This is a short story collection centred around themes of fairy tales and magical realism. The writing is great and the concept is an interesting one, but I found that some of the stories just didn't really work for me. I'm still glad that I read it though and I would recommend reading it if you are interested.

The Beginning Of The World In The Middle Of The Night by Jen Campbell appealed to me because it was described as being a series of modern fairy tales.

I often struggle with short story collections and there are very few I actually enjoy. This collection had three stories I loved but the rest were not memorable for me.

Animals was my favourite story from the collection and the first line drew me in and gave me hope this would be the kind of book I love.

“These days you can find anything you need at the click of a button.

That’s why I bought her heart online.”

The protagonist of the story has bought a swan’s heart offline to try to keep a former lover by their side, having already tried and failed to keep Cora using other animals hearts the hope is that she will stay with this heart because swans mate for life.

This short story contains musings on the nature of love and facts and legends about surrounding the heart. It also contains facts about swans and some fairy tales about them.

My favourite of these was one I first heard when watching Jim Henson’s The Storyteller in the form of The Three Ravens.

I also liked the story Little Deaths about a town whose residents keep ghosts in jars.

“Our town is full of ghosts. We try to catch them during break. They struggle against our grip, shapeshifting. We shove them into wine bottles and jam jars, fish bowls and snow globes.”

The children of the town even have homework centred around ghosts and death.

The other story I loved from the collection was Aunt Libby’s Coffin Hotel. The book begins with a leaflet advertising the coffin hotel.

“Desperate to communicate with deceased loved ones?

Looking for answers about mortality?

Dare to spend an evening toying with death?”

It goes on to talk about Ankaa Angel of Death.

“Just thirteen years old, this changeling has untold wisdom collected from years spent in Hades…Ankaa is a child stuck between heaven and hell.”

My favourite thing about this tale was the different legends about death and dying.

The stories I liked saved the collection for me but I don’t think I would buy it for myself.

This is a collection of 12 short stories, each very unique and slightly bizarre, all inspired by folklore and fairytales but with modern and unusual twists. I have to be in the right mood for short stories, and fortunately I was for these – I really enjoyed them. I won’t detail each one, but here are a few of the ones that stuck with me:

The first story Animals: this is set in a world where animal hearts are easily transplanted to keep people alive, but also gives the transplantee a new personality from whatever animal the heart comes from. A man keeps his wife alive by choosing new hearts for her based on what he wants from her – a new look at the concept of consent.
In the Dark: this was particularly short and random, but a man walks into a woman’s kitchen one evening, doesn’t say a word, eats and leaves. It’s odd but entrancing.
The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night: this gives its name to the whole collection and was the one that made the most impact on me. It was sad and heartfelt but funny and personal. In the middle of the night, a couple discuss what beginnings are and what they mean, but there’s more to it than that as the story ends. Everyone knows that feeling of late night talks about nothing and everything.
Aunt Libby’s Coffin Hotel: this was probably the most fun story of all – a woman and her niece run a hotel filled with coffins where people go to experience death for a night. It was slightly predictable, filled with fun mythological references and probably the easiest one to read from the collection.

When I saw this book I loved the unusual name coupled with the gorgeous cover, and I thought to myself I have to read this. It turned out to be a really eclectic series of stories. Each one different, each one unique. There’s fantasy, sci-fi, even a story concerning abuse and grief. One of them is even written in script format.

The overall theme is fairy tales, some have actually been included in the stories themselves, changed slightly. One in particular I remember is a retelling of Rapunzel where she’s half human, half plant.

I especially enjoyed two of the stories. Animals, set in a world where you can buy love in the form of an animal heart (it’s a little gruesome) and Aunt Libby’s Coffin Hotel, about a young girl called Ankaa who lives with her Aunt Libby, a bit of a con artist, who sells an overnight death experience but comes face-to-face with real supernatural phenomenon.

The only thing I felt was some of the stories didn’t seem finished or there was more story to tell.
Overall not a light-hearted read but each story is poignant and thought provoking.

This is an often bizarre and surreal collection of short stories that are also very poetic, darkly humorous in places and more than a little disturbing at times. There are also hints at some very sensitive subjects in a few of the stories, such as religion, eating disorders, sexuality and mortality. Most of the stories contain folklore/myths or are twists (very twisted at times) on well known fairy tales. My favourite story is The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night, which reminded me of some of the strange conversations my husband and I have had on sleepless nights.

This book won't be a great fit for everyone but I love the collection for it's amazing weirdness, the like of which I have never read before.

I adore a twisted fairy tale and The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night is full of them. Jen references fairy tales and folklore throughout the collection, and it is clear that she loves them. I was lucky enough to attend her event at Blackwells in Newcastle, where she talked about some of her inspirations and read from the collection, and one of the things she talked about was the retelling of old stories in new ways to make readers look at them from a different perspective. This is something she achieves in this collection, which tackles familiar ideas but in very, very different ways. So often the twists in so-called twisted tales are predictable, but this is never the case here.
The collection is full of wonderful stories, which tackles issues like bodily autonomy, creation, eating disorders and teenage pregnancy. I don’t want to tell you too much about it because to do so would really spoil the stories for you, and I really think everyone should discover this collection for themselves.
There was no story in the collection that I didn’t like, but there were some which are firm favourites within the collection:
Animals really stood out for me. It punched me in the feels from the opening line and never really let up. The tension in this story builds slowly and carefully and before you really know what happened it ends in a place you could never have imagined. I read this one more than once before even looking at any other story in the collection.
Jacob is a really special story in which Jen perfectly captures the voice and confusion of a young boy. I loved the way that he narrates his sister’s issues from the perspective of his youth. I have a small boy of my own and this is exactly the way he would tell a story.
The title story, The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night is, on one level, about a tree outside of a couple’s house, but it is also a story about beginnings of all kinds. It is beautifully told and really packs a punch.
The concept of the ghosts in jam jars in Little Deaths and the Coffin Hotel in Aunt Libby’s Coffin Hotel were both fascinating and creepy, and Margaret and Mary and the End of the World tackles some difficult issues linked to Bible stories in a very unexpected way.
The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night is just wonderful. Perfect for anyone who loves a fairy tale with a sting in its tail. I promise if you pick up this collection you will not be disappointed.

3.5 stars

Jen Campbell is perhaps best known as the compiler of Weird Things Customers Say In Bookshops. Although I haven't yet read these compendiums of the odd, I've seen snippets here and there and they've made me laugh out loud. So I was curious to see how Campbell's talents would translate to the short story medium. The answer is: extremely well; although these unsettling stories aren't at all what one would expect from this tongue-in-cheek observer of human nature. Or... on the other hand... perhaps they are, for they reach deep inside us to the darker corners of the psyche, and their unifying feature is that these miniature worlds seem so straightforward, so simple, until you look between the lines and realise that something, subtly, is out of kilter.

It's always hard to review a collection of short stories, so I think it's best to do a quick summary of each one to whet your appetite. Things kick off with Animals, a disturbing tale of a near-future in which love has become a commodity, with morbid effects. The chilling narration of that tale gives way to the innocence of Jacob, a short but moving story in the form of a letter from a child who is struggling to comprehend the emotional complexity of the world around him. In Plum Pie, Zombie Green, Yellow Bee, Purple Monster, a group of very special children begin to challenge the rules of their botanical summer camp, while In The Dark is more of a vignette than a story - like a dream half-remembered - in which the narrator has a strange visitor. One of my favourites was Margaret and Mary and the End of the World, which uses Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Ecce Ancilla Domini in Tate Britain to explore themes of incarnation, frailty, starvation, mothers, children, love and loss. It's a painting I loved as a teenager, so I was very happy to see it featuring as the fulcrum of a story.

In Little Deaths, Campbell gives us a world in which our memories mutate into ghosts and experience is valued only in death. The eponymous story, The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night, is actually written as a playscript: two lovers discussing how things began - whether that's the universe, or their lives together. It's a beautiful evocation of the kind of rambling conversation that you can have late at night; but there's a poignant tweak. In Pebbles, a memory of childhood war blends into a present of self-realisation. Aunt Libby's Coffin Hotel tells the story of a woman and her niece, who promise vulnerable visitors a chance to taste death for a night - but which highlights the dangers of playing with powers you don't understand. In Sea Devils, the narrator and her best friend stalk crabs and dream of finding a way out of their suffocating lives, chafing at the boundaries of their world. And, finally, Human Satellites questions the morality of exploiting the gifts of a very strange planet.

Campbell's world is one in which the strange seems familiar, and the extraordinary everyday: I'd class these stories as magical realism rather than fantasy. She's fascinated by the darkness at the heart of human experience, and the way in which we yearn to transcend ourselves and our brief lives to become something greater than ourselves. For a debut collection, her voice is assured and confident, though I found that some stories were more memorable than others. I'd pick out Animals, Margaret and Mary and the End of the World, and The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night as my favourites among these stories; Pebbles and In the Dark didn't quite grab me in the same way. But I really enjoyed the 'feel' of these brooding, quirky stories and I'd be curious to see what Campbell would come up with if she ever decided to have a go at a full novel.

For those who'd like to find out a little more about Campbell, she's a book reviewer as well as a writer. Take a look at her lively YouTube channel to hear more about the books she's read and loved. Maybe you'll find some new recommendations! As for me, I'm going to have to hunt down a copy of Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops...

For the review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2018/01/21/the-beginning-of-the-world-in-the-middle-of-the-night-jen-campbell/

Jen lives and breathes fairy tale and that shined through in each and every page of this collection. Fairy tales and fairy tales characters populate the pages of this book and is amazing how knowledgeable she is and how she can put “fairies” in untaught of places and situations. She can twist them around to amaze us. She can make them modern and can find connections between all sorts of mystical creatures and day to day elements/events. I found all that fascinating!!!
My 4* rating reflect the fact I've enjoyed some stories more than others and that's down to personal preference. Each and everyone's brilliant, you won't regret reading this!

I hesitate to call these short stories. They are more like extended poems which have some prose elements to them. In some of the stories, my favourite example being the first story, where animal hearts can be put into humans, this works really well and gives them an eerie fairytale quality. In others, it frustrated me no end. I was sat on the bus resisting the urge to shout 'GET TO THE POINT' at my Kindle.

The elements of these stories are so creative and thought-provoking, they show the world in a kaleidoscopic, skewed kind of way. But if you're so caught up in abstract metaphors that you don't have time to think about why the story is clever then what's the point? 

But I am by no means all doom and gloom about this book. This tone doesn't always agree with me, but perhaps I was wrong to read all these stories in one go. The medium would suggest taking a break between them and I think if you read them in that way you would enjoy them a lot more. 

There are some difficult issues wrapped up in these stories, much like in classic fairytales. In this case, these stories deal with the issue of autonomy and a woman's right to her own body (and her heart). There's also some implied sexual assault/rape in one of the stories so content warning for you if that's something you don't want to read about.

Of all the short story compilations I've read, I'll confess this wasn't one of my favourites. Having said that, I think that is a matter of personal taste, if you like the tone of these stories and you want to read it then I think that's wonderful. I also think the core of these stories is solid, and the themes they explore are important and interesting. 

My rating: 3/5 stars

I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Can ideas be too good for their own good? The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night is a truly wonderful short story collection, containing twelve tales that are sometimes haunting, sometimes bizarre, but always magical.

It was the cover that drew me towards this book, and as I received a copy of this through NetGalley I dived straight into the stories without knowing what was awaiting me. I was surprised by the sheer amount of ideas that these pages have been fed. There's one about buying hearts online in order to receive affection, another one has people stay at a coffin hotel. A girl gets impregnated by God, a town is inhabited by ghosts affecting the inhabitants daily routines. A lot happens and almost all of it drew me in.

My favourite story was probably the one the book is named after, in which a couple talks about beginnings and endings in the middle of the night. It's a soft and charming tale with a fair share of melancholy. I fell in love with the characters, too, loved the way they interacted with each other and was almost sad when I had to leave them behind after a mere few pages to move on to the next story.

This feeling of Hey, I'm not ready to move on to the next tale yet! followed me throughout my reading. Some of the ideas were just so good that I wished they had been developed into longer stories, novels even. This book is just bursting with beginnings that could have easily been given more room to be developed. Apart from that, this is a short story collection that I would recommend to every lover of fairy tales and myths or anyone who is just looking for that whimsical touch of magic.

Couldn’t put this one down. Had some really captivating stories that I know are going to stay with me for a while.

Dare I say it, a modern take on fairy and folk tales is becoming almost mainstream, and Campbell's collection isn't the best that I've read. There are splashes is originality and some nice uses of form but generally these feel a little mundane for all the magic realism and twists they show. Perhaps the language feels too pedestrian, perhaps I'm just fairy-taled out? Whatever the reason, this is slightly entertaining but not as innovative or special as I hoped.

This collection of modern fairy tales is dark, twisted and beautiful, and perfect for dipping into when you don’t fancy a full novel. The tales range from the macabre to the heart-warming. You’ll read about a mermaid in an aquarium, a boy who suspects his sister has two souls, and a man who uses animal hearts to keep his girlfriend’s love. There are elements of well-known myths and fairy stories, but this collection is more Brothers Grimm than Disney. Captivating.

Having just read a collection of Grimm tales I was excited to read this modern twist on fairy tales and overall I was not disappointed. Having said there were some stories that just didn't do it for me but the majority were absolutely fantastic. I especially loved Aunt Libby's Coffin Hotel which made me chuckle. That's the other thing about this book, it has an incredible amount of wit.

I love watching Jen's videos on You Tube and I can honestly say she is an incredibly talented writer.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales but also anyone who likes anything a bit unusual, a bit creepy with a dose of humour sprinkled in.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This is a collection of short stories all set in the same bizarre, enchanting world, there's a magical realism about each of them which makes them more like fairy stories. I loved the way the world building was strung together throughout each tale, the further through you get the brighter, bolder picture you have of this alternative reality I didn't want to leave.

There's variety between the way some of the stories are written, one is simply a conversation which keeps up the pace of the book. Some are left slightly open-ended and I kept my fingers crossed until the end that those ends would be tied up but alas I was just left to my own imagination to determine how the lives of those characters may have panned out - which is what I want from these kinds of stories. Would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of light-hearted escapist reading.

Love love love love this. The first story is probably my favourite but the entire collection is absolutely stunning.

I actually went out and bought the book before I received the review copy so this is based on the beautiful naked hardback that I enjoyed reading so much. I’d heard a lot about the book on booktube before reading it so knew what to expect but I was still surprised by how much I enjoyed it as I don’t always like short story collections. Each one has a unique take on a fairy tale or traditional story and many of them stayed with me after reading. The first story in the book all about hearts was by far my favourite but nevertheless I appreciated all of the hard work and detailed research that had clearly gone into the stories. Have bought several more copies to give as gifts this Christmas.

This collection of fantastic short stories is full of wonder and weirdness, whimsy and raw emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the stories in this collection, though some stuck out more than others for me which I think is fairly common with short story collections. Jen has a way of weaving fairy tales with modern life in such a refreshing way, and her characters are so full of feeling and thought that I couldn't help but care about them. Highly recommended for short story lovers!

I was attracted to this book of short stories by the title and the pretty cover. However, while I really enjoyed reading it, I can see that it won't be to everyone's taste. It's a mix of dark fairy tales, fantasy, and magic realism, and hits the ground running right from the first story, Animals, about a world where hearts (human and animal) can be bought online to transplant. This one is also a little bit gruesome, so be warned, but it was one of my favourites!

Some stories are quite short, just tiny snippets of the characters' lives or train of thought. In some cases these felt more like ideas than fully fleshed-out stories. Some I would have preferred to have been longer, and some I didn't understand at all! But what was never in doubt is how highly original they are. Jen Campbell has an incredible imagination!

The story I liked best was the ghosty/gothicky Aunt Libby's Coffin Hotel, about a woman who runs a hotel for those who want to experience a temporary 'death'. Another favourite was Plum Pie, Zombie Green, Yellow Bee, Purple Monster, about group of children who are half-human and half-plant. And Jacob, written in the format of a letter from a young boy to a TV weather girl, was funny.

I really liked this anthology, and absolutely loved the stories listed above, so I wavered between giving it four or five stars. I think it would appeal to readers who prefer more literary fiction, and fans of authors such as Angela Carter and Alice Hoffman.


Thank you to Jen Campbell, Two Roads, and Netgalley for my copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so frustratingly brilliant.

I love every story in this anthology, I really do. These stories are short but they pull you in and make you care about these characters in such a small amount of time that you are left wanting more. I need to know what happened to Lily, I really do (Plum Pie. Zombie Green. Yellow Bee. Purple Monster. is probably one of my favourite stories in this book, and I need more of it).

How Jen brings in different legends and tales and draws it all in, is just sheer brilliance from the start of the book. How the writer uses these stories to reinforce what you're being told creates a more intense read. This in particular stands out in stories such as Bright White Hearts that just keeps you reading until the very end of this book - it's apt that this book was my read for December as I have been waiting all year for a book like this to come along.

Just bloody brilliant.