Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

30 reviews

ctrim's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Domestic abuse

dixiecarroll's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I found this to be brilliant, but I guarantee it’s a polarizing book. This was terrifying and emotional and felt ultimately like I was dreaming. Tense but non threatening dreams. (There are trigger warnings for DV in the first two stories so please take care before diving in). I finished this in 2.5 hours… ridiculously fast so it’s a quick and easy one to slip in there while still being completely stunning. A collection of 8 stories that seem to not be entirely based in our realm but at the same time they are absolutely on our planet - exactly like a dream. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Racism

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Toxic friendship

odrib's review

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia

quesatiya's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Racism

Moderate: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Body horror, Eating disorder, and Body shaming

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Cancer

marie33's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Racism

mondovertigo's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Minor: Eating disorder

hngisreading's review

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Drug use, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Infidelity

chaoticnostalgia's review

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Los Angeles: 2.5
Oranges: 4
G: 2.5
Yeti Lovemaking: 3.5
Returning: 3.75
Office Hours: 4.25
Peking Duck: 4
Tomorrow: 3.25

Overall rating: 3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Alcohol

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

bliss montage is a great collection of stories, some either more unpredictable or reflective than others, but all subtly gripping in their own way.

the volume opens w/ a bang w/ "los angeles," perhaps the most delightfully eclectic short story ive ever read, so unconventional yet - by the end - thrilling it is. thru her stories, ma wrestles w/ coming of age, the immigrant experience, the self, and relationships. ma's pondering on the first one esp hits true, her incredible, precise articulation of the strange weightless void post-undergrad bleak, quiet, yet comforting in the knowledge that others share this experience. im also amazed by how the author's able to capture and vocalize the inner condition and struggles that exist merely under the surface.

a great sophomore effort thats even better than its already good predecessor, and one of the best - tho def most eclectic - short story collection ive ever read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Drug use

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Stalking, and Sexism

Minor: Death of parent and Terminal illness

surlyjackson's review

dark emotional mysterious

5.0

Working at a mostly used bookstore, I try to curb my spending by waiting for books on my TBR to appear in the used stock at the store, versus ordering it new. This is why I've yet to read Ling Ma's Severance despite it being one of my most anticipated reads. I think it's a testament to her writing quality that it has yet to appear. Ling Ma has mastered the art of showing, not telling. She uses vivid, poetic language to articulate even the most abstracted of concepts. The main through lines of the collection were abusive or unhealthy relationships and the tribulations of being an Asian immigrant in America. As an Asian immigrant that was seen her fair share of abusive relationships, I felt these stories to my core, an almost eerie amount that it felt like holding a mirror to my life. At times the endings felt too abrupt, but it's to be expected of a short story collection and do not fault the book on that. I just want more, need more.
Needless to say, I have just ordered Severance.
Many thanks to NetGalley and FSG for a copy of this beautiful book for review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Racism and Death of parent