'Different Beasts' is made up of 12 short stories, each with their own plot and characters but all maintaining the same theme: the ways in which humans can be monsters. It dives into some of the worst aspects of humanity, such as racism, human trafficking, and torture, and sometimes portrays a point through supernatural means; for example, in 'Sheepasnörus Rex,' a white noise device in the form of a stuffed animal terrorizes the main character as a demon and appears to seize his soul, which probably wouldn’t happen in real life. Most stories, however, are shown in a more realistic (albeit uncanny) manner, with 7 or 8 out of 12 containing no mention of possible otherworldliness at all— 'The Last Ham' might be able to go either way.

It is not always immediately clear what the point of the story is, what message the author wants the reader to take from it. Meanings are sometimes buried deep in layers of metaphors and strange mentalities I don’t particularly understand. In 'Between the Pickles,' there is a human finger found in a burger from a fast-food chain. Nobody knows how or why it ended up there. The wrapper of the burger can’t make a scene out of fear of deportation, and the burger ends up in the hands of someone else at the company, who, despite finding it disgusting, consumes it in front of the CEO in hopes of selling it intentionally. This somehow works, the CEO having found the idea intriguing and then approving it. I am not completely sure what I am supposed to take from this story; perhaps that those in golden towers are willing to do horrible things for petty reasons and can get away with it? It is an interesting tale nonetheless, easily fitting with the overall theme, but I cannot help but feel that occasionally, with these stories, I am missing something important. This isn’t a negative thing— some narratives require more rumination in order to comprehend the bigger picture, which builds useful critical thinking skills. I will likely need to expand upon mine in the future.

J.R. McConvey is a good storyteller, having been able to hold my attention by utilizing a particular style of writing throughout each story. I felt that I was really able to connect with most of the characters, see their thought process, even when that process involved things I very strongly disagree with. In 'Neutral Buoyancy,' as an example of a well-written mental state, I could near-tangibly feel the main character’s determination to survive, obsession with routine, disassociation about the situation, and guilt about her near-inaction through the text on the page. This is a very strong quality in writing, and so I am impressed.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It contains remarkably interesting anecdotes and perspectives on human behaviour, which I know many would benefit from reading. However, I do not think I can forgive the author for what happened to the dog in 'The Streetcar Goes Sideways Down Cherry Street.' I will remember that story for horrible, horrible reasons. I do not wish to deter future readers, but I would warn them to be prepared for future mental anguish.

Therefore, I give Different Beasts a 4 out of 5. Thanks for reading!