewart's "Loath Letters" is a great piece of independent fiction that would likely have been shunned by a publishing house caught up on categorizations -- it's not a novel, not poetry and not even really a short story collection.
What it is is something new, a book that is both viciously raw and unapologetically confessional, written in bite-sized passages that read like private hellcries of pain and torment that aim to invert the dominant milieu of cultural and gender stereotypes.
Imagine something like Kathy Acker for the PostSecret Age and you begin to have an idea. "Loath Letters" is brilliantly subversive, brutally honest and highly recommended.
Profile Image for Kelly Sermeno.
61 reviews6 followers
May 22, 2010
I was read most of this book outloud. It was awesome, made me feel like a child again. I enjoyed the stories, most of them were funny and some sad and they all had the authors unique view on things. I enjoyed the book and look foward to reading more from the talented author! =)

also the artwork is great.
9 reviews
May 3, 2010
These short stories closely resemble those of Angel Dust Apocalypse, in my opinion. They are very good. Some are pretty macabre, here again not for everyone. There are a few stories that have something to do with rape or inappropriate relationships between family members - if you're sensitive to that kind of thing, I would not recommend the book.

I liked it.
Profile Image for Georgiann Hennelly.
1,960 reviews25 followers
July 3, 2010
A fascinating read. A book of short stories. Each filled with emotions some happy, some sad others just intriguing. Loath letters will stay in my memory for a long time. I couldn,t really pick a favorite story, as i enjoyed them all. Its one of those books that you just don,t want to stop reading.
Profile Image for Dina.
276 reviews33 followers
May 13, 2010
Very brave “open soul surgery” author performed on herself. I actually am too emotional right now to analyze this book any deeper. In addition, artwork by Megan Hansen is amazing. Overall reading this book was unforgettable experience.
Profile Image for Melissa.
67 reviews
July 1, 2017
Weirdest book I've ever read. Didn't hate it, didn't love it and I expected a lot more from it. A lot of parts were really sketchy and the writing left much to be desired. But at the same time, some of the stories really resonated with me.

So for that, you get 2.5 stars.
Profile Image for Brian.
144 reviews10 followers
April 15, 2010
Loved it! Great collection of dark short stories. You will die if you do not pick up this book!
Profile Image for Emmalise.
15 reviews1 follower
March 14, 2016
Painfully contrived, trope ridden, and pretentious without anything particularly interesting to say. Nothing clever or resonating, just a lot of trying too hard to have shock value and failing miserably at it. Not in the least bit provocative unless you've never stepped outside of sunshine. The artwork is quite interesting but the shorts very much are not, and that's most of what is on display here.

Got to 37%, may read a bit more but I can't imagine finishing this.
Profile Image for Bethany Ebert.
Author 15 books11 followers
August 31, 2016
For all the rave reviews this book was getting, I expected better. I felt this book was trying too hard to be weird. Pretty much every story involved a twist ending, either necrophilia or child molestation. Like, "blah blah blah, I went to school, I went to work, and then I came home and FUCKED A CORPSE LOL". It stuck me as immature. The author obviously has a way with words; I feel like her talent was wasted on this sort of shock-value prose.
Profile Image for Eleanor Jethro.
100 reviews2 followers
June 28, 2010
What a great and different book this was - I enjoyed the whole thing - was upset with parts, laughted at some, and cried at others.
Although I did not win this on Goodreads, I did enter the contest & Christy very graciously sent me a pdf copy of it to read.
I look forward to reading more of her books.
Profile Image for Gofita.
763 reviews12 followers
June 7, 2010
A very interesting and thought-provoking collection of short stories, poems, and essays. She really makes you think in these and some of them will just blow you away. That's why I really like this collection!

I received this copy for free from the Goodreads Giveaways.
Profile Image for Johnny Coan.
2 reviews2 followers
August 22, 2010
Its a masterpiece Christy ;)~ Love Your imagination it Rocks !! Never a dull moment ;)~ Thanks Christy You Rock !!! ;)~
Profile Image for Blue.
1,186 reviews55 followers
June 5, 2010
I wanted to read this book. I entered the giveaway on Goodreads. I did not win. But I was sent a pdf of the book anyway, which was very very nice. So I got to read it after all. Now, looking at the 5-star reviews, I feel a bit strange thinking that perhaps I missed something. I did not think the letters in the book were that extreme or unusual or shocking. Neither did I think that the authors tried to be subtle in their intention to shock and thrill, which ruined it for me. Perhaps a strong point, though I am not sure if it is intentional (not that it makes a difference), was that each letter seemed to have its own voice. Some letters were interesting to think about.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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