"Inexplicable, illogical events that nevertheless are deeply disturbing. I guess we need to not think about them, just close our eyes and get through them."
-quote from "Cream", the first short story in this collection

The back of this book asks the reader to decide for themselves if the stories within are memoir or fiction, which I have to say is indeed a pertinent question.

Each story is told from a first-person perspective with solid details that bring the feel of a memoir or factual recounting, but then things like a talking monkey and ash coating the sidewalk slip in leaving you only mostly certain that at least this particular story is fiction.

*Many thanks to Knopf Books for the chance to read an ARC!